MLB Trade Deadline: How Indians Can Emerge As Winners

In MLB Trade deadline talk, The Voice of the Fan explains what moves his beloved Cleveland Indians to come out as winners.

Not that I expect them to go on the warpath or hog wild or something, but there are sensible trades to be made before the Aug. 1 deadline.

There are a few things this team needs and I realize they are not in a position to shell out a large contract. But there are players still available they could afford and they shouldn’t cost an arm or a leg.

Let’s explore the catching position. The preferable choice would be Jonathan Lucroy from Milwaukee. He would fill a couple needs in that he has a track record and, if you think about it, he also can play first base. So next year if they can’t or don’t resign Mike Napoli next year he can slide into a new position.

Plus getting out of the Brewers organization and on to a first place team might even perk up his numbers even more playing on a contender.

The Tribe needs to get Lucroy. He’s signed through next year, which Tribe management likes. They need bullpen help, a lefty preferred, but a late inning reliever, either way.

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The best case scenario for relief would be acquiring Andrew Miller from the New York Yankees. This southpaw is what this team needs because he’s one:, left-handed, and can be a late-inning reliever or a closer. But since the Yankees shipped Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs the price for Miller has reportedly skyrocketed. So he’s out of the picture.

Pirates reliever Mark Melancon is a righty, but the price could be too high. He’s basically a closer , although h’s been a set up man in the past.

The other leftys on the market are either not worth giving up a good prospect for, or priced too high.

As far as who I think is tradable in the Indians organization, there is a glut of position players in the minors playing at crowded positions.

Erik Gonzalez is now in the majors and can play several positions, but he is a slick shortstop by trade and we all know Francisco Lindor is going nowhere. Bottom line? He’s available.

Also, Jesus Aguilar is at Triple-A Columbus. He plays first and has some power, but in Akron there’s Nellie Rodriguez, who has 19 homers and an .807 OPS. These aren’t marquee prospects, but perhaps they can help facilitate a trade.

At third base, there’s Giovany Urshela and Yandy Diaz. Both are third basemen so one could be traded. Diaz is becoming more intriguing by the day. The Cuban native hits .300 no matter where he plays.

On the rubber, the Indians have Mike Clevenger and Cody Anderson, two young, controllable starting pitchers that are ready to cut their teeth in the big leagues.

I haven’t even mentioned Francisco Mejia, a catcher at Class A Lynchburg and a top prospect, who is rapidly crawling up the prospect rankings thanks to a 40-game hitting streak.

Please notice I didn’t get greedy and go after a lot of high priced talent they couldn’t afford. It would be nice to get a power bat at third or the outfield depending on what’s up with Michael Brantley. Because if returns, that frees up Jose Ramirez at third.

Next: Mark Melancon Likely To Cost Controllable Starters

Getting Lucroy and help for the pen. The Tribe has the prospects to make these trades. Now is the time to act.

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MLB Trade Deadline: How The Indians Can Come Out As Winners

By Ric McElroy | Jul 30, 2016

In MLB Trade deadline talk, The Voice of the Fan explains what moves his beloved Cleveland Indians to come out as winners.

More from Factory of Sadness