Cleveland Indians trade rumors: Alex Cobb, Eduardo Nunez, Brad Hand

In Cleveland Indians trade rumors, speculation is starting to ramp up regarding what moves the Tribe might make. Here’s the latest.

The name Alex Cobb should be very familiar to Tribe fans. He’s the right-hander who shut out Tribe during the Cleveland Indians wildcard playoff against the Tampa Rays in 2013.

The Indians qualified for the postseason after winning their final 10 games, then Terry Francona‘s gang ran up against Cobb, and pretty much made him look like the second coming of Cy Young.

Boston Globe scribe Nick Cafardo wrote about Cobb’s availability, and it appears unlikely the the Rays would trade him given the recent injury to Jake Odorizzi.

However, if he were available, Cafardo wrote the Indians, Cubs, Dodgers and Brewers would all be interested.

Cobb’s 2016 season was derailed by injuries, but he’s rebounded splendidly this season, going 9-3 with a 3.46 ERA.

Must Read: One player from each team Indians should trade for

For what it’s worth, Cobb, 29, can be a free agent this winter and Tampa would be better served getting something for a pitcher who’s sure to out of their price range.

–Elsewhere on the trade market, the Indians were serious about acquiring Eduardo Nunez from the San Francisco Giants, however, the infielder landed with the Boston Red Sox.

The Tribe proved to be Boston’s biggest competition for Nunez, according to Cafardo.

It’s unfortunate the Indians couldn’t get a deal done for Nunez, because he wouldn’t been the perfect fit for a Francona managed club. Nunez can hit for average, he plays several different positions and he can steal a base.

"“Sox scouts were impressed with Nunez’s versatility and his consistent bat. Nunez is also considered a big-time clubhouse presence, which is needed these days,” Cafardo wrote"

–Within the past few days, the Indians have been linked to Tigers reliever Justin Wilson, but a deal remains unlikely. The Tigers are going to want a lot for the left-handed reliever because he’s under club control for the next three seasons.

More from Factory of Sadness

Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto wrote the Indians have no interest in moving top prospects like they did a season ago when they moved Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield and almost Francisco Mejia.

With this mindset, it remains unlikely Wilson will be making his home at The Corner.

–When it comes to contending for a World Series, you can never have enough pitching. The Cleveland Indians learned that first hand in 2016.

With that in mind, the Tribe is looking for a reliever in wake of Boone Logan‘s lat injury, which landed the southpaw on the 60-day DL, according to Pluto.

San Diego lefty Brad Hand could help fill in the void left by Logan, and the Tribe is interested according to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. Hand has a 2.04 ERA with 69 strikeouts against 14 walks in 53 innings (48 games). He’s also drawing interest from the Nationals.

–Some other relievers to watch heading into the deadline that could interest the Tribe include Orioles closer Zack Britton, Brad Brach, Addison Reed, AJ Ramos, Tony Watson and Raisel Iglesias, according to Peter Gammons.

The Tribe bullpen boasts an MLB best 2.79 ERA, but the Indians would like to add “power arms,” according to Pluto.

Next: Santana surging through July

The most recent bullpen talk signals what was recently covered by our own Ryan Rosko. The Indians are much more likely to make a bullpen and/or bench move leading up to Monday’s deadline.

Home/Cleveland Guardians