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Cleveland Indians: 5 players to target before the 2018 MLB trade deadline

By Nick Dudukovich

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 10: Scooter Gennett #3 of the Cincinnati Reds grounds out in the fourth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 10: Scooter Gennett #3 of the Cincinnati Reds grounds out in the fourth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 3: Terry Francona #77 of the Cleveland Indians looks on from the dugout during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game two of a doubleheader at Progressive Field on May 3, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 3: Terry Francona #77 of the Cleveland Indians looks on from the dugout during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game two of a doubleheader at Progressive Field on May 3, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Five trades the Cleveland Indians should make to get their roster trending in the right direction before the 2018 MLB trade deadline.

With the Cleveland Indians underachieving around the .500 mark, the Tribe still has plenty of times to turn things around.

Bullpen help is the obvious glaring need, but this team has other problems.

Second baseman Jason Kipnis is batting .188. The two-time All-Star looks lost at the plate and with Terry Francona‘s reputation for being fiercly loyal to players, you’ve got to wonder how much longer the Tribe can stick with Kip, or at the very least drop him from the second spot in the lineup.

Another position possibly worth upgrading my be right field.

The Tribe could really use some power in the corner spots, and right field is the most logical place. Bradley Zimmer‘s glove is too good to put on the bench, and Michael Brantley has been an excellent hitter when healthy.

But right field is wide open with Lonnie Chisenhall making another trip to the disabled list, and Brandon Guyer falling short of expectations after signing his extension following the 2016 run to the World Series.

Even at .500, the Tribe remains atop the AL Central standings, but with the Twins starting to play better, the squad needs to get its act together.

These five trades would assure the Indians a spot in the postseason, and make the club a tougher out come postseason time.

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