Cleveland Indians: 4 outfielders to target before MLB trade deadline

CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 03: Avisail Garcia #26 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates after hitting a home run in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 3, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The White Sox won 12-8 in 12 innings. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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PHOENIX, AZ – JULY 01: Andrew McCutchen #22 of the San Francisco Giants bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on July 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Andrew McCutchen, RF, Giants

Gone are the days when Andrew McCutchen went to the All-Star Game every year from 2011-2015.

He’s not the superstar who once patrolled the outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but at 31, he’s still someone who can produce, especially for a club like the Indians.

He plays a position of grave importance (center field) and he can still hit.

Through July 8, McCutchen was batting .258 with a .344 on-base percentage. With nine home runs already on the season, “Cutch” could easily post 20 home runs this season, which would mark the eighth campaign in which he achieved the fete.

FanGraphs rates McCutchen as the ninth best defensive right fielder in baseball.

Putting him in right field would help the Indians shore up the both corner outfielder spots, with Michael Brantley occupying left.

McCutchen could always play center field too, depending on how the rest of the roster shakes out after the deadline.

With Bradley Zimmer (DL) struggling at the plate, the Indians hoped Tyler Naquin would swing the hot stick he had before going on the DL. It hasn’t happened. Naquin, who came off the DL in June, was hitting .174 though July 7. He was hitting .333 before the injury.

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