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Cleveland Indians: 4 impacts the trade deadline had on the Tribe

By Nick Dudukovich

TORONTO, ON - JULY 1: Leonys Martin #12 of the Detroit Tigers is unable to hold on to a line drive to center field and cannot make the catch in the fourth inning during MLB game action as Kevin Pillar #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a single at Rogers Centre on July 1, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 1: Leonys Martin #12 of the Detroit Tigers is unable to hold on to a line drive to center field and cannot make the catch in the fourth inning during MLB game action as Kevin Pillar #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a single at Rogers Centre on July 1, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – MARCH 12: Welington Castillo #35 of the Dominican Republic tags out Oscar Mercado #12 of Colombia at home in the ninth inning during a Pool C game of the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Miami Marlins Stadium on March 12, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – MARCH 12: Welington Castillo #35 of the Dominican Republic tags out Oscar Mercado #12 of Colombia at home in the ninth inning during a Pool C game of the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Miami Marlins Stadium on March 12, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

4. Outfielder for the future

The indians made a rare prospects only deal involving Cardinals prospect Oscar Mercado.

Interesting enough, a Redbirds Rant writer Trevor Hooth posted a piece labeling Merado as “The real deal” just days before he was traded.

Mercado was brought up as a shortstop but switched to the outfield in 2017, Defensively, his best big league fit is in center field, according to MLB pipeline.

After the switch center, Mercado’s average in the minors jumped from .215 to .287. He was batting .285 (.755 OPS) at Class AAA Memphis during the time of the trade.

He’s already got 100 Triple-A games under his belt, so why he’s not a splashing name, he’s someone who could definitely help next year, or perhaps, even later this year as a September call up.

After the trade, Mercado became the Indians 14th rated prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He was the Cardinals 10th rated prospect finally the reason mid-season update.

The Indians sent outfielder Connor Capel to the Red Birds, and he becomes their 10th rated prospect. Capel opened the season as the Indians 12th rated prospect, a pretty big jump after not being ranked in the top 30 in 2017.

Capel was batting .261 (.776 OPS) at the time of the trade.

While I’m familiar with Capel, I won’t pretend to know anything about the other guy the Indians traded for Mercado, 18-year-old Jhon Torres. He’s in rookie ball batting .273 (.775 OPS).

MLB Trade rumors scribe Steve Adams called this a puzzling move because the Cardinals received a “pair of lesser outfielders” in the deal.

Next. 5 best Indians prospects you don't know (but should). dark

Mercado should be a plus defender for the Tribe. MLB.com’s Jim Callis thinks the newest Indians has a plus arm and plus speed. Hopefully, he can hit a little, too.

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