On Cleveland Indians free agency, Michael Brantley, trading Corey Kluber

Thoughts on the Cleveland Indians possibly trading Corey Kluber, in addition to reaction on how the Tribe withheld qualifying offers.

The Cleveland Indians are going to listen to offers on Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco. No, Tribe fans shouldn’t be thrilled about it, but this is the type of answer the organization was expected to give.

The Indians payroll isn’t high enough to avoid blow other teams off, so if another organization comes in and blows the Tribe away with an offer for the two-time Cy Young Award winner, the Indians, at the very least, need to listen.

Dealing one of their affordable starters is the only way the Tribe can get better in other areas right now, and unfortunately, you’ve got to give something to get something when making a big-league trade.

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We’d all love to trade Jason Kipnis for another team’s No. 1 corner outfield prospect, but it’s not going to happen.

The Kluber and Carrasco trade rumors don’t mean they’ll act on a trade proposal, but it makes you wonder what they have in store for an offseason where they won’t be competitively chasing recognizable free-agent names.

Elsewhere in free agency news, the Cleveland Indians did not make qualifying offers to Michael Brantley, Cody Allen or Andrew Miller.

These three players are free to sign elsewhere, and because no $16 million qualifying offer was made, the Indians don’t receive draft-pick compensation if they leave.

It’s understandable as to why no offer was made to Miller and Allen, but Brantley really surprised me.

The Tribe still has interest in signing Brantley to an extension, but if another team comes along and offers him something like Santana got from the Phillies (three years, $60 million), he’s as good as gone.

Perhaps the Indians surmise the market won’t be that hot for the left fielder.

I don’t like calling the Indians cheap because, I get the economics of baseball. They’re a mid-market team who can’t throw cash around like the Yankees.

But what if Brantley would’ve accepted the offer? He maid $12 million in 2018, he .300 and made the All-Star team. Add the $3 million you saved from declining Brandon Guyer‘s option and you’ve basically made up the difference in the $16 million qualifying offer.

If he rejects it, well hey, you’re getting a draft pick. Which is what middle-market teams need to have a chance to maintain sustained success.

Adding him to the roster would’ve done a lot to secure the outfield for 2019.

With the Indians reaching a one-year deal with center fielder Leonys Martin, Brantley could’ve been in left and the Tribe would just be looking for right field help.

Next. Indians: 5 realistic OF trades to target. dark

The Indians still want to re-sign Brantley, according to Cleveland.com. We’ll have to wait and see.

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