Cleveland Indians: 5 trade deadline proposals Tribe must consider

5. Trevor Bauer package around Henter Renfroe

The Padres have organizational depth in the outfield, which makes Hunter Renfroe expendable.

He can’t be a free agent until 2024, but he will be arbitration eligible after the season and considering he’s having his best season, posting a .921 OPS with 27 home runs, he’ll be getting a big raise this offseason. He’s currently making $582,000.

Bauer, as well as Corey Kluber have been linked to the Padres ever since the offseason, and if the Tribe is really looking to trade Bauer, San Diego would be a preferable destination.

The Indians won’t have to worry about the Padres, unless of the unlikelihood the two meet up in the World Series.

In return, they’ll get an outfielder who can help right now, in addition to being a part of the future. Plus, they’ll get a chance to add some prospects in what was the No. 1 rated farm system in baseball entering the 2019 season, according to MLB.com.

Trading Bauer in a pennant race seem strange, but the rise of Shane Bieber, as well as rookie Zach Plesac make the trade pill easier to swallow.

Corey Kluber will probably pitch again this season, but that might not be until the middle or end of August. Carlos Carrasco, who is battling leukemia, is reportedly trying to come back and pitch as well, however, there’s just no way of knowing how his body will respond as he fights cancer.

Adam Plutko and Aaron Civale have done a nice job filling in for starters, but down the stretch, the Indians would likely have to count on one of these guys and there’s just no telling how they’ll fare with no major-league track record to fall back on.