Cleveland Indians: 3 outfielders to target in a trade before Spring Training

2. Jesse Winker

Cincinnati shot into playoff contention by signing Nick Castellanos. Now, the Reds have one too many outfielders, with Nick Senzel, Shogo Akiyama, Jesse Winker and Aristides Aquino on the depth chart.

Senzel would be the preferred choice and has been floated to the Indians in trade rumors, but any deal involving the center fielder would have to include Francisco Lindor. If Chris Antonetti can figure out how to get Senzel, who the Reds are looking to trade, without giving up Lindor, then that’s the move Cleveland should make.

If the asking price is too high for Senzel, then Jesse Winker is another option worth exploring.

Winker, a left-handed stick who hit .269 (.830 OPS) in 113 games a season ago. In three seasons, spanning 249 games, Winker’s hit .285 (.845 OPS) with 30 home runs and 96 RBIs.

He’d be perfect to platoon with Jordan Luplow, as Winker struggled to hit lefties, batting .163 last year against Southpaws, opposed to .285 against right-handers.