Rumors: Indians set on trading Mike Clevinger before deadline

The Cleveland Indians have a new trade rumor which involves Mike Clevinger being moved before the deadline.

The Cleveland Indians seem deadset on trading starter Mike Clevinger according to Jon Heyman of the MLB Network. Clevinger has numerous suitors, including the Chicago White Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees. Yet the team that seems most hellbent on getting him are the San Deigo Padres, who have been after him for a week now.

Heyman trade rumors involving the Padres’ pursuit of Clevinger won’t include young prospects Trent Grisham and Jake Cronenworth, two pieces that the Indians more than likely would want at least one of. Any trade deadline deal would more than likely have to be made without the prized young players.

The Dodgers and Yankees are also reportedly interested in the embattled starter. The return for Clevinger is going to need to be hefty to acquire him, with one, young controllable asset in return that’s Major-league ready.

Clevinger has fallen out of favor with not just the front office but his fellow teammates as well so the desire to move him is there. Despite having returned to the starting lineup last Wednesday, things have returned to normal for Clevinger or teammate Zach Plesac after both men broke curfew while violating team and league rules for going out during the pandemic.

The general consensus was that both men messed up but should give forgiven until the details came out about Clevinger; where he lied to his teammates, let Plesac take the fall, and put others at risk while traveling back home with them. All this before releasing a public apology where he neither apologized nor accepted responsibility.

Plesac started off well, making a heartfelt apology that went over very well. Plesac then destroyed his goodwill by releasing an ill-advised “explanation” post on Instagram, where he blamed the media for people seeing him in a negative light. He recorded this while driving around Cleveland, which is against the law, and while not securely wearing his seatbelt. Another violation. This turned public sentiment against him.

Both men now have few allies left in the Indians organization and a trade for both before the trade deadline will do well for the Indians organization; assuming the team doesn’t just take back peanuts for either man.