Indians: Tribe GM Mike Chernoff says deadline trades still an option

Indians GM Mike Chernoff says the team won’t be restricted at the trade deadline.

The Cleveland Indians have been historically one of the best teams over the last decade, and one of the most frugal. Indians GM Mike Chernoff echoed those thoughts as well, telling 92.3 The Fan on Friday afternoon that the team has the best record in the American League over the last nine years despite spending $1 billion less than the rest of the teams over that period.

So when host Adam “The Bull” Gerstenhaber asked Chernoff if the Tribe would be restricted by financial limitations at the trade deadline, Chernoff went on to say that isn’t likely to be an issue and pointed out to years past.

"…In the 18 years that I’ve been here, that has never been the challenge at the deadline. The challenge at the deadline is almost always matching up with another team and figuring out from a baseball standpoint whether or not a trade will work. …That’s never stood in the way at a trade deadline trade in the past."

The Indians have historically made big moves in years they’re contending

Since the mid-2000s, the Indians have routinely tried to make big moves at the trade deadline, granted to mix results. Guys like Ubaldo Jimenez, Yasiel Puig, Mark Rzepczynski, Joe Smith, Andrew Miller, and others have all been acquired at the deadline.

Granted, some of those are minor acquisitions in the grand scheme of things, but they still show a desire and ability to acquire talent when needed. So the idea that the Tribe won’t try to make moves at the trade deadline isn’t one to take seriously. The Indians have proven time and time again that they open up the purse when it comes time to make moves.

The Indians have proven time and time again the ability to evaluate trades that benefit the organization. Just look at how much the Mets are paying Francisco Lindor to struggle and how much value the Indians got from the Texans for Corey Kluber.

The Tribe knows what they’re doing. Guys like Chernoff and club president Chris Antonetti have been with this team for almost two decades each. They know what they’re doing, and ever since Mark Shapiro was allowed to leave, the Tribe has been in even better shape.