Indians: It’s too soon to talk about trading Andres Gimenez

There’s fan chatter about how the Indians should shop Andres Gimenez.

The New York Mets made a bold move by trading for Francisco Lindor and the Indians have really made the most of their assets that came over in the deal. One of those assets is Andres Gimenez and there are some in the Cleveland sports scene that is asking if it’s time to start shopping around the 22-year-old shortstop.

The idea of trading him for a starting pitcher isn’t exactly a bad idea, the Tribe is hurting in their rotation and while some young names like Eli Morgan and Triston McKenzie have promise, they aren’t exactly ready just yet to be effective as long-term options. The team needs playoff-ready pitchers, and while Morgan and McKenzie may be effective in the post-season in 2022 or 2023, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who has faith in them on a stage that big.

It’s too soon to trade Andres Gimenez.

Andres Gimenez is only 22-years-old and saw him hit. 263 as a rookie, playing full-time. To trade him after a month and a half of subpar baseball would be a gross overreaction. The Tribe is partly in the position they’re in due to them trading away young players before they can mature as a Major Leaguer. It’s one thing to trade a player like Lindor because you never know what he’s going to be from season to season anymore.

Now he’s getting paid $30+ million per year and has to deliver at a higher rate than ever before in order to satiate fans and keep them from turning on him.

Trading away Gimenez may make sense, as Amed Rosario has settled in as the team’s starting shortstop, but you can never have enough young pitching or young hitting. Rosario is producing but what if the team lets Cesar Hernandez walk? Gimenez could fill in at second, or possibly in centerfield. What if Rosario gets hurt? Then you’ll need Gimenez to fill in.

Trading Gimenez seems like a good idea on paper, but the team needs to avoid getting rid of young talent.