Cleveland Indians: Trade deadline won’t define Tribe as buyers or sellers
The Cleveland Indians inch closer to the trade deadline at the end of this month, and a healthy sect of the fan baes wonders if their club will be buyers or sellers.
For The Athletic’s Zack Meisel, the issue isn’t “black and white.”
Appearing on 92.3 The Fan’s Chico After Dark, the writer provided some insight into what the organization is thinking as the trade deadline approaches.
The Indians could very well make a trade that ships out an everyday regular. What’s that, you say? Meisel pointed out that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Indians went on a five-game winning streak and then traded Cesar Hernandez, just to get a better look at a younger option who wouldn’t really be that big of a drop off in production.
He also hit on something posted here yesterday–the Tribe’s stash of middle infield prospects that will have to put not he 40-man roster or risk being lost in the winter’s Rule-5 draft.
Meisel contended it’s very possible the Tribe could formulate a package on the farm. They’d likely have to partner with a losing team in a trade.
In any trade, Meisel said the Indians have an eye on getting a player who will be here for the next three to four seasons. If they help now, great, but the near future is really what the front office is looking at.
"“That’s the type of trade they’re pirotirizing this month and it doesn’t matter if they are 10 games over .500 or 5 games under .500. that type of trade still makes sense for many reasons,” Meisel said."
As for the influx of talent in the middle infield, Meisel also noted that several of those players could be moved to the 40-man because the clock is running out on prospects, who really can’t be called prospects any longer.
Bradley Zimmer brings improved center field defense to the lineup, but he’s batting .212 and slugging .247. At some point, the Tribe will have to do what they finally did with Bauers and move on.
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The same could be said of Yu Chang. The Indians used him as a super utility man earlier in the season, but his playing time diminished once Bobby Bradley took over first base.