Indians Trade Deadine: Tribe deals Eddie Rosario confirming seller status

The Indians have decided to be sellers at the trade deadline.

The Cleveland Indians have opted to move 2021 free agent Eddie Rosario just before the trade deadline while shedding the team of his remaining contract. Rosario came over from the Minnesota Twins in the offseason and signed a one-year, $8 million deal that frankly was more than Rosario was worth in hindsight. During his stint with the Tribe, Rosario hit .254 with just seven home runs and 46 RBIs. Rosario had a poor OBP at just .296 and his OPS was just as weak at .685.

Career lows across the board for him in nearly every statistical category.

Since this was a cost-cutting move and not one for prospects, the Indians only got back former All-Star Pablo Sandoval, who frankly, should’ve retired in 2015. It would actually be a shock if the Indians don’t designate Sandoval for assignment at some point, considering the 34-year-old is hitting just .178 and has only 13 hits in 69 games.

Update: The Indians released Sandoval mere hours after the trade.

Selling doesn’t mean the Indians are giving up

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The Tribe is selling off scraps but not the whole car. The team traded Cesar Hernandez, a veteran who was declining in play, for a Top 50 prospect out of the White Sox organization. The Tribe then turned around and sold off Rosario, another declining veteran, for financial relief. If the trend holds, maybe a guy like Jordan Luplow goes next, but it doesn’t seem like the Indians are looking to hold a fire-sale.

The Tribe starts a three-game series with the White Sox tonight, and if they can win the series, or better yet, sweep them, then they’re right back in the mix with a five-game series looming overhead against Chicago in September.

Assuming that the Tribe has no interest in trading Shane Bieber, due back in the middle of August or Jose Ramirez, the team should be right where it needs to be in September to strike and take the division.

That is only possible if the team can start taking wins away from the White Sox, however.