Cleveland Indians trade rumors: Tribe inquired with Reds, Pirates

The Cleveland Indians were active on Friday’s MLB Trade deadline, and the front office tried to be busier by acquiring some long-term options.

The Indians inquired on Reds outfielder Jesse Winker, as well as Pirates Bryan Reynolds, according to The Athletic’s Zack Meisel.

Cleveland’s brass viewed both players as long-term answers to the outfield, but neither Cincinnati or Pittsburgh were all that interested in controlling productive MLB talent with several years remaining on their deals before free agency, according to Meisel.

Reynolds is really the one who would’ve been a long-term fix. He’s making just north of $600,000 this season. He won’t hit free agency until after the 2025 campaign. The switch-hitter, who is coming off his first All-Star nod, is batting .307 (.908 OPS), He has 18 home runs and 58 RBIs in 429 plate appearances.

Winker is earning $3.5 million this season, working as one of the best hitters in baseball. He has two years of arbitration remaining before free agency. He’s hitting .302 with 21 bombs. With the Reds in contention, not a surprise Cincinnati GM Nick Krall didn’t budge.

The Indians will be looking for these same types of players come winter time, according to Meisel, and the organization will likely have to cough up one of the many middle infielders the organization has acquired the past couple of trade deadlines. Meisel mentioned the Tribe needs “output” from Andres Gimenez, Amed Rosario, Owen Miller and Gabriel Arias.

The Indians did get a long-term outfielder in Myles Straw–it’s just that the former Astro didn’t come with much fanfare. Houston traded him because they had a top prospect waiting in the wings.

Straw may not hit for power, but he can put the ball in the play, as Cleveland fans have seen in his first three games. The Indians don’ need him to be Babe Ruth, Straw needs to do what he’s done to this point: Hit for a solid average .260-.270, steal bases and be a put-out machine in center.