Baseball’s second half of the season starts tomorrow night with the Indians in Baltimore to begin a four game series.
Trailing the first place Tigers by just a half game, there is no question this team is in a race for a division title and a trip to the playoffs.
What, if anything, will the Indians do to stay in contention?
First, GM Chris Antonetti will not trade any of the Tribe’s top prospects. That means do not look for any trades involving Jason Kipnis, Lonnie Chisenhall, Alex White, and Drew Pomerantz.
There certainly isn’t anyone out there, that another team is willing to deal, that is worth giving up players regarded as cornerstone guys for the next few years.
The players who have contracts that end this year are rental players, they more than likely will not be here at the beginning of the 2012 season, so you may be able to get them for some lower ranked prospects.
Think someone currently playing at the Class A level.
If you don’t think that’s true, check what Milwaukee gave up to get Francisco Rodriguez from the Mets. Two players to be named later, neither of which are expected to be prime prospects.
In the past few days, Indians’ president Mark Shapiro said there isn’t an existing contract out there that the Tribe couldn’t handle for two months.
If that’s true, and there’s no reason to think it isn’t, then the guy to go after is Mets’ OF Carlos Beltran.
Beltran’s massive contract ends this season, so he will be highly motivated to play well down the stretch.
He’s already having an excellent season, making the National League all-star team, batting .285 with 13 HR and 58 RBI and an 880 OPS. He leads the NL in doubles with 28.
He’s also a switch-hitter and can play either right or left field.
With the Mets’ financial situation, they would be happy to not have to pay the balance of Beltran’s contract for two months.
Also, remember that the Cleveland farm system is considered very deep by most baseball experts. Not a lot of superstar type players, but many good major leaguers.
Even though he didn’t play well with the Indians during his brief time here, but Cord Phelps would be very desirable by other organizations.
A more likely scenario would be trading for a lesser known, lower profile right-handed hitter, giving up a low grade prospect in return.
Players who fit that description would be Cubs’ OF Reed Johnson (.328, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 922 OPS), A’s OF Josh Willingham (.241, 11 HR, 44 RBI, 736 OPS), and A’s 1B/OF Conor Jackson (.243, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 636 OPS).
All of those players have track records for their career of hitting left-handed pitchers, which is a big need for the Indians.
Players like Astros’ OF Hunter Pence, who won’t be a free agent until 2014, are probably not on the Tribe’s radar because he’s eligible for arbitration now, and Cleveland would have to address the free agent issue after next season.
Plus, a player like that would command one of the prime Indian prospects.
However, keep an eye on Houston for some sort of transaction, because remember, the first baseman at Class AA Akron is former first round draft pick, Beau Mills, whose father happens to manage the Astros.
The Indians will add to the roster before the July 31st trading deadline, just don’t look for deals for the high ticket available players. The cost for those guys would be too high for an organization who believes in player development, first and foremost.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 