Yesterday, we heard a radio personality talking about the players on the Cleveland Indians having to show management whether or not they should be buyers or sellers at the trading deadline that occurs on July 31st.
That kind of talk is way too premature to be sure.
While there is no doubt Terry Francona’s ballclub is struggling with consistency, the fact of the matter is the Indians are sitting just four games out of the second wild card spot, despite their 24-28 record to date.
We have said this a few times before, but the American League is a jumbled mess right now and it is likely to stay that way through July, meaning teams should be trying to improve themselves.
Houston doesn’t look like a contender and the next two months should drop a couple of other teams into the also ran class, but it appears there could be as many as 10 teams in the AL vying for the five playoff spots.
Still, the radio guy has it all wrong. It’s up to the front office to make a move to make it a moot point. They need to do something to insure the Tribe is in the mix after the all-star break.
They don’t have to do anything right now. There is still a little time for the players currently on the roster to show some improvement.
But the starting rotation is springing leaks like a sun-baked hose, and the bullpen is starting to show some wear and tear because the rotation has struggled.
Offensively, the Indians are very inconsistent; scoring three runs or less in half of the team’s games in 2014. That’s not going to lead to a lot of victories, nor does it enable the Tribe to get on the winning streak it needs.
If GM Chris Antonetti would be forced into being a seller at the deadline, what does he have to attract talent?
Asdrubal Cabrera, a good trade candidate because of the presence in the organization of SS Francisco Lindor, is a free agent at the end of the year, lessening his market value.
Justin Masterson is also a free agent when the season ends, but he is not pitching well at this point. It is doubtful you could get a top prospect in return.
The players who are performing well, Michael Brantley, Yan Gomes, and Jason Kipnis (assuming he plays to his usual standards) were just signed to long-term deals. The Indians’ management wants them in a Cleveland uniform for a long time.
One player who could draw some interest is Carlos Santana, but first he needs to get his hitting back to normal levels.
As a catcher, he was an elite type hitter. As a corner infielder, hitting 25 HR and knocking in 80 runs with a lot of walks isn’t really special.
He’s tried to convert to the hot corner, but with Lonnie Chisenhall’s emergence, he is forcing his way into the lineup at that spot.
At first base, the Indians have high priced Nick Swisher and the one right-handed power hitter they have in the minor leagues, Jesus Aguilar, also plays the position.
You would think Santana could fetch a right-handed hitter or a middle of the rotation starting pitcher in return, and perhaps the Tribe would be a better club.
If the front office wants to improve the current version of the Cleveland Indians, they need to be proactive, and not sit back and wait.
It’s the position change, not his start of the season slump, which has rendered Santana tradeable. The Indians should be looking if dealing the switch-hitter can get them what they need to make the post-season once again.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 