Cleveland Indians Trade Rumors: Could Asdrubal Cabrera Be Dealt?

The calendar has flipped to July, and trade rumors have already been flying, but now we’re finally starting to hear the names of not only potential Cleveland Indians trade targets, but trade candidates. SportsIllustrated.com’s Cliff Corcoran has a list of the five hitters most likely to be dealt at the deadline, and Tribe SS Asdrubal Cabrera is listed at number five.

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Jun 19, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (13) throws to first base in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Corcoran notes the underlining question Cleveland must answer before even considering trading Cabrera – “Is top prospect SS Francisco Lindor ready?” Also mentioned is getting Lindor to the majors for Opening Day 2015 is aggressive, and speculates a one-year extension for Cabrera might make some sense for Cleveland as well. But if the Indians are ready to move on from Cabrera, Corcoran doesn’t think there would be a lack of interest in him:

"… a 28-year-old shortstop with a bit of pop (double-digit home runs each of the last three years and eight already this season) and a reputation for acrobatic plays at shortstop (even if the advanced defensive metrics consider him merely average at the position) should have plenty of value on the trade market. With Stephen Drew not hitting and Jimmy Rollins’ 2015 option about to vest (he needs just 89 more plate appearances and a clean bill of health at season’s end), Cabrera should draw enough interest to convince the Indians to make a deal."

Cabrera is enjoying a productive season with the Indians, posting a 1.2 fWAR, but he’s certainly been better with the bat than his glove. That said, with the lack of other shortstop options on the market, there’s always a chance a team could desire Cabrera to plug a hole at shortstop (or possibly another position) and offer the Indians enough to convince them the future is now with Lindor, who is out with a broken nose for approximately a week.

Other players mentioned by Corcoran as likely to be traded include two AL Central sluggers: the Minnesota Twins’s OF Josh Willingham and Chicago White Sox DH/1B Adam Dunn.