Tribe Trade Target: Yoenis Cespedes

Sep 16, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder

(52) doubles against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Could the Cuban Cannon Fix The Indians Outfield?

Splashy moves are all the rage. Everyone wants to make a scene, make the headlines, get everyone around to come see how good they look. Free agent signings aren’t really the type of splash that the Indians are going to make this offseason, Mark Shapiro has made that clear in his address to the fans in his after season press conference. To make a big splash, the Tribe is more than likely going to have to go to the trade market.

As I have written before, the Indians are in the market for a right fielder. You can read about my

trade piece

here

or my

free agent write up

here

, but this time I think the Indians need to go big or go home. I’m talking

Yoenis Cespedes

.

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Why Cespedes?

He’s super available, according to reports, and Boston is very likely shopping him around. His power is legit, hitting more than 20 HRs in every season he’s been in the majors, topping out at 26 in 2013. Cespedes is not going to win a batting title, but the ability is there for him to slash .275/.325/.450. His defensive fielding is more suited for left field. His bat would easily project in the middle of any order, allowing for flexibility across the board.

could easily bat him in the cleanup spot, breaking up the lefty tandom of

and

(against right-handers).

What would it take? 
Boston gave up Jon Lester to get Cespedes, getting a bat that is signed through 2015 for a Cy Young quality pitcher who was possibly going to walk after the year anyway. Because of the cost paid and the fact that power across the league is down, Cespedes is going to cost a pretty penny to whoever deems his bat worthy. Looking at the Tribe’s roster, in both the majors and minors, they do have the pieces to get someone like Cespedes. Would they be willing to deal Danny Salazar and/or Francisco Lindor? Lindor has been untouchable for a long time, rumored to be in a deal for David Price but ultimately pulled off the block. Could the play of Jose Ramirez at shortstop allow the front office to pull the trigger on a Lindor trade? Salazar has the most value on the trade market but that does not mean he is the most likely to be traded. Could a potential package of Salazar and Ramirez or maybe Zach McAllister or Josh Tomlin along with Lindor secure the mercurial Cespedes? Maybe a package headlined by Lindor, Tomlin and Jesus Aguilar would give the Red Sox enough present day value and future assets to part with Cespedes.