Cleveland Indians: An In-Depth Look at a Game-Changing Trade

The Big League Sluggers

The two biggest names for the Tribe are without a doubt outfielders Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes. Both players have slugged 20-plus home runs this year with Reyes at 27 on the year, which would easily be tops on the Indians. Puig probably doesn’t need much introduction. He’s a former superstar with the Los Angeles Dodgers who burst onto the scene in 2013, finishing second in the National League Rookie of the Year race and making the All-Star team the following season.

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After a couple down years following that, Puig saw his power take-off in 2017 when he hit 28 home runs. He’s hit a total of 73 since the start of the 2017 season and the right-handed right fielder figures to fit nicely in the middle of the Tribe lineup. His overall numbers for 2019 may not look that special: .302 OBP, .777 OPS, and 96 wRC+. However, after being dealt to the Reds in the offseason, Puig seemed to struggle out of the gate. Since May 1st, he has hit .274 with a .847 OPS and 115 wRC+, which is right in line with what he’s done the last couple years.

One issue with Puig is he is known as a bit of a hot-head/Manny Ramirez type of player. This can be good and bad. The bad was seen last night in the brawl between the Reds and Pirates, which resulted in Puig’s ejection. There’s a good chance Puig may have to serve a small suspension as he starts his Indians tenure. He is a free agent at the end of the season.

Reyes, on the other hand, has been Mr. Consistent for the Padres this year posting a wRC+ of at least 112 in every month this season. In addition to his 27 home runs, he has a .849 OPS and 117 wRC+ on the year. He’s had his issues defensively (-9 DRS in RF), but the Indians have the luxury of using him as the designated hitter and just letting the kid rake.

Reyes just recently turned 24 earlier this month and has 6 years of control left (counting 2019). He won’t be arbitration eligible until after the 2021 season and won’t be a free agent til after the 2024 season at the earliest. There are holes in his swing, and he isn’t a high on-base guy but a .280 ISO (isolated power) this year and a .253 mark for his career is the type of power the Tribe has lacked all year and sorely needed.

Between the two players, the Indians have found their cleanup hitter that they’ve been missing all year and then some. Oh, and right-handed power!