Cleveland Indians: 4 trade ideas for Mike Chernoff

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In order to make a deep playoff run, the Cleveland Indians need to add help in the outfield and perhaps acquire a bullpen arm. Here are four trades that would make sense for Mike Chernoff to make.

The Cleveland Indians are 19-12 31 games into the 2020 60-game season despite having one of baseball’s worst offensive attacks.

Cleveland ranks 27th in the majors with a team batting average of .214, ranks 23rd in runs scored (118) and 25h in with home runs (27) yet are still likely set to return to the postseason in 2020 for the fourth time in five years.

While the struggles of star players Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor are in large part why the Indians rank near the bottom of baseball in these critical offensive categories, much blame should be placed on the Cleveland outfield.

Players such as Bradley Zimmer (.162/.360/243), Jordan Luplow (.139/.295/.250), Delino DeShields (.237/.326/.237) and Greg Allen (.190/.217/381) have all struggled mightily this season leaving the Tribe without a reliable outfield bat.

At the upcoming deadline, adding offensive help specifically in the outfield is a must if the Indians want to contend for a world championship in 2020 but could also benefit from another bullpen arm.

While relievers such as Nick Wittgren and James Karinchak have been tremendous in set-up roles, closer Brad Hand has struggled leaving the Indians needing one more arm to shore up the back of their pen.

With the 2020 trade deadline four days away, here is a look at four trades Indians general manager Mike Chernoff could make to improve the teams’ title chances.

CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 28: Aristides Aquino #44 of the Cincinnati Reds bats during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on July 28, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cubs defeated the Reds 8-5. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Sometimes, straight forward trades are the ones that turn out most effective for both teams involved.

A trade that would meet that criteria for the Indians is a one for one swap with the Cincinnati Reds that sends right-handed pitcher Zach Plesac to the Queen City to exchange slugger Aristides Aquino.

While Mike Clevinger has made his return to the big league squad, Plesac has not. This comes after both right-handers broke the team curfew in Chicago to get to together with friends despite MLB’s strict COVID-19 protocols.

After being sent home to quarantine, Plesac took to social media to explain that the media was making the situation far worse. In his video message posted to Instagram, he spoke and looked into his phone while driving and not wearing a seatbelt.

With the Indians rotation still thriving, moving Plesac for a position of need makes a world of sense. The Reds have a log-jam in their outfield, which is among the deepest in baseball but could use a reliable fourth starter.

Thus, the Indians should be able to obtain Aquino who earned the name the “punisher” after slugging 19 home runs with 47 RBI’s in just 56 games. Due to the Reds outfield depth, he remains at the team’s alternate site and has only had eight MLB at-bats this season.

This deal seems to be one that would benefit not only both teams but both players who no longer fit with their organization and for them to get a fresh start somewhere they are needed immediately.

BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 20: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox bats against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 20, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

If the Indians want to send a message to the American League that they will be a force to be reckoned with come October, a trade to add a pair of outfielders from the Boston Red Sox would do the trick.

In this proposed trade, the Indians would receive three-time all-star J.D. Martinez and one of the top defensive players in all of baseball and improving hitter Kevin Pillar in exchange for Plesac and pitching prospects Tanner Burns and Scott Moss.

Martinez has struggled early on in 2020, hitting just .213 with three home runs, but a trade away from the worst team in the AL to a contender could lead to a rejuvenated slugger. While his contract his large, he can opt-out after the season, which should allow the Indians to bring him in as a rental.

As for Pillar, he is a former Wilson Defensive Player of the Year winner and his slashing .257/.314/.419 with three home runs and 11 RBI’s this season.

Both outfielders would provide the Indians an instant upgrade at the plate, which could propel them deeper into the postseason.

As for the return, the Red Sox are desperate for pitching depth. They rank … this season with a …. While 2020 is a lost season for Boston, they do not have much pitching depth to work with in the future.

Plesac would give them a young, controllable arm to help immediately while right-hander Tanner Burns and left-hander Scott Moss are both ranked among Cleveland’s top 30 prospects and could be future impact arms for the Sox.

This deal would likely only be made by the Chernoff if he truly believes his team can win it all this season, given the package it would take in exchange for rentals, but if he does think the 2020 Indians can win it all, he should pull the trigger.

WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 21: Jonathan Villar #2 of the Miami Marlins takes a swing during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 21, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

A trade for veteran utility man Jonathan Villar can help the Indians in a variety of ways.

The 29-year-old Villar has had an extremely productive career split between the Astros, Brewers, Orioles, and his current squad, the Miami Marlins. He led baseball in stolen bases in 2016 and can play multiple positions such as center field, second base, third base, and shortstop.

This season in Miami, Villar has helped guide the Marlins to a stunning 14-12 start to the season by slashing .272/.327/369 with two home runs and nine RBI’s.

In Cleveland, he could plug into the Indians lineup’s top spot in the order and play multiple positions to provide rest for other starters or take over the starting center field job.

While the Marlins are currently in contention for a playoff spot, it’s hard to imagine they’d pass up a solid prospect package that will help them move forward in their rebuild than hold onto a veteran bat who likely won’t be part of their future plans.

Pieces the Indians could ship to Miami include young infield prospects and sons of former Indians catcher Sandy Martinez, Angel Martinez, and 23-year old pitching prospect Nick Sandlin.

This deal would give the Indians the consistent top of the order bat they need while not blowing up the farm system.

SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 21: Starter Taylor Williams #47 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch during the ninth inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on August, 21, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 7-4. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

As mentioned, the Indians could still use one more arm in their bullpen to close out ballgames. A name that is flying under the radar that could help Cleveland out is Seattle Mariners’ right-hander Taylor Williams.

The 29-year old spent the first three years of his career with the Brewers, where outside of five games in 2017 that he pitched to a 1.92 ERA has struggled mightily. However, with Seattle this season he has been stellar and even has taken over the closer’s role.

In 12 outings, Williams has posted a 3.00 ERA with six saves and six holds has held batters to a .200 average against and has struck out 17 batters in 12 innings of work.

In the Cleveland bullpen, he can slide into a sixth-inning role in front of Wittgren and Karinchak while also offering an arm with closers experience incase Hand’s up and down season makes a turn for the worst.

Williams also should not cost the Indians much as Seattle is likely to sell off pieces at the deadline and will likely be looking to simply booster their farm system with depth.

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Sam Hentges is a name who could help do that. The Indians 24-year old is a former fourth-round pick who has yet to make his MLB debut but is ranked among Cleveland’s top 30 prospects. He can be an arm that joins the Seattle pitching staff immediately and hangs around for the future as well.

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In order to make a deep playoff run, the Cleveland Indians need to add help in the outfield and perhaps acquire a bullpen arm. Here are four trades that would make sense for Mike Chernoff to make.

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