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Cleveland Indians: 4 trade ideas for Mike Chernoff

By Aaron Gershon

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 08: Jonathan Villar #2 of the Miami Marlins in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 08, 2020 in New York City. New York Mets defeated the Miami Marlins 8-4. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 08: Jonathan Villar #2 of the Miami Marlins in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 08, 2020 in New York City. New York Mets defeated the Miami Marlins 8-4. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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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)
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.

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