Two trades that would start the Cleveland Indians inevitable fire sale with a bang

While Lindor might be Cleveland’s most talented player, Jose Ramirez might bring back the most value.

Ramirez, who will be turning 28 years-old Thursday, is already a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner and was a member of the 30/30 club in 2018.

While his production has dropped slightly the past two seasons, he is still in the prime of his career, considered among the top infielders in baseball and has two years left on a deal that will pay him just $11 million in 2021 and 2022 combined.

For a team always looking to add superstars such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ramirez could be a perfect fit. The Cleveland infielder can play both third and second base where Los Angeles will have a need after 2021 with Justin Turner set to hit the open market.

Los Angeles is also a perfect place for Ramirez to earn a big contract extension as they always are willing to spend and could use his bat in their lineup for years to come.

With a team-friendly deal and two years of control, the Indians likely would find themselves receiving a large haul.

Ramirez may finally be the player that forces the Dodgers hand and sees them trade top prospect and infielder Gavin Lux, who, despite being MLB ready, has yet to find a permanent role on a loaded Dodgers team.

For a rebuilding team, Lux is the perfect player to build around and for an Indians team unlikely to have Lindor or Ramirez in their future, would be a perfect fit.

Another prospect Cleveland could look to add is catcher Diego Cartaya. Cartaya signed with the Dodgers out of Venezuela in 2018 and is ranked as their seventh best prospect. The backstop is just 19 years-old but slashed .281/343/.432 with four home runs in his first minor league season in 2019.

Finally, right-handed pitching prospect Gerardo Carrillo would be the perfect piece to finish off the deal. Carrillo is ranked as the Dodgers 18th prospect and has shown promising signs as both a reliever and starter and in the Indians farm system could make a major leap in his development.

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This deal would give the Indians an immediate game-changer and piece to build around and potential future major league starting options at catcher and on the mound, which would make moving Ramirez with its value nearing it’s peak more than worth it.