Cleveland Indians: Five bold predictions for the Tribe in 2021

The Cleveland Indians will trade Carlos Carrasco in 2021

Should the midpoint of the season come with the Cleveland Indians not in contention, then a lot of changes could occur. Even if the Indians are in the thick of things, it wouldn’t be the first time they traded a starting pitcher from their rotation in the middle of the year.

When it comes to the Cleveland Indians roster, Carlos Carrasco is an outlier in more ways than one. For starters, he is the oldest player on the active roster and will be 34-years old when the season begins. Secondly, he’s the most expensive contract currently on the books. Lindor’s deal will surpass the mark, but the reality remains the same.

If the Indians are serious about both getting younger and saving money than Carrasco is the logical player to move during the 2021 season. He’s still a low-cost starter for his ability and could bring in a nice haul.

The plus for the Indians is that they are also notorious for producing starting pitchers through the minors. If there is a prospect emerging as someone who could take over for Carrasco in the rotation than the idea of a trade becomes much more appealing. Whatever the reason for the trade, it seems likely that one involving Carrasco will happen this year.