Cleveland Indians: Three potential low-cost trade targets for a fifth starter

Jon Gray (Colorado Rockies)

The Colorado Rockies are off to a, well, rocky start to the 2021 campaign with the National League’s worst record. We’re only one month into the season, but baseball-reference.com has their playoff odds at just 1.6%. Should the Rockies continue to trend south this season, then there could be a move or two on the horizon for the club.

One player that could be on the market is Jon Gray, the team’s best pitcher. At 29-years old, Gray has one year left on his contract, being this season, with a price of $6 million. Being that he is likely to enter free agency, Colorado might be more inclined to move him to get at least something in return.

This year Gray has made six starts for the Rockies, being 3-2 in those appearances over a total of 34.1 innings. Over that time, Gray has been able to maintain a 3.15 ERA along and a 1.19 WHIP. He has also been able to strikeout 30 batters while walking 14.

The third overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, if Gray can keep up his pace it would be his best season so far in his career setting up a potentially lucrative deal in free agency after this season. In the short-term, the Rockies could move him for a prospect and the Tribe could add a stronger fifth starter than any option they currently have in-house.

Next: Tyler Anderson