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

Three low-cost trade targets for the Cleveland Indians to add a fifth starter

The Cleveland Indians are in a spot that they haven’t been for a few seasons. After sending down Logan Allen, the Tribe are a starter short of a strong rotation. They have prospects to temporarily fill the role, but if players like Sam Hentges can’t fill the void then the front office might have to make a move. While they could sign a free agent, a better option might be a trade if they can find a low-cost target.

To find a trade partner willing to part with a veteran, the Tribe might have to wait a bit longer for the standings to shake out. On top of that, Cleveland won’t be willing to take on any big contracts for a starter spot that they could fill with a variety of prospects. For a front office with such a tight budget, the type of player that could be a candidate will be within a small and specific window. A low-cost veteran from a team that is out of contention and willing to part with a player for maybe only a low-end prospect.

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Looking across baseball, the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates are two teams that could fall into that window soon. The Detroit Tigers are another candidate, but trading within the division isn’t advised and Detroit doesn’t have anyone that fits into the contract window that the Tribe would prefer. The Atlanta Braves could also be in the mix with a familiar face that currently plays a role in their bullpen.

Should the Cleveland Indians explore the idea of a trade to acquire a fifth starter to help solidify the rotation, then these three players should be on the team’s radar. They are all on inexpensive, short contracts that should allow for low-cost trades as well as being productive in the early going of this season.

Next: Jon Gray

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

Tyler Anderson (Pittsburgh Pirates)

If the Cleveland Indians are stuck on having a left-handed pitcher in the rotation this year then Tyler Anderson might be the player to target in a trade. Like the Rockies, the Pittsburgh Pirates are already well behind the eight-ball for the postseason with odds below 0.1% after just a month of play.

Like Gray, Anderson is in the last year of his deal and is set to become a free agent this upcoming offseason meaning the Pirates could watch him walk unless they move him during the season. With a price tag of just $2.5 million, the 31-year old lefty might be the perfect fit for the fifth spot in the Tribe’s rotation.

So far this season, Anderson has tossed 33.1 innings over six starts for the Pirates with a 2-3 record. While Anderson’s ERA is a bit higher than Gray’s at 3.24, his WHIP is a few ticks lower at 1.14 thanks to just 11 walks so far this season while striking out 31.

Anderson has turned into a bit of a journeyman, currently on his third team in three seasons. That might grow to four teams in three years if he continues to pitch well on a team that is looking out of contention already.

Next: Josh Tomlin

Josh Tomlin (Atlanta Braves)

The Atlanta Braves still have a strong shot at making the playoffs with odds around 43% as of now. However, the Braves have an extra starter pitching in their bullpen that might interest the Cleveland Indians. Josh Tomlin is currently pitching out of the pen for the Braves, but being a familiar face to the front office he could be on the short list to fill the fifth spot in the rotation.

Now 36-years old, Tomlin has totaled just 15 starts since the beginning of the 2018 season. During the 2018 campaign, the Tribe moved Tomlin to the bullpen and he stayed in that role with the Braves over the last three seasons, including just one start over the last two years.

Nevertheless, he could be the perfect fit for a fifth starter. While pitching out of the pen, Tomlin has totaled 14.2 innings this year over 10 games with a 2-0 record. The downside is that his ERA is 4.30 and his WHIP is 1.50. However, the Tribe know what Tomlin can do and his contract is only for $1 million this season with a club option for next year at $1.25 million.

He plays a key role for the Braves, so it might take a bit more to pry him away, but for the right price they might consider it. Of the three options, Tomlin is probably the least likely to be dealt, but his history with Cleveland makes him an intriguing possibility.