Cleveland Indians: 3 players on MLBTR top 40 trade list to target

3 players on MLBTR top 40 trade list for the Cleveland Indians to target

This past week, MLB Trade Rumors released their Top 40 Trade Candidates list. While Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is still a little shy of two months away, the talks and rumors are already starting to pick up. The Cleveland Indians didn’t have any players named on the list that could be departing the team, but there are a few options for the team to add.

Up to this point in the season Cleveland holds a record of 31-25, leaving the team three games out of first in the American League Central and in control of one of the Wild Card spots. Given that the team is still well within contention, there’s a chance that the Tribe could be in the market for a deadline deal. The questions will be what are they looking for and how much are they willing to spend?

The success for Cleveland might not feel like true success. Sure, they have a winning record but the ups-and-downs of the season have taken their toll. The offensive productions has been inconsistent and the starting pitching is in a near identical boat. The early soul-searching paired with a handful of injuries has revealed some of the team’s weaknesses. Nevertheless, they are still competing at a high level and are among the top five teams in the AL.

To get over the hump and find some consistency the Cleveland Indians might need to make a move at the deadline. However, this ownership group and front office isn’t exactly known for spending big. Moves in the last couple seasons have sent out bigger contracts while bringing in prospect talent. Those types of moves work when you have minor leaguers ready to step up, but the Tribe are now in the position to add players who can contribute now, which usually means a higher price both in contracts and outgoing talent.

If the Tribe wants to add players without breaking the bank, these three players might be at the top of their list for moves to make at the trade deadline.

Cleveland Indians Trade Target #1

Moving down the list by MLB Trade Rumors, the first name that seems like a fit for the Cleveland Indians is outfielder Mitch Haniger. The outfield in Cleveland has had a quantity of players for a few years, but quality has been lacking. The addition of Eddie Rosario has been a bit underwhelming so far this year, but Harold Ramirez and Jordan Luplow have looked much improved. However, there can easily be room made for Haniger.

The big plus for Haniger is that he’s still in the arbitration process of his career. This year his salary is just $3.01 million, a number that is far lower than what he brings to a team. He also has one more year of team control next year, making him more than just a rental.

While that’s a plus for the Cleveland Indians, it’s also going to make acquiring Haniger for a decent price much more difficult. Haniger is currently slashing .262/.310/.524 with 14 home runs, tied for eighth in all of Major League Baseball. He’s also been able to tally 15 doubles and 37 RBI.

Haniger’s production and contract fit perfectly into what the Cleveland Indians will be looking for at the deadline. The issue will be the price of the deal. Haniger is most likely going to be one of the more desirable targets and with the Seattle Mariners still at 29-31 there’s still a chance they don’t want to sell at the deadline. However, if there’s a player to maybe overspend for a bit, it might be Haniger.

Cleveland Indians Trade Target #2

For the first time in a long time the starting rotation for the Cleveland Indians is a bit of a concern. Injuries and slow starts have raised a few questions in the unit and even once they are all healthy there’s still two spots that could be improved at the trade deadline.

After an awful 2019 season with the Colorado Rockies, Tyler Anderson rebounded a bit with the San Francisco Giants in 2020 before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates this past offseason where’s he has been able to put together a strong season thus far. With Anderson playing well and the Pirates being one of the worst teams in baseball, Anderson could once again be on the move.

In 11 starts, Anderson has put together a 4.67 ERA over 61.2 innings while striking out 59. Those numbers aren’t amazing, but they might be the best opportunity for the Tribe to add a starter at a reasonable price. Anderson’s making just $2.5 million this season, so financially it wouldn’t be too much of a burden.

Cleveland is currently exploring new options with the starting rotation, so there’s a chance that a spot or two in the rotation could be solved over the next month before decisions need to be made at the deadline. That will also allow a larger sample size from Anderson to see if he’s truly corrected some of his flaws on the mound or if the improvements are just temporary.