Cleveland Indians: 4 players on the trade block should Tribe be sellers?

Cesar Hernandez, 2B, Cleveland Indians

Perhaps the best trade chip for Cleveland at the trade deadline is Cesar Hernandez. His stats are a bit down from last year, but the power is definitely there as is his Gold Glove from last year. That paired with his club friendly contract makes him a prime target for teams in need of a middle infield upgrade down the stretch.

Starting with his contract, Hernandez is signed on for a one-year deal with a club option for next year as well. In total, he’s set to make $5 million this year with an option for $6 million on the table for next year. The added bonus of a club option could up the return for him in a deal since he wouldn’t have to be a three-month rental.

A .223/.303/.404 slash line isn’t the best, but the power he presents is something that teams could show an interest in. Hernandez has 14 home runs, as well as 12 doubles, which makes up for the lack of batting average a bit. His 34 walks also help his case.

As for replacing Hernandez, the Tribe have plenty of options. They’ve already had Owen Miller and Andres Gimenez up this season and currently have Ernie Clement, any of whom could take over the starting duties. There’s also the chance they could promote Gabriel Arias to fill the spot, who is tearing it up in Columbus recently.

Whether the Cleveland Indians are in any sort of race at the trade deadline or not, Hernandez seems like a tradable player regardless. He’s on a team-friendly deal and is rather replaceable internally.