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

Who’s on the trade block should the Cleveland Indians become sellers?

In the span of less than two weeks the Cleveland Indians went from 42-33, nine-games above .500 and two games out of first place in the American League Central, to 42-42, on a nine-game losing streak and clawing to have some sort of success in any aspect of the game.

While the return of Zach Plesac gave the club some positive news along with a much needed win, it might not be enough to turn around the issues that go beyond just one starting spot in the rotation. That means that all the talk of players the Tribe could pursue at the trade deadline might become a mute point. It seemed like a stretch before that Cleveland could even become buyers, but now it seems like the tables are turning.

The losing streak has made the postseason look like an uphill battle for Cleveland now. It’s not impossible, but with the trade deadline only a couple weeks away, it’s going to take a lot more than .500 to commit to buying. For a team with a young core and most of the future still in the minors, this might turn into a season in which they sell.

Predicting what the team could be looking for in return is a bit difficult, especially with the MLB Draft happening in a few days. The team has had mixed return recently. The Mike Clevinger trade brought a great haul, but the Francisco Lindor deal fell short of expectations a bit. So when it comes to any deal the team makes at the deadline, who knows.

With that being said, the Cleveland Indians could still explore the option of becoming sellers if the July struggles continue. If that’s the case, then these four players could be on the chopping block. They aren’t big pieces of the club’s future and could be somewhat easily replaced for the rest of the year.

Bryan Shaw, RP, Cleveland Indians

Last season, Bryan Shaw totaled six games in the majors, playing for the Seattle Mariners, and ended the year with an ERA of 18.00. He totaled just six innings and allowed 12 runs while striking out just four. So, he returned to his roots with the Cleveland Indians on one-year deal with the hopes of resurrecting his career. Luckily, it seems like it worked.

For Cleveland, Shaw has reclaimed his previous role with the club as a do-it-all reliever that usually mans the seventh inning in close games. In total, he has 36 innings over 37 appearances with an ERA of 3.25. He’s given up just 13 earned runs while striking out an impressive 45.

Being on a one-year deal worth a total of $1 million, Shaw makes for an intriguing trade target for teams in need of bullpen help. Not only is he an established veteran, but he’s proven to once again be effective in key situations.

As for Cleveland, Shaw is expendable. Players like Nick Sandlin, Trevor Stephan and Nick Wittgren make moving Shaw a real possibility. Any of them, Sandlin specifically, could step into Shaw’s role and get that experience moving forward.

It could also open the door to establish a three-reliever rotation for the future. Sandlin has been effective in his role and could work well in the backend with James Karinchak and Emmanuel Clase. Essentially, dealing Shaw could end up being an all around win for the Cleveland Indians.

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.

Eddie Rosario, OF, Cleveland Indians

Of the four players on this list, Eddie Rosario might end up being the most difficult to move. Not because of his contract, stats or market, but because he’s currently on the injured list. If he can return healthy before the trade deadline, which seems decently possible, then he could be a nice trade chip for the Tribe.

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Rosario is having a down season in Cleveland, slashing .254/.296/.389 with only seven home runs. While those stats are about average, they’re lower than what Rosario usually does. That makes it seem like he could be gearing up for a big second half. The hope of the Cleveland Indians is that other teams think the same thing.

Being on a one-year, $8 million deal, Rosario isn’t locked into any future plans of the Tribe. If that remains the outlook, then there’s no reason to keep him in Cleveland if the season is lost by the deadline. The team might as well send him off for something in return if they won’t get anything from him past September.

Replacing Rosario would be the most difficult of these four players as well. Cleveland’s outfield has been a mess for a long time, so that wouldn’t be anything new. Prospects like Daniel Johnson could get an extended interview in Cleveland down the stretch should Rosario be moved.