Cleveland Indians: 5 starting pitchers to target at MLB trade deadline

Cleveland Indians: 5 starting pitchers for Tribe to target at trade deadline

The Cleveland Indians being without starting pitching for a significant portion of the first half of the season was a bizarre-o alternate reality that no one should be in a hurry to revisit. The Tribe had less than half of their first half starts handled by the Big Three, and The Replacements have had their struggles to put it politely.

However, out of the All-Star break, Cleveland received some strong starts from Eli Morgan, Cal Quantrill and Zach Plesac to take a series win in Oakland and position themselves at 47-43, within striking distance of a Wild Card spot and not yet buried in the American League Central.

With any luck the Indians will get Shane Bieber and Aaron Civale back right on the heels of Plesac who just made his second start back from injury, but the team certainly has a need at starting pitcher if the push continues.

The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching on July 30th, and the pieces are already moving with the Braves acquiring Joc Pederson from the Cubs. The Tribe currently possess the lowest payroll in baseball, just south of $53M, which would normally lend one to believe the team might spend at the deadline, but that’s simply not this front office’s MO.

Cleveland will likely add players on expiring contracts or cheaper prospects with a few years of arbitration remaining. With that being said, here are a few candidates that the Cleveland Indians might try to acquire at the deadline.