The Indians completed a great month of June, picking up
five games on the Twins and competing with some good opponents (let’s forget
about those two pathetic performances against the Orioles, shall we?). Then, after a couple rough nights against those Twins, they have now won four in a row. There
are signs of life from Jose Ramirez, Jason Kipnis and Jake Bauers, while Carlos
Santana, Roberto Perez and Frankie Lindor continue to shine. Rookies like Oscar
Mercado, Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale have come up big. Bobby Bradley’s
thunderous swings finally arrived in Cleveland, leading to one massive homer to accompany deflating strikeouts, until he was sent back down this week. The bullpen, behind Adam Cimber, Nick
Wittgren and Brad Hand, has been remarkably reliable. And, finally, Mike
Clevinger has returned looking like he could be dominant again soon. We still
await word on Carlos Carrasco’s condition, and Corey Kluber won’t make it back
until at least late August. The Indians have put themselves back into the
division race and firmly established themselves as wildcard contenders. Most
importantly, they’ve made themselves fun to watch.
With that said, the Indians could use at least one more bat
for the stretch run. They need someone with some power for the middle of the
order, preferably a right-handed hitter to balance a lefty-weighted lineup.
Additionally, the Indians have struggled this year against changeups, so
finding someone who handles changeups would help against pitchers who rely on
that pitch, and might help the lineup reverse this trend. Below, you will find
my wish list of players whom the Indians’ Front Office could target in the next
few weeks.
Likely Unavailable
but Worth a Lot if Made So
Anthony Rendon, 3B, Washington – RH hitter, projected 128
wRC+ for the rest of the season, 1.25 runs above average against changeups,
rental
Summary: The Nationals are in the playoff hunt, so I can’t see them trading Rendon whom they’d like to re-sign. However, if Washington has a couple bad weeks, he might become available before the deadline. If so, he would be a lineup-changing bat. It would be a challenge to figure out where to play him and it would cost a lot to have him only for the rest of this year, but, hey, a guy can dream.
Summary: The Nationals are in the playoff hunt, so I can’t see them trading Rendon whom they’d like to re-sign. However, if Washington has a couple bad weeks, he might become available before the deadline. If so, he would be a lineup-changing bat. It would be a challenge to figure out where to play him and it would cost a lot to have him only for the rest of this year, but, hey, a guy can dream.
Hunter Renfroe, OF, San Diego – RH hitter, projected 106
wRC+ for the rest of season, 1.86 against changeups, team control through 2023
Summary: Every now and then, you hear that the Padres want to make their whole team available via trade. Hard to imagine they want to trade Renfroe, but he is a low OBP slugger, the kind who are not as highly valued as they used to be. This is the kind of player San Diego might trade for Trevor Bauer, which might not be a terrible idea, but I’d want a decent prospect to accompany Renfroe in that case. (Many disagree with me on this).
Summary: Every now and then, you hear that the Padres want to make their whole team available via trade. Hard to imagine they want to trade Renfroe, but he is a low OBP slugger, the kind who are not as highly valued as they used to be. This is the kind of player San Diego might trade for Trevor Bauer, which might not be a terrible idea, but I’d want a decent prospect to accompany Renfroe in that case. (Many disagree with me on this).
Mitch Haniger, OF, Seattle – RH hitter, 114 proj. wRC+, 1.07
against changeups, team control through 2022
Summary: Well, Haniger is making a return from a ruptured testicle. IF Seattle makes him available, he’ll be the best outfielder on the market and capable of giving the Indians a middle of the order bat for 2019-2021. He would not come cheap.
Summary: Well, Haniger is making a return from a ruptured testicle. IF Seattle makes him available, he’ll be the best outfielder on the market and capable of giving the Indians a middle of the order bat for 2019-2021. He would not come cheap.
All three of these hitters really hit changeups well,
interestingly enough.
Expensive if
Available
Trey Mancini, 1B/OF, Baltimore – RH hitter, 108 proj. wRC+,
-0.33 against changeups, under team control through 2022
Summary: Mancini is having a career year, and would provide some needed punch to the Indians’ lineup. He is pretty much Baltimore’s only valuable trade chip, though, and I feel like they are going to get an overpay from someone for him.
Summary: Mancini is having a career year, and would provide some needed punch to the Indians’ lineup. He is pretty much Baltimore’s only valuable trade chip, though, and I feel like they are going to get an overpay from someone for him.
Whit Merrifield, 2B/OF, Kansas City – RH hitter, 104 proj.
wRC+, 0.38 against changeups, under team control through 2023
Summary: We’re all sick of seeing Merrifield kill Tribe pitching, but his projections really don’t look that great. With that said, he certainly looks like a solid 2 or 3 hitter, who can play second after Kipnis leaves following this season. It would be an intra-division trade, adding to the expense and risk, but I think KC should make Merrifield available.
Summary: We’re all sick of seeing Merrifield kill Tribe pitching, but his projections really don’t look that great. With that said, he certainly looks like a solid 2 or 3 hitter, who can play second after Kipnis leaves following this season. It would be an intra-division trade, adding to the expense and risk, but I think KC should make Merrifield available.
Jorge Soler, OF, Kansas City – RH hitter, 105 proj .wRC+,
-1.37 against changeups, under team control through 2021.
Summary: Another guy we’d rather not see hitting against the Indians, but he really isn’t great. He’d add some pop and a lot of strikeouts. At the right price (lower than what I’m sure the Royals would want), I’d be happy to have him.
Summary: Another guy we’d rather not see hitting against the Indians, but he really isn’t great. He’d add some pop and a lot of strikeouts. At the right price (lower than what I’m sure the Royals would want), I’d be happy to have him.
Jose Martinez, OF/DH, St. Louis – RH hitter, 106 proj. wRC+,
0.80 against changeups, under team control through 2022
Summary: Long desired by Indians’ fans, the Cardinals are struggling and could look to get some major league ready prospects to retool for a run in a year or two. Martinez is mostly a DH, which should lower the asking price, but the team control remaining for him drives it up.
Summary: Long desired by Indians’ fans, the Cardinals are struggling and could look to get some major league ready prospects to retool for a run in a year or two. Martinez is mostly a DH, which should lower the asking price, but the team control remaining for him drives it up.
Tyler O’Neill, OF, St. Louis – RH hitter, 107 proj. wRC+,
3.43 against changeups, under team control through 2024.
Summary: O’Neill can’t get playing time in St. Louis, but he’s the kind of right-handed bat who could flourish with regular playing time. The Cardinals might be reluctant to let the Indians discover another underused Cardinals’ hitter like Mercado, though. He apparently crushes changeups, though!
Summary: O’Neill can’t get playing time in St. Louis, but he’s the kind of right-handed bat who could flourish with regular playing time. The Cardinals might be reluctant to let the Indians discover another underused Cardinals’ hitter like Mercado, though. He apparently crushes changeups, though!
Possibly Available
and Likely Reasonable
Mark Canha, UTL, Oakland – RH hitter, 107 proj. wRC+, -0.03
against changeups, team control through 2021
Summary: Eh, the Athletics are hanging around the playoff picture, but their players always seem like they’re available at the right price. Canha is very versatile, which the Indians love… but his hitting value isn’t quite as high as others on this list.
Summary: Eh, the Athletics are hanging around the playoff picture, but their players always seem like they’re available at the right price. Canha is very versatile, which the Indians love… but his hitting value isn’t quite as high as others on this list.
Domingo Santana, OF/DH, Seattle – RH hitter, 114 wRC+, -0.99
against changeups, team control through 2021
Summary: Not sure if the Mariners would want to move on from this excellent acquisition they made. But, it would be wise for them to go full rebuild. Santana is not a good defender, however, but he projects as one of the best hitters in this group.
Summary: Not sure if the Mariners would want to move on from this excellent acquisition they made. But, it would be wise for them to go full rebuild. Santana is not a good defender, however, but he projects as one of the best hitters in this group.
Available and
Likely Inexpensive
Nick Castellanos, OF/DH, Detroit – RH hitter, 116 proj.
wRC+, -0.07 against changeups, rental
Summary: ZIPs sees a big second-half for Castellanos, who seems to be depressed in Detroit (who can blame him?). He crushes left-handed pitching, but is not good with the glove. He’d be a DH in Cleveland. As a player with an expiring contract, he only helps for 2020, but that should drive his price down.
Summary: ZIPs sees a big second-half for Castellanos, who seems to be depressed in Detroit (who can blame him?). He crushes left-handed pitching, but is not good with the glove. He’d be a DH in Cleveland. As a player with an expiring contract, he only helps for 2020, but that should drive his price down.
Justin Smoak, 1B, Toronto – Switch-hitter, 109 proj. wRC+,
0.62 against changeups, rental
Summary: Smoak seems like exactly the kind of player the Indians target during stretch runs. He is a vet who can hit long flies, and a switch-hitter to boot. The only issue is that he does not hit left-handed pitching very well. Still, he would probably be the cheapest option to acquire in this list.
Summary: Smoak seems like exactly the kind of player the Indians target during stretch runs. He is a vet who can hit long flies, and a switch-hitter to boot. The only issue is that he does not hit left-handed pitching very well. Still, he would probably be the cheapest option to acquire in this list.
Todd Frazier, 1B/3B, New York Mets - RH hitter, 98 proj.
wRC+, -0.39, against changeups, rental
Summary: I’m sure Frazier is available, and he does crush lefties. He would probably be better suited to be kind of a platoon bat in the Indians’ lineup.
Hunter Pence, DH, Texas Rangers - RH hitter, 89 proj. wRC+, 0.47 against changeups, rental.
Summary: It looks like the Rangers will be selling at the deadline, and Pence has had an incredible year with a 133 wRC+. Now, he isn't likely to keep that up, but, for his career, he has put up a 123 wRC+ against left-handers. It might be worth seeing if the Indians can capitalize on Pence's amazing resurgence for the last couple months.
Summary: I’m sure Frazier is available, and he does crush lefties. He would probably be better suited to be kind of a platoon bat in the Indians’ lineup.
Hunter Pence, DH, Texas Rangers - RH hitter, 89 proj. wRC+, 0.47 against changeups, rental.
Summary: It looks like the Rangers will be selling at the deadline, and Pence has had an incredible year with a 133 wRC+. Now, he isn't likely to keep that up, but, for his career, he has put up a 123 wRC+ against left-handers. It might be worth seeing if the Indians can capitalize on Pence's amazing resurgence for the last couple months.
My wish-list in order of preference:
1. Mitch Haniger, OF – Seattle
2. Whit Merrifield, 2B/OF – Kansas City
3. Trey Mancini, 1B/OF - Baltimore
4. Domingo Santana, OF/DH – Seattle
5. Anthony Rendon, 3B – Washington
6. Tyler O’Neill, OF – St. Louis
7. Hunter Renfroe, OF – San Diego
8. Jose Martinez, OF/DH – St. Louis
9. Nick Castellanos, OF/DH – Detroit
10. Justin Smoak, 1B/DH – Toronto
11. Jorge Soler, OF/DH – Kansas City
12. Mark Canha, UTL – Oakland
13. Hunter Pence, DH - Texas
13. Hunter Pence, DH - Texas
14. Todd Frazier, 1B/3B – New York Mets
Suggested trades:
Nolan Jones, 3B/OF, and Luis Oviedo, RHP to Seattle for
Mitch Haniger (proposal approved at baseballtradevalues.com). This is a high
cost trade for the Indians. Jones and Oviedo have potential to make the Indians
rue this deal. But, getting an outfielder like Haniger could drastically change
the outlook for the major league club for the rest of this season and
2020-2021. The time to take these kind of risks is now.
Richard Palacios, 2B to Detroit for Nick Castellanos, OF/DH
(proposal approved at baseballtradevalues.com). Again, a high cost, but I think
Castellanos is poised for a big second half and he can be comfortably stashed
as DH here.
Resulting Lineup and Bench
1. Lindor, SS
2. Haniger, RF
3. Santana, 1B
4. Castellanos, DH
5. Ramirez, 3B
6. Bauers, LF
7. Perez, C
8. Kipnis, 2B
9. Mercado, CF
Bench:
OF – Jordan Luplow
OF – Tyler Naquin
IF – Freeman
C - Plawecki
OF – Tyler Naquin
IF – Freeman
C - Plawecki
Bottom Line: As you can see, I'd like to see the Indians go to a 7-man
bullpen and keep five outfielders on the roster in this scenario, but I know Tito
loves a full stable of arms.
There is a lot of talk about the Indians possibly trading Trevor Bauer or Brad Hand. I don't see either move happening now, though Bauer will likely be moved after the season is over. However, if some team offers the sun, moon and stars for Bauer or Hand, the Indians definitely might make a move like that. Names to listen for are Kyle Tucker from the Astros, Keston Hiura from the Brewers, Gavin Lux from the Dodgers, Cristian Pache from the Braves. Any of these players being put up for Bauer or Hand would make it very difficult for the Indians to say no. But, I don't expect this to happen.
There is a lot of talk about the Indians possibly trading Trevor Bauer or Brad Hand. I don't see either move happening now, though Bauer will likely be moved after the season is over. However, if some team offers the sun, moon and stars for Bauer or Hand, the Indians definitely might make a move like that. Names to listen for are Kyle Tucker from the Astros, Keston Hiura from the Brewers, Gavin Lux from the Dodgers, Cristian Pache from the Braves. Any of these players being put up for Bauer or Hand would make it very difficult for the Indians to say no. But, I don't expect this to happen.
It is possible that Haniger and Merrifield may not be
available at a reasonable price. But, I still think the Indians should be able
to make a play for a Trey Mancini, Domingo Santana or a Jose Martinez. My prediction is that the Indians end up with either Castellanos, Smoak or Pence, however. Since
our lackluster off-season ended, I have said its only redemption will be a
trade for a right-handed bat with pop and preferably team control, so I am
definitely wishing for the Front Office to come through and find one for this
run at another playoff appearance.
