Tribe Triumph Over Tigers

The Indians returned to winning ways this weekend, taking two out of three from their trip to Comerica Park against the Detroit Tigers, culminating in a dominant win in the rubber game on Sunday afternoon. In today's recap, I focus on one area of the team that has come under scrutiny this year, but might be cause for optimism going into August and beyond.

Options In The Outfield

Since the Indians were able to significantly upgrade their ailing bullpen with the additions of Brad Hand and Adam Cimber from the Padres, the attention has now turned to how reinforcements might bolster the outfield, ranked by many as among the worst in the majors.

Perhaps the Tribe's current group had heard the rumblings that replacements might be just around the corner, as Rajai Davis, Melky Cabrera, Michael Brantley and Brandon Guyer all stepped up their productivity during their time in Detroit.

For the series, Davis batted 4-for-12 and the veteran had an especially notable Sunday, with two doubles and a triple, leading the Indians to a convincing 8-1 victory. He displayed prowess with his glove as well, making a couple of nice catches in center field. Davis also took time to acknowledge my praise on Twitter after the game, so if he hadn't already earned a fan for life after that home run, well he's definitely got my eternal support now.

Melky Cabrera went 4-for-9 over the series, which included his first home run of the season and his first as a member of the Indians. In the second inning of Sunday's game and just after the Tigers had tied the game at 1-1, the switch-hitter took a Jordan Zimmermann pitch over the right field wall, and the Tribe never looked back. Cabrera also made two outstanding catches in right field as well, both of them close to the wall. Since being recalled to the Indians, Cabrera has hit .407/.429/.593 (BA/OBP/SLG) in 28 plate appearances over eight games, whilst sharing right field duties with Brandon Guyer.

Speaking of Guyer, he had an important hit of his own this series, a pinch-hit 3-run homer on Saturday to give the Tribe some much-needed breathing room in their 8-3 win. In the top of the eighth inning the Indians were holding onto a slim 4-3 lead, when Guyer connected on a fastball low and inside, and drove the ball far over the left field fence to put the result beyond doubt. Guyer, the lefty-mashing specialist, is slashing .274/.391/.562 versus left-handers this year, with 5 home runs and 20 RBI.

Last but certainly not least is Michael Brantley, who went 5-for-14 against the Tigers, including a triple in Sunday's rubber game (which opened the scoring when Jose Ramirez brought Brantley home with a sac-fly). The ever-consistent left fielder is batting .302 this year over 93 games, with 12 home runs and 57 RBI, and a 117 OPS+. So far Brantley's health issues this year have been under control, and his reliable bat and plate discipline have combined to be the effective weapon we had hoped.

Obviously, one series against the lowly Tigers does not tell the entire story. It is not like all of Cleveland's outfield problems have miraculously disappeared just because a handful of guys had some good hits during the weekend. The front office is certainly smart enough to avoid getting carried away with this small sample of success, and the outfield situation is still alarming when you look at the bigger picture. Bradley Zimmer is out for the season and Lonnie Chisenhall might be joining him, plus Tyler Naquin will miss time with a hip issue.

There's no doubt the Indians should still be looking to upgrade their outfield before the trade deadline closes tomorrow, particularly in center field, and I made that clear in my last post. However, if the management's confidence in the current group continues to grow, and guys like Davis, Guyer and Cabrera can ride these hot streaks for a while longer, then perhaps the corners don't require as much attention as some might have previously thought.

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Some other brief talking points from Detroit:

• In the Indians' sole loss on Saturday, starter Mike Clevinger struggled through 5 innings and a sickness bug that had him drenched in sweat and unable to sleep the night before. Considering he was feeling so awful, his performance was admirable, giving up just 2 runs on the back of a JaCoby Jones 2-run shot that was enough for the Tigers to squeeze out a 2-1 win. Clevinger did rack up 8 strikeouts somehow, and it was a shame the offense couldn't support him.
• Yonder Alonso had a successful trip to the Motor City, crushing 2 home runs and collecting 5 RBI over 6 hits in 12 at-bats as he tormented the Tigers' pitchers. Alonso has been very impressive since the beginning of July, slashing .325/.386/.597 (BA/OBP/SLG) in 21 games, with 6 homers and 20 RBI, with a .984 OPS.
• Corey Kluber cruised to his 13th win of the year on Sunday, thanks largely to his ability to induce groundballs. Kluber was economical over 7.1 innings, getting 10 outs by letting his defense pick up the scraps. He had 5 strikeouts as well, and was keeping Detroit hitters off balance all afternoon. This was an encouraging performance from the Tribe ace, after the concerning performances in his other post-All Star appearances.

The Indians now travel to Minnesota for a three game set with the 48-56 Twins. If the Indians are able to leave Target Field with a series win or a sweep, it should be the final nail in the coffin for their AL Central rivals, essentially extinguishing any hopes they still had of catching the Tribe. Shane Bieber will take the mound for the Indians in Monday's first game, and he will face Ervin Santana, making just his second start of the year for Minnesota after finger surgery in February ruled him out for the first half of the season.

Indians Picked Apart By Pirates, Lose Series

Pittsburgh arrived at Progressive Field this week in the midst of a successful run, and after winning their first two games the Pirates had stretched their winning streak to 11-straight games. Thankfully the Tribe responded with a win of their own on Wednesday, to avoid an unpleasant series sweep.

Pirates Plunder Tribe, But Bauer Battles

Corey Kluber took the mound on Monday to start the series and he got roughed up in the Tribe's 7-0 loss, to the tune of 7 runs, 3 of them earned, spread over 9 hits.

Since Kluber's last start on 12 July, the Indians' ace received an injection in his right knee the following day that resulted in him sitting out the All-Star Game. Despite the time off to recuperate, Kluber's preparations for Monday's game could not have been worse; rain caused the game to start an hour later than planned and another rain delay in the third inning disrupted his rhythm even further. Finally, the heavens opened once more after the sixth inning that resulted in the game being called.

Kluber might not have been helped by his defense Monday night, with Yonder Alonso in particular catching the yips in a costly moment, but it was obvious the 32 year-old starter wasn't feeling 100%. Here's hoping he can sort himself out soon and this nagging knee injury doesn't linger. The last thing the Indians need is their reliable Kluber breaking down during the second half of the season.

Tuesday's game saw rookie starter Shane Bieber called into action but he struggled mightily, and the blazing Pirates tore him apart early. Bieber was taken out of the game after just 1.2 innings, having given up 7 earned runs on 7 hits, two of them home runs. It was the worst start of his young professional career so far, a miserable day at the office by all accounts.

Similar to Monday night's fiasco, yet again a Tribe starter was let down defensively. Tyler Naquin, playing a shallow center field and out of position, misplayed a line drive hit by Corey Dickerson that resulted in a triple, scoring two runs. Instead of being caught for the final out of the inning, Naquin's misjudgement inadvertently put young Bieber in a hole he couldn't crawl out of, and the Pirates capitalized and forced the rookie from the game. The Tribe offense chipped away at the Pirates' lead throughout the rest of the evening but could never force home more than one run every inning or so, and Pittsburgh emerged victorious, 9-4.

Wednesday was an entirely different story. In a pitcher's duel between Trevor Bauer and the Pirates' Jameson Taillon, it was Bauer who shone brightest. The dynamic 27 year-old right-hander had everything working for him, especially that hammer of a curveball. Bauer lasted 7 innings and gave up just 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 10 Pirates in a dominating performance. Taillon managed to match Bauer in length but not in quality, as the Indians' offense tagged the Pirates starter for 7 hits, the key hit being a two-run single by Edwin Encarnacion in the third inning. Yonder Alonso added some insurance late on, when his two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning extended the Tribe's lead to 4-0. New boy Brad Hand was, errr, on hand to seal the win, earning the save (his 25th of the season, but first in Cleveland).

Overall, the visit from the Pirates was largely disappointing for Indians fans but Wednesday's performance in the glorious sunshine was encouraging in many ways, and helped reduce some of the negativity from earlier in the week. Bauer's continued excellence in his breakout season has certainly been a welcome distraction from the telltale signs of decline possibly creeping into Kluber.

Outfield Help On It's Way?

With the trade deadline just around the corner, the Indians are still rumored to be in the hunt for some help in the outfield. With Bradley Zimmer out for the season, and rookie Greg Allen still finding his feet at the major league level, the Tribe could benefit from some quality and experience in center field.

They should look no further than Adam Jones.

The 32 year-old (soon to be 33) five-time All Star has spent the last decade in Baltimore, a mainstay of their lineup, but with the Orioles now in full rebuild mode, perhaps the Indians could entice him away to help in their bid for World Series glory.

Jones will be a free agent at the end of this season, finishing up his six-year, $85.5 million contract, so it makes a lot of sense for Baltimore to trade him. His best years are almost certainly behind him so they would be wise to cash in whilst they can.

He does possess full no-trade rights however, but given his long-held desire to win a championship (he's yet to reach a World Series), it's possible he could leave Baltimore behind and accept a trade to a contender. Cleveland have a vacancy in the outfield and can offer the sort of playing time the Indians' rivals cannot.

The Tribe currently rank 28th in the majors with a .571 OPS in center field this year, so Jones would be a welcome addition offensively. So far this season the veteran is batting .277/.304 /422 (BA/OBP/SLG) with 10 home runs and 38 RBI in 411 plate appearances. He's not been amazing by any means, and he's not the star acquisition he would have been five years ago, but even a consistent, league-average player would be a huge upgrade to the Indians outfield at this present time; Jones' 100 OPS+ would be much appreciated in this lineup desperate for production from any outfielder not named Michael Brantley.

Defensively he's always been a reliable presence, and brings a sense of leadership on the field as well. The good news is the Indians stand a legitimate chance of adding Jones this month, as everyone is well aware he is purely a rental, and therefore won't cost top prospects. The Orioles will still expect a good return of course, but at least the club won't have to sell the farm for Jones. The Indians already dealt their biggest trade chip anyway...

The most concerning competition the Indians face for Jones' services is Philadelphia, who are also keen to upgrade their outfield in their push for the postseason. Unfortunately, Jones has some history here, as Andy MacPhail, current Phillies president, was general manager of the Orioles in 2008 when he acquired Jones from Seattle. Read into that what you will, but it isn't a good thing for the Tribe.

There's still a chance a guy like Jones, who has built a life for himself in Baltimore over ten years, might not want to move after all (he even owns the house of Baltimore legend Cal Ripken Jr.) It might be more complex than anticipated for the face of the Orioles franchise to leave for a new city.

Nevertheless, I think trading for Jones would be a smart decision and he could become a valuable contributor in the months to come. If the club are able to put a deal together to bring him to Cleveland, then I would be a happy man.

Recipe For Relief: Bullpen Targets

UPDATE: Just minutes before I was scheduled to publish, Ken Rosenthal broke the news that Brad Hand had been acquired from the Padres, along with Adam Cimber, for Indians' catcher and top prospect Francisco Mejia. So, please enjoy the rest of this post, but bear in mind it was written in a pre-Brad Hand world!

With the All-Star break now behind us and the second half of the season about to begin, the Indians' attention turns to sealing their place in the postseason. To do that should be relatively simple (we hope), but to succeed once they get there is another matter altogether.

To ensure October success, Cleveland are in need of reinforcements and the odd upgrade here and there. Relief pitching is an area that could certainly benefit from some new additions.

Prior to the All-Star break the Tribe's bullpen had a 5.28 ERA, ranking them 29th in the Majors - only the Royals have been worse. The Indians' 4.85 FIP (fielding independent pitching) also puts them 29th in the league, despite the club leading their division by 7.5 games. Clearly the relief corps warrant some attention before the trade deadline on the 31st July.

Bullpen ace Andrew Miller is set to return from injury in the coming weeks but what sort of player will he be? The dominant Miller of late 2016 or the awkward and struggling Miller we have seen this year? The Tribe's set-up situation definitely requires an overhaul, as Dan Otero and Zach McAllister have not been up to standard this year.

Without further ado, lets discuss some of the options out there that the Indians may target before the trade deadline passes:

Brad Hand - San Diego Padres

Hand is one of baseball's top relievers known to be on the market and he's been linked with a number of clubs this summer, with Cleveland rumored to be in the mix. The two-time All-Star left-hander currently sports a 3.05 ERA in 41 games with 24 saves, with 65 strikeouts over 44.1 innings.

The 28 year-old is an appealing target for the Indians, not just for his performance but also for his contract. Hand's current deal is relatively affordable even for a team with a budget like Cleveland's. Hand will make $6.5 million in 2019, $7 million in 2020 and has a $10 million club option for the 2021 season.

The price tag to acquire Hand will be steep, and the Padres won't sell unless they feel they're getting a fantastic prospect in return. It wasn't so long ago the Indians showed their willingness to trade away prized pieces from the farm for a top reliever, most notably in the 2016 trade for Andrew Miller from the Yankees. It's not inconceivable we see a repeat of this in 2018.

Hand is my number one target but you just get the feeling the Cubs or the Yankees will put together trade packages that might be more appealing for San Diego, and steal him away.

(UPDATE: I was wrong, thankfully, although the Tribe did have to give up their biggest asset to acquire Hand. So I was somewhat right!)

Brad Brach - Baltimore Orioles

The 28-69 Orioles have finally set Manny Machado free, so it is likely we'll see some more Baltimore birds fly the nest in the next couple of weeks.

The 32 year-old Brach is one player the Indians may be targeting. Brach has a 4.46 ERA in 39 games, but a much more respectable 3.61 FIP. His 1.734 WHIP is a slight cause for concern, indicative of his command struggles this season, but his career in Baltimore up to this point suggests this first half performance is perhaps not a fair reflection of his talent (he hasn't had a WHIP above 1.200 since 2013, his final year in San Diego).

One knock against Brach, and his teammate and fellow trade target Zach Britton, is his eligibility to test free agency at the end of this season. With the Indians likely to lose both Cody Allen and Andrew Miller this winter, Cleveland will probably want to bring in new relievers with the future in mind. Still, I think Brach could be a solid addition to the bullpen in 2018, and could really help in their quest for the World Series this year.

Raisel Iglesias - Cincinnati Reds

In his four-year career with the Reds, you could argue Iglesias has been the centerpiece of the Cincinnati bullpen, and has developed into a solid closer. With the Reds at the bottom of the NL Central and seemingly away from contention within the next year or two, there's potential for trades to be made if they receive the right offer.

Iglesias currently has 19 saves and a 2.36 ERA in 39 games, with 46 strikeouts in 42 innings. A bonus towards acquiring the 28 year-old Cuban would be the long term effect he could have in Cleveland, as he's not arbitration eligible until 2021 and his current contract is affordable at $5.7 million a year.

If the Indians are able to acquire Iglesias, he could theoretically pitch in any role Francona needs. The right-hander has shown he can perform the duties of a setup man or closer, and could even handle multi-inning outings without any issues. I would be very keen to see the Tribe keep Iglesias in Ohio, and bring him north to the shores of Lake Erie.

Sergio Romo - Tampa Bay Rays

The 35 year-old Romo has been the picture of consistency in the Tampa Bay bullpen this year, and the versatile veteran with plenty of postseason experience (part of two World Series winning teams) might be just the kind of reliever the Indians could look to add.

He's carrying a 3.83 ERA over 46 games thus far for the Rays, with 46 strikeouts in 42.1 innings of work and 11 saves.

Romo is no longer the elite closer he was in his Giants heyday but he still remains an experienced and solid option that would compliment any bullpen. The Rays are on the fringes of a possible Wild Card spot this year, so they may be reluctant to sell. Also, Romo would be a 36 year-old free agent ahead of the 2019 season, so he would almost certainly be seen as a rental in this "win now" window the Tribe find themselves in. Nevertheless, if Cleveland could bring Romo aboard without having to sell the farm, I would be happy to have him.

Kyle Barraclough - Miami Marlins

Similar to Hand and Iglesias, Barraclough is another relief target the Indians would look to buy for both this year and the future. If Cleveland could acquire the the 28 year-old, he could become a fixture in the Indians bullpen for years to come (he's under team control through 2021).

Barraclough has been sublime in 2018, with a 1.28 ERA and 9 saves, over 44 games and 42.1 innings.

The market for the 6'3 right-hander is extremely competitive though, and the Marlins are reportedly holding out for top prospects only. Cleveland may have to release one of, if not multiple prized assets in the hopes they can pry Barraclough away from sunny Miami.

With competition from the likes of the Dodgers and Red Sox, it could be difficult to land an arm as electric as Barraclough's, but he looks like he could be worth the price.

Kirby Yates - San Diego Padres

Yates is another reliever from the Padres that could be a realistic target for the Tribe, a right-hander under team control through 2020. Yates is a potential long-term addition who would improve the bullpen this season and give the Indians a late-inning option for a bullpen that will likely be without Miller and Allen in 2019.

Cleveland actually had Yates briefly during the 2015-16 offseason (between waiver claims), so he should be something of a known quantity in the organization.

The 31 year-old is in the midst of a career year with the Padres, and currently possesses a 1.43 ERA over 39 games. His strikeout ratio has been particularly impressive, with 48 punch-outs over 37.2 innings. Yates is certainly the kind of guy I could see the Indians realistically trading for.

Jared Hughes - Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati picked up Jared Hughes on a two year deal this offseason for a combined $4.5 million, plus a 2020 team option for $3 million. Similar to many of the other relievers I have mentioned, Hughes' level of team control and fantastic value-for-money could be too attractive for the Indians to pass up.

Hughes is on course for the best season of his career, and currently has a 1.44 ERA over 43 games, in 50 innings of work (with 6 saves thrown in for good measure).

The Reds won't feel like they have to sell Hughes (or Iglesias, mentioned earlier) but given that they aren't exactly preparing to make a run at the World Series any time soon, the Indians could make them an offer too good to refuse.

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Ultimately, if the Indians want to stand a serious chance of winning it all this year, they are going to have to add at least one new face to the bullpen, preferably two (at least). It could potentially cost them in the long run, but wouldn't a World Series title be worth it?

(UPDATE: They read my mind! Let's now see if they add any more bullpen help before the end of the month)