Goodbye Bauer, Hello Puig, Reyes and Co.

I was beginning to think the Indians weren't going to make a move at the trade deadline after all. As July 31st approached, I was lulled into the pretense that everybody would stay put, that the Tribe were content with what they had heading moving forward. 

Then, I wake up this morning to what can only be considered as a blockbuster.

Trevor Bauer, the Tribe's talented but enigmatic starting pitcher, is a Cleveland Indian no more. After nearly seven rollercoaster years of service, Bauer moves to the Cincinnati Reds as part of a three-team deal that also includes the San Diego Padres. Let's break down the moves:

Cincinnati get: Trevor Bauer SP (from Cleveland)

Cleveland get: Yasiel Puig OF, Scott Moss SP (from Cincinnati), Franmil Reyes OF, Logan Allen SP, Victor Nova 2B/3B/OF (from San Diego)

San Diego get: Taylor Trammell OF (from Cincinnati)

Upon first glance, this trade looks overwhelmingly favorable for the Indians - what a haul!

First, let's discuss the loss of Bauer. The Indians' front office had a delicate situation on their hands when approaching the notion of trading one of their best starting pitchers. To send him away to a contender would indicate weakness and admission of defeat this season. To avoid this, anything in return for Bauer was going to have to be big. And so it is with great joy we can celebrate this unique victory because, despite losing Bauer, this trade significantly upgrades the Indians' offense and puts them on track to not only stay competitive in 2019, but for years beyond.

Bauer has had a mixed 2019 thus far, but certainly not as impactful as his remarkable 2018 campaign (2.21 ERA, 221 strikeouts in 175.1 innings). He currently leads all of MLB in innings (156.2) but also walks (63), and possesses a 3.79 ERA, but a 4.17 FIP. Bauer is still one of the supreme strikeout artists in the game, and sits 5th in MLB with 185 K's. 

Whilst he might not be performing at the level he's capable of, the Reds are acquiring a pitcher of considerable talent. It's well known that Bauer's arsenal of pitches is unmatched. Still just 28 years-old, Cincinnati will have him on their books until 2020, his final year of arbitration, which might just be enough time for them to compete. Bauer joins a Reds rotation consisting of Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, Tanner Roark, Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani, so this upgrade to their pitching staff should help set them apart in this year's wild National League playoff race.

Bauer's history in Cleveland has had considerable highs and lows, but there can be no doubting his effort and love for the game. The clubhouse will be losing a beloved figure, and the majority of fans will acknowledge that on his day, Bauer was an unstoppable force. His personality might not be to everybody's tastes, but when discussing baseball, his knowledge and passion is indisputable. There were many times I wanted the club to wash their hands of him, but ultimately he won me over and I wish him nothing but success going forward.

What about who the Indians got in return?

The marquee name in this trade is Yasiel Puig, the Cuban phenomenon. Like Bauer, the 28 year-old outfielder has enjoyed his share of controversy throughout his career, but I've long been an admirer and have been advocating for the Indians to bring him aboard since 2015. Now we finally have him.

Puig is a right-handed power bat that fills a hole in the outfield the Indians have been trying to fix for some time. Tyler Naquin is quietly enjoying a productive season and his development has been remarkable, but Puig and his notoriously strong arm should take over right field duties immediately. 

Although he hasn't enjoyed the greatest success since his move to Cincinnati, his 2019 numbers are still welcome in Cleveland; in 100 games for the Reds, Puig batted .252 with 22 home runs and 61 RBIs, with 15 doubles as well. He has been more impressive of late, batting .311/.363/.610 with 12 home runs and a .929 OPS since the start of June. Puig will be looking to continue that form once he arrives at Progressive Field. 

Puig's tenure with the Tribe is likely to be short term, since he'll be a free agent after the season, but nobody will be complaining if he can deliver in October. He's exactly what was needed to make the lineup a more potent and dangerous proposition for opposing pitchers.

It might be Puig's name garnering most of the attention but the biggest coup in this trade may belong to Franmil Reyes, the 24 year-old power-hitting outfielder from the Padres.

Reyes' addition to the trade is a surprise, but a very welcome one. I'm still in shock that San Diego were willing to part with him. The Dominican slugger has 27 home runs this season already, leading the Indians by some margin upon his arrival, so his power bat should slot seamlessly into the middle of the Indians lineup. Over 99 games in San Diego he batted .255 with 46 RBIs.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect about Reyes' acquisition is his contract, as he'll be under club control until 2024. Whereas Puig is considered a pure rental in the Tribe's bid for a 2019 championship, Reyes will be a building block for years to come. A quick scan of social media shows just how highly Padres fan rated Reyes and how sad they are to see him go.

The other players included in the trade include pitcher Logan Allen, San Diego's 7th ranked prospect, who has seen time at the Major League level this year but will likely begin his Indians' career in Columbus. Allen was a 2015 8th round pick by the Red Sox and was dealt to the Padres in the deal that sent Craig Kimbrel to Boston.

Scott Moss was the Reds' 12th ranked prospect and the left-handed pitcher hasn't played above the Double-A level yet. Moss was drafted in the 4th round in 2016 and projects as a mid-rotation arm, maybe even a bullpen specialist with a deceptive fastball-slider combo that could hurt left-handed hitters.

Victor Nova is a 19 year-old infielder and outfielder, currently hitting .330 in the Arizona rookie league.

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Overall, I think the majority of Indians fans should feel content with the moves that have been made. Losing Bauer will sting for a while of course, but he was rarely shy about his long-term prospects in Cleveland, and often indicated his future lay elsewhere. The incentive to trade him was always high because of this, and that idea has now become reality. 

The return for him was more than I could have imagined - two powerful MLB-ready outfielders, and three interesting prospects for the future. It gives Cleveland a new foundation to build upon that could reap rewards sooner rather than later.

I consider that business well done.

Danny Salazar - Forgotten Man

Doesn't the 2013 Wild Card game feel like a long time ago?

Fans in attendance and those watching at home were certain the Tribe had a huge talent on their hands when Danny Salazar took the mound against the Rays. Here was a rookie fireballer on the national stage, pitching in the postseason for the first time in his career. When Salazar struck out Tampa Bay's James Loney to end the first inning, it was the loudest I had heard Progressive Field in all my years following the team (prior to the 2016 World Series at least.)

Since that October night, Salazar's career hasn't panned out like we might have hoped. An impressive 2015 provided another hint of what we could expect from the Dominican righty but that has been his only full season thus far, and despite a strong first half and All-Star selection in 2016, injuries have plagued him ever since. The following season was derailed by his afflictions and we haven't seen him pitch since game 4 of the ALDS, a defeat in New York on October 9th 2017. Salazar spent all of 2018 on the disabled list and ultimately had to undergo surgery for the pain in his right shoulder. He's been a distant memory ever since.

In such a short span, Salazar went from being one of the Indians' most promising young arms to a forgotten figure.

Nevertheless, he's still very much a part of this ballclub and has been working hard to return with a vengeance in 2019. Naturally it's taken time to rebuild his shoulder, let alone his pitching mechanics and velocity - Salazar has essentially had to start from the beginning and reinvent the way he throws a baseball.

The 29 year-old has been on a rehab assignment since early July and Cleveland must make a decision before the 30-day assignment expires, which is August 6th. We are definitely approaching the stage where Salazar enters into Terry Francona's plans for the remainder of the year.

Whilst rehabbing his injury this month, Salazar's performances have been encouraging. He's made 5 starts between the Arizona League, Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, compiling 13.1 innings with 23 strikeouts, for a 3.38 ERA. Reports indicate his fastball is around 93mph as well, and he doesn't appear to have lost his ability to strike guys out. It's a small sample size of course, but a positive body of work ahead of his impending return to Cleveland.

How exactly will he return though? His minor league outings have seen him feature as a starter, but Francona often utilized Salazar from the bullpen before injury.

If healthy and ready to go, my preference would be Salazar joining the back of the rotation, a fresh arm and an upgrade of the number 5 slot. Zach Plesac has enjoyed a remarkable rookie season when called upon, and Adam Plutko has been steady if unspectacular, but a healthy Salazar provides the Indians with an experienced arm that can strike out a multitude of hitters. Ideally his addition to the rotation would bring fresh energy ahead of the final playoff push in September, and the Indians could avoid having an entire year's worth of work fall on the shoulders of a rookie - just like in 2013, with Salazar interestingly enough.

Should multiple-inning outings prove too taxing on his newly recovered arm, then a move to the bullpen for the final months would be preferable. Salazar could be a dynamic option for Francona to call upon in tight spots, boosting an already strong relief corps.

Another scenario could involve Salazar being included as part of a trade package before the July 31st deadline, so we cannot rule out the possibility that we might've seen the last of him in an Indians uniform.

Whatever occurs, we'll see it happen soon.

Salazar will be the forgotten man no more.

Trade Talk: Merrifield, Castellanos & Frazier

We've entered that period of the season and that so many writers love; the impending trade deadline, and with it comes speculation and rumors, enough to feed our appetite through the dog days of summer.

Now that we have an increasingly close deadline of July 31st, teams are looking at the standings to decide if they'll be sellers or buyers. For the 50-38 Indians, there is still a lot to play for this season, so I am anticipating them to approach the trade market from a buyer's perspective, even if a move to sell one of their prized assets might be beneficial (more on that later).

With that said, let's take a look at some of the potential targets the Tribe have been linked with in recent days:

Whit Merrifield - 2B & OF 

The Royals' first-time All-Star has been the one player I've seen mentioned most often when Indians trade rumors are discussed, and for good reason.

Merrifield, a second baseman and outfielder, is a reliable presence in the lineup who excels at making contact, effectively spraying hits to all areas of the field. The 30 year-old is currently batting .306/.355/.495 (BA/OBP/SLG) with 11 home runs, 44 RBI and 13 stolen bases, and looks on track to complete another successful campaign.

In 2018 Merrifield raised his game in a big way, posting an impressive 5.2 WAR, only finishing behind the Cubs' Javier Baez among second basemen (Baez had 5.3 WAR). The star man in Kansas City slashed .304/.367/.438 for a career-high 120 wRC+ last year, with a league-leading 45 stolen bases, announcing himself on the national stage and attracting suitors around the league.

Competition to acquire him could be intense, but Cleveland should certainly be in the mix for Merrifield's services:

• He's cheap - Merrifield is on a very team-friendly contract, and isn't due to earn more than $6,750,000 a year until at least 2023.
• He's under club control for a while - signed until 2022 with a team-option for 2023. By then he'll be entering his age-34 season.

The Royals know what they have - our AL Central rivals have publicly said it would take a lot for them to consider trading him in his prime. However, with Kansas City's window to win still years away, at 30 years-old they would be wise to move Merrifield for a decent haul to upgrade their rebuilding process.

Perhaps a combination of top prospects like Triston McKenzie and Yu Chang would be enough to sway the Royals to part with their golden goose. I for one would love to have Merrifield join the team. His positional versatility is a huge asset, filling any weak spots the club could potentially face going forward.

Nicholas Castellanos - OF & DH

A move for Detroit's Castellanos would likely be short-term, as the 27 year-old is due to become a free agent after this season, but he could be the impact bat the Tribe would really benefit from.

Tyler Naquin, Jake Bauers, Jordan Luplow and Greg Allen haven't established themselves as everyday players for the Indians, and have shared left field and right field between them with mixed results. The right-handed Castellanos could come in and automatically upgrade one of these positions, despite his known defensive limitations.

So far in 2019, Castellanos has slashed .282/.342/.468 over 366 plate appearances with 9 home runs and 33 RBI. The home run total is admittedly modest but he does lead the AL with 29 doubles, so he is still displaying that extra-base power into the gaps at least.

He isn't likely to cost too much in terms of prospects, which is good news for Castellanos admirers. His contract for this season is $9,950,000 so should be a pure rental, the price you pay in an effort to win now. I think adding a productive bat such as his could help give the Tribe the push they need if they want to consider themselves a real contender in 2019.

Clint Frazier - OF

Here's where things get difficult.

To acquire Frazier from the Yankees, it's going to cost Trevor Bauer. Like it or not, the price to bring the young outfielder back to Cleveland is high.

Trading Bauer this month, with the Indians still in contention for October baseball, will result in a backlash from the fanbase that may result in mutiny. Appearing to concede defeat in the race for the playoffs by trading one of your best pitchers will not go down well, not at all.

However, if you take stock of the whole situation, it could be beneficial for everyone. The Yankees crave an excellent starting pitcher and the Indians' outfield still needs upgrading to realistically compete against the top teams.

Let's look at Bauer first. In the last 18 months he has successfully reinvented himself as the everyman of Major League Baseball, thanks to his performances on and off the field, and is widely regarded by many as the ace of the Indians' staff. His 2018 season would have almost certainly resulted in a Cy Young award if he hadn't gotten injured (2.21 ERA, 221 strikeouts in 175.1 innings, 198 ERA+).

So why would the Tribe even consider trading him? Well, Bauer will be a free agent in 2021 and it's been widely reported that the Indians won't be in a financial position to retain his services, not at the price Bauer is expected to cost. Acknowledging this, perhaps the club would be wise to cash in whilst they can, even if it does appear defeatist upon first glance.

The 24 year-old former first-round Indians draft pick would be the prize in return but Frazier has experienced mixed emotions in New York. One of their most important hitters in the early months of 2019, when the Yankees' lineup was decimated with injuries, Frazier has recently found himself on the outside looking in, relegated to Triple-A once the regular starters returned to full health. Understandably frustrated to be playing at a level he's clearly outgrown, it widely rumoured Frazier will have a new home by the end of this month.

In 53 games and 191 at-bats, Frazier has slashed .283/.330/.513 with 11 homers and 34 RBI. He would automatically take over an outfield spot, probably in left, and be expected to contribute immediately.

I think the Indians would want more than just Frazier in a deal with the Yankees, and the Bronx Bombers would have to throw in a couple of other prospects to make it happen (Jonathan Loaisiga and Estevan Florial perhaps).

Selling Bauer does not equate to throwing in the towel, and I think it's important to recognize that. Cleveland's starting pitching depth is their biggest strength, and the team have shown this year that they have guys who can be called upon. Even without Bauer, a healthy Corey Kluber, Mike Clevinger, Shane Bieber and combo of Zach Plesac, Jefry Rodriguez, Adam Plutko and Aaron Civale might be enough to get by.

As sad as I would be to see Bauer leave (he's really endeared himself to me in recent times), I would be happy to welcome back Frazier and see his development for the Indians over the next five years.

Your 2019 Cleveland Indians All-Stars

The Cleveland Indians finished the first half of the 2019 season in style and enter the All-Star break on a 6-game winning streak, after sealing an 11-1 victory over their Ohio neighbors the Reds on Sunday. The Tribe have a 50-38 record and have closed the gap on the division-leading Twins to just 5.5 games, and currently possess one of the Wild Card positions as well.

Clearly there is still plenty to play for, and the team's recent performances have re-energized the Cleveland fanbase. The negativity and low morale that dogged the club in April and May seem a distant memory as the Indians prepare to host and celebrate their first All-Star Game since 1997.

Today I will recap the first half performances of the Tribe's four All-Star representatives: Carlos Santana, Francisco Lindor, Brad Hand and Shane Bieber.

Carlos Santana - First Base

Carlos Santana returned to Cleveland this winter after spending the 2018 season in Philadelphia, and it's safe to say his homecoming has been an enormous success.

At the break, the 33-year old Santana is batting .297 with 19 home runs and 52 RBI, with a .418 OBP and a terrific .958 OPS (which leads all AL first baseman). Santana has long been known for his astonishing plate discipline and naturally his 64 walks lead all of MLB among first baseman as well.

Despite his decade's worth of consistency, this is his first All-Star appearance and he gets to enjoy the experience in front of his home fans in his own ballpark. Reports indicate he was in tears when he received the news he would be the starter.

Santana won the the inaugural Google MLB Starters Election, earning 49.2% of the vote to beat out New York's Luke Voit (25.8%) and Minnesota's C.J. Cron (25%). His selection also makes him the first Indians All-Star to start at first base since Jim Thome did it in 1999.

Not only will Santana be the sole Indians starter in the All-Star Game but he'll also represent the Tribe in the Home Run Derby tonight, going head-to-head with the Mets' Pete Alonso in the first round.

Since Progressive Field (formerly Jacob's Field) opened in 1994, Santana ranks fourth in home runs with 97 dingers, only trailing Jim Thome (190), Manny Ramirez (132), and Travis Hafner (97) in team history. Santana knows this ballpark well and he'll aim to use all of his knowledge to his advantage.

No Indians player has ever won the event so Santana will be aiming for more than just the bleachers - he'll be taking a shot at Cleveland history, and he'll have the full support of the capacity crowd cheering him all the way.

Francisco Lindor - Shortstop

The face of the Cleveland Indians and the city's primary All-Star Game Ambassador, it would have been a travesty if Francisco Lindor was not involved in an All-Star Game played in his ballpark. Thankfully, the star shortstop was selected via the player ballot and despite being a reserve (Jorge Polanco of Twins will start), Frankie should feature in his fourth consecutive Midsummer Classic.

Lindor missed Spring Training with a calf strain and then sprained his ankle just days prior to Opening Day, which resulted in him missing the first 20 games of the year. Once he returned to the lineup though, he quickly got back to work, reminding the league who is the premier shortstop of his generation.

Lindor has slashed .296/.356/.511 over 69 games and 284 at-bats, with 14 home runs and 32 RBI, with 13 stolen bases for good measure, all whilst displaying his otherworldly abilities on defense.

When he found out he'd been selected, Lindor said, "It’s a blessing. I’m blessed to be part of it, especially being at home. It’s going to be a great event. I can’t wait."

Brad Hand - Relief Pitcher

Indians closer Brad Hand has made the third straight All-Star game of his career, his first with Cleveland, and will hope to feature out of the bullpen at some stage during Tuesday night. Hand was voted to the squad by his fellow players and the dominant reliever certainly deserves his place.

Hand has been one of Terry Francona's most trusted weapons in 2019, and went a perfect 22-for-22 in his save opportunities to start the season. Only recently against the Royals did that streak come to an end, but he has gone on to throw three scoreless outings since.

Before that unfortunate 5-run pasting at the hands of Kansas City, Hand's ERA for the year was a minuscule 1.05. However, his current 2.17 ERA over 37.1 innings still puts him among the top of his peers, as does his outstanding 13.26 rate of strikeouts per nine innings. Hand's 23 saves this year have him tied for third place on the MLB leaderboard, and second only to Aroldis Chapman in the AL.

I'm sure I speak for most Cleveland fans when I say we'd be happy for Hand to take this mid-season break to enjoy the All-Star festivities without actually having to throw a pitch. The team are going to rely upon him in a big way as we head towards September, and hopefully October. We'll need Hand at his best, and maybe a few days rest could be beneficial in the long run.

Shane Bieber - Starting Pitcher

In just his second season as a pro, 24 year-old Shane Bieber is the youngest starting pitcher to earn an All-Star berth for the Indians since CC Sabathia in 2004. The right-handed starter will be part of the AL's pitching staff since he was added as an injury-replacement for Texas pitcher Mike Minor.

At the start of the season Bieber was comfortably the Tribe's fifth starter, after an impressive rookie campaign in 2018. Yet, no one could have envisioned that, among a rotation including Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco, and Mike Clevinger, it would be Bieber featuring at the All-Star Game.

Let there be no mistake - Bieber's selection is definitely warranted; the California native boasts an 8-3 record with a 3.45 ERA over 18 starts and 112.1 innings. His 141 strikeouts in that span rank him 8th overall in the entire league, ahead of noted flamethrowers Jacob deGrom, Stephen Strasburg and Blake Snell, among others.

Similar to Hand, I share the same feelings in regards to seeing Bieber pitch on Tuesday night. Preferably I would like to see him there having a great time but not actually play, resting that incredibly valuable right arm instead. He's been a dependable workhorse for Francona this year, one of just two pitchers in the rotation not to succumb to injury (the other being Bauer).

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I will be making the effort to stay awake Tuesday night, a 00:30 start for me here in England. There was no way I would miss my team hosting the All-Star Game, and I am particularly excited to see Santana representing the Indians.