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.

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.

Tribe Active At Trade Deadline

This season's non-waiver trade deadline saw a flurry of activity across the league and the Indians were in the thick of the action on Tuesday afternoon.

Cleveland made two late trades, the largest of which involved the acquisition of center fielder Leonys Martin from the Tigers, along with minor league pitcher Kyle Dowdy, in exchange for shortstop prospect Willi Castro.

The final trade saw Tribe youngsters Jhon Torres and Conner Capel sent to the Cardinals in return for center field prospect Oscar Mercado.

Let's take a look at the new additions, and a quick glance at the guys who have departed for pastures new:

Leonys Martin, CF
Kyle Dowdy, RHP

All the buzz prior to the deadline indicated the Indians were in the market for outfield help and a number of names were touted as potential options. Among the players mentioned were Bryce Harper, Adam Jones, and Andrew McCutchen, to name just a few.

What materialised was perhaps unexpected, but in reality a typical Indians move. I mean, we were never getting Bryce Harper, were we?

Leonys Martin, a 30 year-old left-handed hitting center fielder, is not exactly the splashy trade Indians fans wanted. In fact, I don't remember seeing a single article before the deadline linking him to the Tribe.

However, just because Martin isn't going to sell a lot of jerseys doesn't mean he isn't a good pickup, and the decision to add him to the roster makes a lot of sense. This is a very practical trade.

Martin is widely considered a plus defender in center field, with his great range and superior speed, and the statistics back him up: he has 3 DRS in 638.1 innings in center this year and a 7.1 UZR rating, leading to a 13.4 UZR/150, which ranks him second among qualified center fielders. I've never been entirely sold on defensive metrics but regardless of that, you can sense Martin has been brought in to upgrade the outfield defense, and he looks certain to do just that. The Tribe's outfield hasn't been blessed with outstanding fielding this year, not when they've relied on the likes of Melky Cabrera and Tyler Naquin, so Martin's defensive skills are more than welcome on the club.

With the bat, Martin is not an overwhelming presence at the plate but he's more than serviceable. He's currently batting .275 against right-handed pitchers, good enough for a 113 wRC+. His overall numbers include a .251/.321/.409 batting line (BA/OBP/SLG) and he has a total of 9 home runs, 29 RBI and 7 stolen bases. Despite the modest numbers, 2018 has been one of Martin's best offensive seasons in his career thus far, and a much improved turnaround from a miserable 2017 (a .172/.232/.281 slashline in just 49 MLB games).

Cleveland is his fourth team since he departed the Rangers in 2015, as he spent the 2016 season and the majority of 2017 with Seattle before being moved to the Cubs in late August. He then signed with the Tigers in December 2017 as a free agent.

Overall, I really like the addition of Martin and the Indians' center field situation is far better now than it was before. Martin provides a significant improvement defensively and is still a better offensive option compared to what the Indians were getting previously. Obviously he's not the power bat fans might have wanted and wished for, but he's still an upgrade and at the end of the day, the team has been improved (without having to deal away top pitching prospects too - bonus!)

Kyle Dowdy, a 6'1 right-handed pitcher, appears to be a throw-in to this trade. The 25 year-old has been a serviceable but not stellar starter in the Tigers minor league system, and has posted a combined 4.74 ERA in 95 innings between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo, with 92 strikeouts and 32 walks.

Detroit received shortstop prospect Willi Castro from the Tribe, who has spent this season at Double-A Akron. He's hit .245/.303/.350 with 5 home runs and has 13 stolen bases. Castro has strong projections, with many believing he has what it takes to be a regular MLB-quality shortstop, but his path to the show in Cleveland was always going to be blocked by Francisco Lindor, so it's logical the Tribe have dealt him away via trade.

Oscar Mercado, CF

The Indians were not content with adding just one slick fielding center fielder on Tuesday, so they contacted the Cardinals and picked up one more.

The supremely athletic Mercado joins the Tribe in the midst of an impressive campaign at the Triple-A level. Mercado has been playing for the Cardinals' farm team in Memphis, and has developed into a solid looking player. He hit .285/.351/.408 for the Redbirds, with 8 homers and 42 RBI, and stole 31 bases in 39 attempts. Before he left St. Louis, he was ranked as their 10th best prospect and possible center fielder of the future. A quick gauge of fan opinion on social media indicates that the Tribe might have gotten a steal, with many St. Louis followers upset to see Mercado leave.

Mercado is a subtle but highly interesting addition, and it feels like he might not be far away from a promotion to the majors in the near-future, possibly even next season. However, with the currently-injured Bradley Zimmer already facing competition for his place in center field from rookie Greg Allen, the inclusion of Mercado makes for an intriguing positional battle in the future.

Or maybe not. With Michael Brantley, Melky Cabrera, Rajai Davis and Lonnie Chisenhall all set to be free agents at the end of this season, perhaps the front office's idea is to fill the outfield with a mixture of Zimmer, Allen and Mercado when the veterans move on. Overall, I am quietly impressed by this trade and I think it has crept under the radar. Mercado looks to be a very useful player that could feature sooner than expected.

In return for Mercado, the Cardinals received two of the Tribe's young outfield prospects, 18 year-old Jhon Torres and 21 year-old Conner Capel. Both players are still in the early stages of their development, so it doesn't feel like a huge loss in the grand scheme of things.

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Ultimately, I feel the Indians can consider this month's dealings to be a success. They had two key areas that required improvement, the bullpen and the outfield, and those areas have now been addressed. Time will tell how the results pan out but you cannot fault the front office for lack of attention; they knew what was needed and they responded.

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)

Indians trade David Murphy to Angels

Indians outfielder and all-around good guy David Murphy has been traded to the Los Angeles Angels for shortstop and Ohio native Eric Stamets.

With the trade deadline looming, there's been a flurry of activity around the league and the Indians made their first move before the deadline. Murphy has been with Cleveland since 2014 and was hitting a respectable .294/.344/.437 in 84 games this season, mostly out of a platoon role in right field. Murphy was never going to be a superstar for this Indians team and I recall his signing before the 2014 season being met with some trepidation. However, the 33 year-old outfielder made a good impression with the fans last year and got off to a hot start in 2015, often batting in the heart of the order (hitting over .300 in May and June), before his production dropped off significantly this July. I'll always remember him fondly for having a habit of slapping singles just out of the third baseman's reach into left field. Plus, Murphy always rocked the high socks, a gold star in my book. The Tribe have called up Tyler Holt from Columbus to take Murphy's spot in right field for the foreseeable future (probably until Nick Swisher makes his return to the club). Good luck on the west coast David, be sure to tell Mike Trout lots of nice things about Cleveland. You know, just in case he wants to demand a trade to the Indians suddenly...

In return for Murphy's services, the Angels dealt 23 year-old shortstop Eric Stamets. Born in Dublin, Ohio, Anaheim's 2012 6th round draft pick has spent the year in AA Arkansas with the Travelers, batting .248/.306/.360 over 62 games. Not exactly eye popping numbers with the bat, but scouts rave about his defensive prowess and speed. Stamets hold a .974 career fielding percentage and is well known for his strong arm, as well as swiping 79.5% of his stolen base attempts during his young career. With the Indians seemingly set at shortstop for the next decade plus (we hope) with Francisco Lindor manning the position, it seems a strange pickup by the Indians to add Stamet to an already busy infield. One can only imagine the 23 year-old being converted into a utility guy or maybe even a third baseman. There's still a possibility Stamets could be flipped in another trade also. Regardless of where his future lies, Stamet has already endeared himself to the Tribe faithful via Twitter with this adorable photo of himself as a youngster. He'll likely report to AA Akron to begin his career with the Indians organisation. Welcome to the club Eric.

Now Cleveland, how about giving your suffering fanbase a win? Six game losing streaks suck.

Sloppy In Seattle: Tribe Lose Series

Apologies for not writing a Twins series report last week, but my All Star break was more lengthy than the MLB players was. I watched most of the Masterson game, the sole victory in that series, but I honestly didn't pay enough attention to the rest of the series enough to write a credible re-cap.

Alas, I am here now for the Seattle series that wrapped up yesterday, with an impressive 10-1 win for the Indians. Unfortunately the Indians lost the first two games, both by narrow margins. Despite a solid effort by Ubaldo Jimenez and the bullpen, the Tribe dropped the first game on Monday 2-1, the offense failing to get that important hit to nudge them into the lead. Zach McAllister made his long awaited return from the DL to start Tuesday's game but signs of rust were obvious, as he battled through 5 innings, surrendering 8 hits and 4 runs, 3 of them earned. Still, the Indians were in the game but again couldn't get those vital runs to turn things around, eventually losing 4-3, the second straight loss by a single-run deficit. Thankfully Cleveland turned it around for the final game on Wednesday, gifting Scott Kazmir plenty of run support to go along with his stellar 8 innings, coming out on top 10-1.

Let's take a look at some of the talking points in this series:

Errors, Errors, Errors

The Indians have committed 9 errors since the All Star break. That's 9 errors over the course of 6 games, 5 of those mistakes occurring in Seattle. That is embarrassing by major league standards and the Cleveland defense need to seriously sort this out before it becomes a situation. I know it's a small sample size but if they don't tighten up out there, this could become something to really worry about. Let's get this straight though: people make mistakes, even highly paid professional baseball players. No one is perfect and errors are part of the game. But 9 in 6 games? 4 by Lonnie Chisenhall alone? It's unacceptable and the players know that. But judging by some of the venomous posts I've seen on Twitter over the last few days, the Tribe faithful only have so much patience for sub-par play.

But the criticism can go too far sometimes. After Asdrubal Cabrera threw away a potential double-play in the second inning on Wednesday, the ball flying past Jason Kipnis stationed on second base, the Mariner's Jason Bay managed to round third base and score Seattle's only run of the game. The reaction from some of the fans on Twitter was amazing. You'd have thought Asdrubal had removed his Cleveland cap and took a dump in it judging by some of the intense hatred spewed his way. But no one cared to comment on the outstanding play he made earlier that inning, nor the routine play he fielded perfectly directly after his error. Nope, it was all "trade Cabrera now" and "bench that fool". He was ridiculed again later in the game for a lack of hustle as well.

I think it's time we need to start giving some of our players a bit of a break. Yes sometimes they warrant criticism and I understand fans wanting to vent their frustrations, we've all been there and done it, but the levels of abuse can reach ridiculous heights at times, often when its not at all necessary (Twitter can be the absolute worst place for this). Cabrera had a fantastic game by all accounts, going 2-for-4 at the plate, a double and a mammoth solo home run, for 3 RBI and a walk as well. Aside from his error, he made every play in the field perfectly, showing us he's still one of the premier shortstops in the American League. The Indians are having a pretty good season guys. So we need to support these players, not condemn them instantly. That's what being a fan is all about right?

All Quiet At The Trade Deadline

Since my post about potential targets the Tribe could explore before the trade deadline, there's been a bit of movement around the league, so I thought I'd update the situation where the Indians are involved. More specifically, what's happened to my trade targets since I last discussed them.

Matt Garza, possibly the player I would have like to have seen the most come to Cleveland (even if would end up being for just a couple of months), has been shipped to the Rangers recently, for a good crop of prospects the Cubs will be delighted with. Despite Garza having been a realistic option for the Indians to trade for, I don't really think we stood much of a chance at getting him in the end. He was easily the top pitcher available for trade this month and it was much more likely a contender like Texas would persuade Garza and the Cubs to join them rather than us. So it proved.

The same can be said for Ricky Nolasco, who was traded to the Dodgers shortly after my original post. I predicted as much and never really expected us to get Nolasco. I originally mentioned him on my list of targets but he was the lowest guy on my list, I only really had him on there because I preferred him to Yovani Gallardo from Milwaukee. Dear Indians front office, please pay attention to history and avoid trading for declining National League pitchers with inflated ERAs and decreasing velocity: i.e. do not trade for Gallardo, we don't need another Ubaldo situation.

However hope still remains in the form of Bud Norris. He's still pitching well in Houston, with a bevy of suitors sending scouts to each of his starts over the last month or so. If we couldn't get Garza, Norris was the next player I would have liked the Indians to acquire, plus he would have been under club control a lot longer than Garza. In fact over the last week or so I have actually been siding more towards Norris over Garza, pretty much because Norris would remain in Cleveland longer. So the opportunity to trade for Norris is still a possibility for the Tribe but as the days go by I get the feeling it won't be happening. It's been very quiet over the last few weeks where Cleveland is concerned in the trade deadline rush. Not many rumours of substance at all that mention the Indians. The race for Norris is heating up, but the only names I see mentioned with any consistency are the Orioles and Giants, and maybe the Red Sox occasionally. The word on the street is that Houston are looking for some premier prospects in return for their "ace" pitcher, which I expect most clubs are reluctant to part with. Norris is good, he's a very solid pitcher, but on most clubs he's a number 2/3 guy at best. So Houston's high asking price seems to be the main obstacle preventing Norris's departure for new pastures. As much as I'd like it, I don't expect Cleveland to be one of them.

The question now is, will the Indians make any move/s at all? There's just under a week left and so far it doesn't appear that they will. It looks like the club are satisfied with the current state of the starting rotation and any moves regarding the lineup only seem to involve the Indians as sellers rather than buyers (the Cabrera to St Louis trade is the only possibility even mentioned as far as lineup changes go). If the Tribe make any trades before August 1st I expect it'll be something minor, a move to bolster the bullpen probably, the glaring weakness this season that could benefit from immediate help. Watch this space...

Player Of The Series

There's really only one man who whole-heartedly deserves this award for the series and that's Scott Kazmir, who seems to be progressing nicely and couldn't have gotten off to a better start to the second half. Kazmir had his best outing of 2013 on Wednesday: he pitched 8 superb innings, a season high, giving up just 1 hit and no earned runs (Seattle's sole run they did score was off that Cabrera error I mentioned earlier). He walked 2 and struck out 7 Mariners in 103 pitches. It was a virtuoso performance from the left-handed veteran, a display to get really excited about. Kazmir wins the award for this series with ease, but an honourable mention most go to Yan Gomes, who has become Kazmir's personal catcher of late, who had a very successful trip to Seattle as well.

Cleveland can enjoy the day off at home today before welcoming the Texas Rangers to Progressive Field for a three game series beginning tomorrow. Corey Kluber (7-5, 3.69 ERA) will face off against Martin Perez (3-3, 3.40 ERA) on Friday evening to get things started but the game to watch will be Saturday's match-up of All Star pitchers Justin Masterson (11-7, 3.60 ERA) and Yu Darvish (9-4, 2.86 ERA). I start my holiday on Monday so I'll try and fit in a series re-cap before I go but if not I won't be back until we're midway through the crucial series against the Tigers in early August. Until next time...

Thanks for reading.

Potential Trades For The Tribe At Deadline

Apologies for interrupting your regularly scheduled programme (my series re-caps) but I thought I'd weigh in on some potential moves the Indians could make this month before the trade deadline. With the way things stand at the moment, the Indians are certain to be buyers this month instead of sellers like we've been used to in years past. So let's see who the Tribe might be looking at this month, or rather, who I'd like them to be looking at:

It Could Happen Trades

Matt Garza

Of all the players known to be on the market, Garza is one of the most achievable as far as the Indians are concerned. Competition will be fierce for the right-hander, with a number of teams looking to solidify their rotation ahead of the second half of the season, but the Indians should certainly be interested in the 29 year-old. Cleveland wouldn't have to give up too much to the Cubs either, since Garza is a free agent after this season. Maybe one of our young outfielders would suffice, since Chicago is pretty set with Starlin Castro at shortstop, so shifting one of our prized infielders can be avoided.

Garza is 3-1 in 8 starts this year with a 3.83 ERA, after missing the first seven weeks of the season. He's been getting better as the season has progressed, really getting into his groove lately. He's 2-1 in his last 3 starts with a 0.82 ERA, surrendering only 2 runs over 22 innings. Yes, those results are against mediocre teams like the Mets, Astros and Brewers but still, pretty decent numbers nonetheless, and he lasted at least 7 innings in each of those games.

I'd really like Garza to join the Tribe, even if it is for just 3 months. I've been an admirer of him since his days in Tampa Bay. As good as our rotation has been this year (compared to what we thought it was going to be) we could sure use more help in the second half, as surely injuries will take their toll during the dog days of August and September. A rotation of Masterson, Garza, Kluber, Jimenez, and Kazmir/McAllister (depending on health) is a tasty proposition. As long as the Indians don't give up too much for Garza and we get a fair deal, I'm 100% behind the club trying to acquire him from the Cubs.

Bud Norris

Houston's 28 year-old right-hander is also known to be available this month and the Tribe front office are surely monitoring the situation. So are a lot of other major league clubs though, with teams like the Orioles, Jays and Giants all in search for pitching help and Norris tops most of their wanted lists (although at the time of writing, I believe Baltimore have just made a move for Chicago's Scott Feldman, which would likely remove them from the Norris market).

Norris is 5-7 so far this year, with an impressive 3.35 ERA on a terrible Astros team. He was superb in the month of June, compiling a 2.77 ERA over 39 innings. The best thing about trading for Norris aside from his pitching ability?  He'd join the Indians with plenty of time left under club control, unable to become a free agent until 2016. Norris is enjoying his finest year in Houston to date and hopefully that's a sign of things to come, that Bud will only get better. If he does end up in Cleveland, I sincerely hope that will be the case; that we get a quality pitcher for the rest of 2013, and a reliable arm for a few years in the future. I'm all for us trading for Norris, but its difficult to predict what it will take to pry him away from Houston. There's no way we give up anybody like Francisco Lindor or Trevor Bauer, but maybe someone like Dorssys Paulino or Ronny Rodriguez would be enough. I'm probably way off the mark here and the Tribe would be giving up too much, so I'm really not sure. Let's just say I'd be happy with Norris in Cleveland and leave it at that.

Ricky Nolasco

Despite our need for another starting pitcher, I don't think we're really in the race for the Marlins' Ricky Nolasco, but until he's traded it's still a possibility. With everything I've read so far it looks as if a club with deeper pockets than us will make the move for Nolasco, with the Dodgers, Giants, Yankees and even the Red Sox rumoured to be in the hunt for the right-hander.

The 30 year-old is having a good season in Miami, currently sitting with a 4-8 record and a 3.93 ERA. He would certainly bolster our rotation but I don't expect us to be the team he joins before the deadline. It's long been established that the Marlins have had Nolasco in the shop window and I reckon Los Angeles or San Francisco will become his new home in the coming weeks.

In Your Dreams Trades

Giancarlo Stanton

The Marlins may have the worst owner in baseball in Jeffrey Loria, but even he wouldn't ship away his star player, the face of the franchise? Would he?

Well the rumour-mill is abuzz that the Marlins just might do it, that they might actually trade away 6'6 outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. The 23 year-old MVP-calibre slugger would fetch a huge haul of top prospects from every club in the league. Who wouldn't want Stanton gracing their outfield?

Well Indians fans can keep dreaming because there's a 99% chance that this trade will never happen, not in 2013 anyway. Despite Loria's reputation, it's highly unlikely the Marlins will trade away Stanton this season. You have to believe the rumours are exactly what they are; just rumours, created out of thin air. I'm pretty sure that Cleveland is one of the many clubs on Stanton's no-trade list anyway, so this move is even more likely to remain a dream. But I can dream right? Stanton would look awfully good in Indians red, white and blue, gunning down would-be runners from right field.

Cliff Lee

Ahh, Clifton Phifer Lee, what memories we had. His 2008 Cy Young season was my first proper year following the Tribe, day in, day out. So I was instantly a big Lee fan and was so sad to see him traded away in 2009. But word on the street is that the Indians are trying to make a run at bringing him back to the place where he had so much success.

It won't happen folks. Sorry to burst your bubble but Lee won't be pitching in Cleveland for the home team any time soon. For starters, the Phillies have categorically said he isn't available for trade. They're having another poor year by their standards but won't succumb to the pressures of the trade deadline madness. Their whole roster could do with a shake-up but it doesn't look like happening any time soon (they want to hold on to Chase Utley too). Secondly, we can't afford him anyway. And third, we'd have to give up a lot to reel in a superstar like Lee. To begin with, you can say goodbye to Lindor. The Phillies would certainly demand the best possible prospects for Lee, and I'm not comfortable giving away Lindor this decade, not with Cabrera approaching free agency in the next couple of years. A trade for Lee would certainly deplete the farm system and I'm not sure that's a good idea for the Indians right now.

As much as I'd love to have Lee come back, the price the Tribe would have to pay would be large indeed, too large for my liking. Kyle over at Wahoos On First has written a thorough article examining potential trades the club could try to lure Lee back, it's definitely worth checking out.

Please Poke My Eyes Out Trades

Jonathan Papelbon

I know the Indians have had their fair share of bullpen problems this season, especially when it comes to closing, but the Tribe should not waste their time looking to trade for a new closer. I've seen Papelbon's name floated around and I just have to say:

No.

No no no no.

Not only am I not a fan of the 32 year-old right-hander - I think he's overrated and overpaid - but we don't need him. I know our closer situation has been bad but it's nothing compared to the Tigers, who are actively shopping around for a new closer. Detroit has no one else for the 9th inning (until they just trust Benoit). We at least have a variety of in-house options for the 9th so there should be no way in hell we make a move for a closer, especially one like Papelbon. If the Indians are looking for bullpen help, they can forget all about closers and aim to pick up a left-handed reliever. End of conversation.

I look forward to seeing what the Indians do over the new few weeks, and hope whatever moves they do decide to make prove to be successful for the Tribe in 2013.

Thanks for reading.