With the MLB Trade Deadline quickly approaching in less than two weeks, the Indians should be a very interesting team to monitor. The Indians are second last in team OPS in the league behind the Pittsburgh Pirates, so if Cleveland does indeed make trades come August 31st – it will most likely be for an impact bat.
Gallo Heads To The Land
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Indians Receive – OF Joey Gallo
Rangers Receive – OF George Valera, RHP Luis Oveido, OF Greg Allen
Whether or not the Rangers would consider dealing away their star player remains up in the air but this would be the perfect trade acquisition for the Cleveland Indians. Although the strikeout totals are high, Gallo is a prolific power hitter who would make the Tribe lineup much more of a threat. In 22 games in 2020, Gallo is slashing .216/.363/.554 with an OPS of .917 and 7 HR. Obviously acquiring a player like Joey Gallo would come at a high price. In this trade the Rangers would be acquiring a package involving Cleveland’s #4 & #23 prospects in Valera & Oveido along with young OF Greg Allen. It would be intriguing to see Chris Antonetti & the front office make another blockbuster trade for a second consecutive year at Major League Baseball’s Trade Deadline.
Clevinger To The Braves
Indians Receive – OF Drew Waters
Braves Receive – RHP Mike Clevinger
Two weeks ago, I never would have thought Mike Clevinger’s name would become one to watch around the Trade Deadline time but his recent actions to break MLB’s COVID protocols have altered his entire relationship within the organization. It is really uncertain what will happen to Mike Clevinger & Zach Plesac but one possibility is certainly a trade – in this specific case to the Atlanta Braves. The Braves recently lost their ace Mike Soroka to a season ending achilles injury so they will most likely be on the market for an arm or two. Clevinger would slide right in as the ace of the Braves for 2020 and would be a great fit for Atlanta for the foreseeable future. Cleveland would be acquiring MLB’s #27 prospect in OF Drew Waters – a switch hitter with a great set of tools who would be ready to make an impact at the major league level if not this season, next for sure.
Indians Acquire Pederson
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Indians Receive – OF Joc Pederson, RHP Mitch White
Dodgers Receive – RHP Zach Plesac
The Indians will most likely not trade both Mike Clevinger & Zach Plesac but could definitely move one, above was a potential Clevinger mock trade and this one has the Dodgers landing Plesac from the Tribe. Similar to the Braves, the Dodgers could use some starting pitching help. The front end of their rotation is set with Kershaw & Buehler which is why I think they’re more likely to target Plesac than Clevinger. Cleveland on the other hand would land power hitting OF Joc Pederson and the Dodgers #11 prospect RHP Mitch White. Pederson has raw power (as we all saw in the Home Run Derby at Progressive Field last summer), his bat would be a big addition in the middle of Cleveland’s lineup. Through 21 games in 2020, Pederson has struggled – slashing .164/.263/.343 with an OPS of .606 and 4 HR. Although his bat would still be very much welcomed in Cleveland.
