Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians Discussing Trade

By Nick Fustor |

Aug 18, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (47) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

According to reports, there may be a trade brewing between the Cleveland Indians and the Texas Rangers.

The Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians are discussing a potential trade that would send a starter to Texas and a reliever to Cleveland, per Evan Grant of Sports Day Dallas News. As it stands now, veteran right-hander A.J. Griffin is currently in line to be the Rangers number five starter, but the team is apparently looking for an upgrade. The Indians represent the perfect trade partner as a team with a lack of bullpen depth and plenty of starting pitching depth.

With the announcement that Trevor Bauer will start the season in the Indians bullpen, he seems like the most attractive trade candidate for the Rangers to target. A former top prospect with hard throwing fastball and high upside, Bauer has seen mixed results in parts of three seasons with the Indians.

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Last season, the 25-year-old posted a 4.55 ERA and 1.31 WHIP while giving up 4.04 walks per nine innings. His command has been the biggest issue to this point in his career, but at 25, he’s still young enough to figure things out. Under the tutelage of Rangers manager Jeff Banister, Bauer may thrive.

Bauer’s velocity slightly dipped last season, as it lowered to 92.8 mph from his 2014 average of 94 mph – but after pitching 153 innings in 2014, fatigue could have been a major factor.

While Bauer is an attractive option for the Rangers, it may take a decent haul to snag him in any trade because of his age and potential. Considering the Indians are starting the season with Cody Anderson and Josh Tomlin as their fourth and fifth starters, respectively, it seems as though their opinion on Bauer may be down.

The Rangers bullpen isn’t elite by any means, but it has the pieces to entice Cleveland into giving up their once prized pitching phenom. Earlier this offseason, Grant reported that the Rangers tangled right-handed closer Shawn Tolleson and breakthrough right-handed reliever Keone Kela to the Arizona Diamondbacks in efforts to acquire top prospect Archie Bradley.

Kela dominated in his debut season, pitching to the tune of a 2.39 ERA with 10.14 strikeouts per nine in 60.1 innings pitched. With his 23rd birthday soon approaching, Kela has high upside and looks the part of a future closer in the making – which could be a steal if the Indians work out a trade.

However, if a trade can’t be worked out, Griffin might turn out to be a solid offseason addition despite not pitching since 2013 due to Tommy John surgery and a shoulder injury.

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Once viewed as a long-term second or third starter, Griffin posted a 3.83 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in his first full season with the Oakland Athletics. With the ability to get strikeouts and limit walks, Griffin has the potential to be a solid back-end starter with mid-rotation potential.

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