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AL Central: Previewing the MLB Trade Deadline roles for each team

By Benjamin Chase

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 06: Anibal Sanchez #19 (L) and Ian Kinsler #3 of the Detroit Tigers hold up the 2014 A.L. Central Division Championship banner prior to the Opening Day game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on April 6, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Twins 4-0. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 06: Anibal Sanchez #19 (L) and Ian Kinsler #3 of the Detroit Tigers hold up the 2014 A.L. Central Division Championship banner prior to the Opening Day game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on April 6, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Twins 4-0. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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AL Central
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 06: Anibal Sanchez #19 (L) and Ian Kinsler #3 of the Detroit Tigers hold up the 2014 A.L. Central Division Championship banner prior to the Opening Day game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on April 6, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Twins 4-0. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

With MLB trade deadline rumors kicking in earlier than normal, let’s take a look at what the roles for each AL Central team will be at the deadline

The MLB trade deadline typically spurs movement in July, but this year has started early. What position will each team in the AL Central take in the MLB trade deadline market (buyer, seller, undecided). We will examine each team in the division with what position they’ll take and then what pieces they could be trading or what holes they could be looking to fill.

While the American League boasts 7 teams over .500 right now, only one of them is in the AL Central. A team that is 5 games under .500 is currently making moves as if they have a legit shot at the divisional title.

In comparison, last season, the Cleveland Indians had the best record in the entire American League, and the Minnesota Twins were the second Wild Card team in the American League. Neither team was able to make it to the ALCS, so both are hoping to see better luck in their work this season.

Right now, the AL Central is a combined 48 games under .500 as we close in on halfway through the month of June. That will mean the division will likely be much more sellers than buyers, but there could always be intriguing options that are put out there and made available that a team in a “sell” mode ends up trading for simply to boost their roster for future seasons.

While there was perhaps one team still in limbo before Tuesday evening, news that came out Tuesday night definitely changed the outlook from “undecided” to “seller”, which makes the entire division certain in their spot, which is basically the only division in the game.

Let’s start with the current AL Central division leader, the Cleveland Indians…

Next: Cleveland

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