If the Cleveland Indians elect to part with some of their veteran superstars, the Washington Nationals could be a perfect fit.
It has become increasingly difficult to contend year after year, but the Cleveland Indians have done just that. They made a trip to the World Series in 2016, and that was only the start of their reign atop the American League Central. Since then, they have won three consecutive division titles and have become a force in the Junior Circuit.
One of the main reasons it is so difficult to sustain success is because as players age, they become more expensive. For the Indians, a small-market team that relied on a young core, this is an issue. Now, their young stars that led them on that World Series run a few years ago are older and more expensive.
Unfortunately, the Indians now have to choose between going over budget by keeping their expensive stars, or trading them for younger, cheaper talent. On Friday, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that the Indians are leaning towards the latter.
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If the Indians decide to part with some of their veteran superstars, there should be plenty of suitors. The Washington Nationals, in particular, would be a perfect match.
The biggest name to keep an eye on in any trade talks is Corey Kluber. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has three years of team control remaining and is relatively inexpensive at $15 million. He has finished in the top five in the AL in terms of ERA in each of the last three seasons, making him an invaluable addition to any pitching staff. The Nats have a couple open spots in their 2019 rotation, and adding Kluber to a group that already features Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg would make the Nats a World Series favorite.
If teams find the asking price on Kluber to be too high, Carlos Carrasco is also likely to be shopped. Kluber is Cleveland’s undisputed ace, but Carrasco has thrived in his shadow. Over the last five years, Carrasco has pitched to a 3.27 ERA and led the AL in wins in 2017. The 31-year-old righty has two years of team control remaining and is only owed $9.75 million in 2019.
The final Cleveland starting pitcher who could presumably be on the block is Trevor Bauer. The former third overall draft pick had a breakout year in 2018, pitching to a 2.21 ERA, earning his first All-Star nomination, and finishing third among AL pitchers in WAR. It feels like Bauer has been around forever, but he is just 27 and has two years of team control remaining.
In addition to filling out the starting rotation, the Indians could also help the Nats behind the dish. Matt Wieters spent the last two seasons as the Nats’ catcher, but he is now a free agent. If the Nats are interested in adding a catcher via trade, Yan Gomes is a great option. The 31-year-old backstop is owed just $7 million in 2019 and has inexpensive club options for 2020 and 2021. Catchers have never been as unproductive as they are today, but Gomes is one of the few solid options around the league.
The final Indian who should be on the Nats’ radar is Jason Kipnis. The former face of the franchise has fallen from grace over the last few years and could benefit from a change of scenery. He has just one year of team control remaining, plus a club option in 2020, so the Nats could take a chance on him. Top infield prospect Carter Kieboom is not expected to be ready until 2020, making Kipnis an ideal bridge. If he is not able to return to form in Washington, the Nats can decline his club option. On the other hand, if he improves, the Nats can exercise his option and keep him for another year or trade him.
Of course, the Nats are not going to pry any of these stars out of Cleveland without giving something up. Prospects will likely be involved, but the Indians would like to remain in contention, so they will want major leaguers as well.
One name to keep an eye on is Adam Eaton. If Bryce Harper re-signs with the Nats, Eaton is expendable. He is signed through 2021 and is relatively inexpensive, making him especially attractive to small-market teams. Add in the fact that the Indians need outfielders, and Eaton could be a perfect fit.
It would be difficult for the Cleveland Indians to part with any of their veteran superstars, so it is far from guaranteed that any of them will be on the move this winter. However, the fact that they are even considering shopping key members of their team is intriguing, and the Washington Nationals should monitor the situation.