Indians need immediate talent in Bauer trade… and the Padres have it

Trevor Bauer may be traded but for that to occur the Indians need back ‘immediate’ big league talent. The Padres are the perfect suitor.

There have been discussions since last offseason about the possibility of Trevor Bauer being traded from the Indians, and it continued when the Twins got off to a great start. It jas slowed down but the Padres seem to be more interested with the need of a veteran starting pitcher to lead the youngest rotation in baseball.

MLB.com’s JP Morosi reported that the Padres are the ‘most serious suitor’ and added that San Diego would have to give up an impact hitter.

The two possibilities in the talks are outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes.

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Reyes would work the best for Cleveland because he isn’t the best outfielder but they have the Designated Hitter so he would make the perfect DH and would probably hit around 30 home runs a year.

I don’t think Reyes would have to adjust to not playing right field every day while Renfroe would probably rather want to play in the field and not only DH.

Cleveland would also want pitching back–top prospects by the way, but San Diego has plenty of them. Luis Patino and Mackenzie Gore are untouchable but I can see GM A.J. Preller giving up a guy like Ryan Weathers or Michael Baez.

That would give Cleveland a future All-Star in Reyes, and then at least one top of the rotation arm that would be there for at least six years on rookie contracts.

Cleveland would be hosting the Wild Card game if the season ended today and if the trade was completed they would have Reyes in the middle of a lineup that includes Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez.

You could say the rotation wouldn’t be as strong but San Diego would be losing their cleanup hitter as well. Even without Bauer, the Indians would still have one of the best rotations in the game.

Corey Kluber would most likely be back from the Injured List, Mike Clevenger has been dominant, and Shane Bieber is coming off of an All-Star Game MVP where he struck out the side.

Carlos Carrasco has an outside chance of pitching again this season if he returns from his fight with Leukemia.

On San Diego’s end, they would get a controllable starter (one of the best starters in the league) who would anchor their rotation for the rest of this season (they are in contention) and until the end of next season.