Rejuvenated by a well-played series sweep against the Reds, our Indians perch precariously in first place a half game ahead of the hated White Sox. The trade deadline looms five weeks hence and much angst and derision have been spilled on LF, 1B and what Antonetti must do.

However, a glance at the team’s current rotation shows starting pitching may also be a sore spot in need of ointment or another arm:

Starters’ ERA      4.54 9th in AL
Starters’ BB allowed 158 13th
Starters’ WHIP      1.44 12th

Obviously help is needed even with recent improvement from Masterson and Jimenez. What trade chips the Indians possess to make any meaningful moves will be addressed in a later post.

Will Not Happen                      Possible, Not Likely                                 Possible

Cole Hamels                                     AJ Burnett                                     Brandon McCarthy
Zack Greinke                                  Ryan Dempster                                    Jeff Samardzija
Wandy Rodriguez                               Matt Garza                                     Joe Saunders

Wade Davis
Jason Vargas
Dillon Gee
Vance Worley

________________________________

Will Not Happen

Both Hamels and Greinke are difference makers but also free agents at the end of the year. The high acquisition cost and extreme improbability the Indians could sign either makes any move highly unlikely.

Rodriguez makes $ 10 million this year, $ 13 million next. A $ 13 million team option for 2014 becomes a player option if he is traded. Too expensive.

________________________________

Possible, Not Likely

Ryan Dempster      (Cubs)    2012:    3-3    2.13              Last 3 years:     36-35       4.09
Age: 35
Salary: $ 14.0 million
Free Agent in 2013
DL (6/8) with right lat
Solid veteran but no guarantee he re-signs; might make sense if Cubs find no takers and it becomes primarily a financial/rental deal

Matt Garza             (Cubs)     2012:     3-5     4.07             Last 3 years:    33-32       3.72
Age: 28
Salary: $ 9.5 million
Arbitration 3 in 2013
Best season was 2010 with Tampa Bay (15-10, 3.91)
Talented but erratic, not as good as he should be; more a big market fish

AJ Burnett          (Pirates)    2012:    7-2     3.52              Last 3 years:    34-35      4.79
Age: 35
Salary: $ 16.5 million (Yankees pay 11.5)
2013:    16.5 (Yankees pay 8.5)
Pitching better away from New York; beat the Tribe a week ago (6.2 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 4 BB, 2 K).

_________________________________

Possible

Brandon McCarthy   (A’s)    2012:    6-3    2.54             Last 3 years:    16-13     3.79
Age: 29
Salary: $ 4.275 million
2013: Free Agent
Recurrent shoulder issues so durability a concern; probably signable

Jeff Samardzija    (Cubs)      2012:    5-5     4.04             Last 3 years:      11-9      4.82
Age: 27
Salary: $2.64 million
2014: Arbitration 1
Former Notre Dame WR is a converted RP; went 8-4, 2.97 in 2011

Joe Saunders    (Arizona)  2012:    4-5     3.44              Last 3 years:      37-37     4.24
Age: 31
Salary: $ 6.0 million
2013: Free Agent
Crafty LH with 73-57 career mark; would help balance the rotation

Wade Davis       (Rays)    2012:   1-0    2.03                     Last 3 years:     23-20      4.27
Age: 26
Salary: $ 1.5 million   2013:   2.8    2014:   4.8   2015:   7.0 (team option)   2016:   8.0 (team option)
Now a RP, started 29 games in both 2010 and 2011

Jason Vargas    (Seattle)   2012:    7-7     4.66                Last 3 years:      22-31      4.19
Age: 29
Salary: $ 4.85 million
2013: Arbitration
Lefthander can be good at times; beat the Tribe in April (7 IP, 1 run); will get more expensive
Remember Doug Fister was mediocre in Seattle before trade to Detroit

Dillon Gee       (Mets)     2012:    5-5     4.27                     Last 3 years:      20-13       4.11
Age: 26
Salary: $ 502k
2014: Arbitration 1
Hot early last season (8-1), finished 13-6; a good young arm if we can twist the Mets’

Vance Worley    (Phillies)   2012:    3-3     2.80              Last 2 years:       15-7         2.84
Age: 24
Salary: $ 495k
2014: Arbitration
Has bone chips in his elbow and will need surgery after the season; worth the risk if Phillies become sellers

Comments are closed.