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MLB Trade Deadline 2017: 5 trades the Indians should make

By Joshua Sadlock

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 6: Bench coach Brad Mills celebrates with Lonnie Chisenhall #8 and Erik Gonzalez #9 of the Cleveland Indians after the Indians defeated the San Diego Padres at Progressive Field on JULY 6, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Padres 9-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 6: Bench coach Brad Mills celebrates with Lonnie Chisenhall #8 and Erik Gonzalez #9 of the Cleveland Indians after the Indians defeated the San Diego Padres at Progressive Field on JULY 6, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Padres 9-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JUNE 27: Welington Castillo #29 of the Baltimore Orioles chases a pitch that got away but Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays could not score on the play from third base in the sixth inning during MLB game action at Rogers Centre on June 27, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 27: Welington Castillo #29 of the Baltimore Orioles chases a pitch that got away but Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays could not score on the play from third base in the sixth inning during MLB game action at Rogers Centre on June 27, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

5. Check around for catching help

The Indians tried hard to acquire Jonathan Lucroy last summer, but he spurned them to go to the Texas Rangers. It’s hard to blame them, as the duo of Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez has rolled up a .212/.305/.334 line, which is second-worst in the American League. Gomes has flopped since winning the Silver Slugger in 2014. The Indians tried to get him on a team-friendly extension that runs through 2019. He is hitting .211/.262/.366 over the past three years.

The Indians are in a tricky spot with Gomes and his contract situation. It isn’t an expensive deal and he has been solid enough behind the plate so as to give the Indians some value. Gomes is catching base stealers close to half of the time this year. Perez is also solid defensively, but a contending team needs more offense from a catcher. The Indians can do better than two no-hit, all-glove options behind the plate.

An upgrade at catcher should be further down the Indians list of priorities this season because the rest of the lineup has been so good. However, it wouldn’t hurt to check in with the Baltimore Orioles about Welington Castillo. Heck, Caleb Joseph is having a great year and is a much better defensive catcher.

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