MLB trade rumors: One player each team should target

BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 21: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during the game against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Machado /

8 of 30

OAKLAND, CA – MAY 27: Jed Lowrie #8 of the Oakland Athletics at bat against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on May 27, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jed Lowrie /

Cleveland Indians

Jed Lowrie, 2B

The Indians have been saved by the fact that their division is awful this year. It’s the only division with one team above .500. So, they’ve been able to maintain their lead in the division pretty easily. However, the team is still only 2 years removed from winning 3 games in the World Series and should be looking to compete this year.

To do that, they have to improve their play. They are going to need to compete with the juggernaut Red Sox, Yankees, and Astros as well as the emerging Mariners. To do that, they can’t have the second worst production from second base in the MLB. Jason Kipnis and his .202 batting average is not going to get it done. He also doesn’t seem ready to break out of it, being near the bottom 25% of the league in average exit velocity. His walk and strikeout rates are the same, with a huge dip in isolated power, he’s at .099 this year, down from .182 last year.

So, the Indians need to replace him if they want to make a run. Enter Jed Lowrie. Lowrie on the other hand is hitting .296 while being towards the top of the league in average exit velocity. He’s doing this while maintaining a career high OBP. Bringing in Lowrie would remove the only hole the Indians have in their lineup.

Home/MLB