MLB Rumors: 3 teams who should trade for Brian Dozier
2. Cleveland Indians
The Indians are now nine games clear of the second place Twins in the AL Central, so barring a huge collapse they’re in the playoffs. The moved aggressively to address a struggling bullpen by acquiring Brad Hand an Adam Cimber from the San Diego Padres, and now it’s time to address another need.
A few days ago, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press put the Indians on the list of suitors for Dozier.
Two more potential landing spots for Brian Dozier, per sources: #SFGiants and #Indians. Both clubs have been scouting #mntwins 2B this week. Panik is on DL (groin) and Kipnis is having another down year (.629 OPS vs RHP). CLE still considering 2B/3B/OF options, I hear.
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) July 28, 2018
As cited, despite being healthy thus far, Jason Kipnis is having a second straight down year (.671 OPS, 10 home runs, 43 RBI in 96 games). The Indians are also finding a lack of options on the trade market to fill a possible need in the outfield, and Kipnis can theoretically help there after starting 11 games in center field last year.
At the moment, #Indians are going with Rajai Davis and Greg Allen in CF. Bradley Zimmer is done for the year and Tyler Naquin just went on DL with a hip injury. Indians are squeezed financially and already dug deeper into the farm than they preferred by trading Francisco Mejia.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 30, 2018
Coincidentally, the Indians are visiting Target Field for a three-game series starting Monday night. So if a deal gets done before Tuesday at 3 p.m local time in Minneapolis, all Dozier would have to do to join his new team is switch clubhouses.