MLB rumors: 5 players Indians need to trade for

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 19: Corey Dickerson #12 of the Pittsburgh Pirates doubles to left field in the sixth inning during the game against the Kansas City Royals at PNC Park on September 19, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

2 of 6

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MAY 02: Relief pitcher Jake Diekman #40 of the Kansas City Royals throws in the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Kauffman Stadium on May 02, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

5. Jake Diekman, LHP Kansas City Royals

Gone are the days in which Francona had the luxury of relying on his dominant, stocky, left-handed fire-baller Andrew Miller. Miller came over from the New York Yankees in 2016, becoming a member of that menacing Cleveland bullpen.

Miller, and all members of that bullpen core, have since found new homes. Last season, the team rebuilt the pen on the fly by acquiring Brad Hand and Adam Cimber.

After those two, the bullpen has been head-scratching. Nick Wittgren and Dan Otero have pitched well, but Neil Ramirez, Tyler Olson and Oliver Perez have been unreliable.

Jake Diekman is someone who can help. No, he isn’t Miller, nor will he be used in that way. Rather, he would add another lefty into the pen, joining Hand, Perez and Olson as the bullpen’s southpaws.

Diekman has had an up-and-down career, but he is a reliable arm when he is on and healthy. Currently a member of the Royals, Diekman has pitched to a 3.00 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 18.0 innings pitched in 21 games.

The 32-year old has just about ditched his changeup usage and he has relied on two pitches. Those two pitches, his fastball and slider, have been working, as he is posting a career-high in soft-contact percentage of 33.3 percent, and a career-best hard-contact percentage of 22.2 percent.

The Royals may give the Indians a tough time as a divisional rival but adding Diekman would add depth to the team’s bullpen.

Home/Cleveland Guardians