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MLB Trade Rumors 2019: Top 25 assets

By Joshua Sadlock

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 20: San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) throws a pitch during a MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 20, 2019 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 20: San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) throws a pitch during a MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 20, 2019 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – JUNE 21: Carlos Santana #41 of the Cleveland Indians hits a two run homer during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on June 21, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JUNE 21: Carlos Santana #41 of the Cleveland Indians hits a two run homer during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on June 21, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

4. Carlos Santana

With Edwin Encarnacion already on the move from Seattle to New York, the player he was traded for, Carlos Santana, becomes the next-best available veteran corner infielder/DH/power bat on the trade market. The 33-year-old is having the best season of his career, and is signed through the 2020 season with an option for 2021. While the Cleveland Indians have made a little run to get themselves back above .500, they are still well behind the Minnesota Twins and the second Wild Card.

Of the Indians trade chips touched on in this post, Santana is the most likely to be dealt. At his age, he does not figure into the team’s long-term plans. If they can get out from under the $20.8 million owed Santana next year, the front office will take the hit to the lineup’s offensive production over the final two months of this season.

Through his first 70 games this season, Santana is hitting .287/.405/.518 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI. He has never carried an on-base or slugging percentage this high for an entire season. Offensive production is way up across the league, but Santana’s OPS+ of 141 shows he is having a truly elite season.

Santana is everything that contending teams want in a trade acquisition. He has an established track record of high on-base percentage, more than enough power and postseason experience. Santana has always been lauded for his pitch-recognition skills and ability to avoid getting himself out on a ball out of the strike zone. He does not strike out much. In the midst of a career year, the Indians may not be able to justify holding onto Santana even if they climb closer to a playoff spot.

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