5 best players available before the MLB trade deadline
By Mike Luciano
Cleveland Indians. 2. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Mike Clevinger. 5. SP
From a purely statistical point of view, there is no reason that the Indians should even think about trading Clevinger, as he has a 2.97 ERA over the last four seasons for an Indians team that can challenge the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.
However, he and starter Zac Plesac are currently on the outs with Cleveland, as their night out on the town, which is in violation of the Indians’ COVID-19 protocols, has put them squarely in the rumor mill.
The Indians might’ve optioned him to the alternate training site, but having him waste away in that facsimile of minor league baseball is helping no one. Clevinger is a legit, frontline starter that any team would be thrilled to have take the mound every fifth day.
If the bridges are indeed burned in Cleveland, the best course of action is to trade their elite starter and get some prospects and MLB-caliber players to help them compete.