2 Pirates trade targets the Indians will want after this series

After dropping two of three in their latest series against the Pirates, there are a couple of players the Indians will want to trade for at the deadline.

Entering Monday, the Indians are 39-30 and sit 2.5 games back of the first-place White Sox in the AL Central. Cleveland sits with incredibly great odds to reach its fifth postseason in the last six years, but to get there and beyond they’ll need a few reinforcements.

It’s remarkable the Indians are in the position they’re in so far given their struggles in certain areas, specifically on offense.

Through 69 games, Cleveland owns MLB’s seventh-lowest team batting average (.228) and they have the third-lowest on-base percentage (.298). They’re ability to hit for power has them towards the middle of the pack in home runs (82-13th MLB) and slugging percentage (.391-15th MLB).

What’s going to make this team isn’t another slugger. The Indians need someone who can get on base and consistently put the ball in play.

The Indians need to trade for Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier

Among the biggest names headlining the trade deadline this season will be Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier.

The 29-year-old is in his sixth big-league season, and currently has the fifth-highest batting average in the majors (.322) and the 11th-highest on-base percentage (.388). Frazier has spent 67 games at second base this season, but he’s also played 155 career games across the outfield.

Cleveland could use help in both their infield and outfield down the stretch. Frazier’s value at the plate will be sought after, and it’s an approach you don’t see too often in today’s “three true outcomes” era. He’s a left-handed hitter with a 10.9 strikeout percentage, which is less than half the MLB average (22.3 K percent) for the 2021 season. Frazier is also batting (.354) with runners in scoring position and (.337) with men on base.

Financially, Frazier will be more than affordable. He’ll make $4.3 million in 2021, and has one more year of arbitration eligibility before becoming a free agent in 2023. That being said, it’s going to make him more valuable as a trade piece for Pittsburgh and the extra year of team control will ultimately drive up their asking price.