Let's Talk July Trades

First, let me reiterate that if we trade prospects for relievers it is the fault of the Indains' management.   Not many people were pointing to our lack of activity over the winter in bringing in bullpen depth...but they are all saying it now.

Rant over...for a while.

Now let's talk about July and beyond:

Clearly the Indians need bullpen help and a righthanded hitting power bat, preferably one who can play right field or third base (with Jose Ramirez moving to second base).

So, what do I do before July 31st?  Nothing.

Guys cost less after the non-waiver trade deadline.

Last year we got a situational righty in Joe Smith for two good (in my opinion) prospects: Thomas Pannone and Samad Taylor.   Pannone has been suspended for supposed drug use and Taylor has been less than impressive this year at the plate.  Still, in my opinion it was a lot to pay for a, at the time, redundant reliever.

Contrast that to getting Jay Bruce for Ryder Ryan.   Ryan has already made his way up to AA so the Mets may have something there but, at the time, he was a converted position player at low A at 22 years old.  Bruce was a starting player who gave us needed power and veteran leadership.

In comparing those trades and others that normally happen, teams get better value in August.  Yeah, the inventory is less but that August 1st demarcation line generally turns a bidding war into a bargain basement sale.

A lot of names have been bandied about but the one that intrigues me most is Adrian Beltre.  If Beltre is available in August I would do a Jay Bruce-like trade for him.   He is my biggest target.   If he is gone before August 1st, oh well.

As far as a right handed reliever, the Joe Smith trade tells me that these guys will be overpriced in July.  So, once again, wait until August.

The key here is not to trade the future for the present.   I don't think, based on circumstances at the time or since the trade, anyone would consider any of the guys we traded last year to be 'the future' of this franchise.  So, using that yardstick, guys like Cameron Hill, Connor Marabell and Tyler Krieger should be available but guys like Willi Castro, Yu Chiang Chang and Aaron Civale should not be,   These latter 3, it could be easily argued, will be an integral, though not primary, part of the future.

So, my plea to the Indians is: WAIT 'TILL AUGUST!  and DONT OVERPAY.