Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez says he’s happy in Denver, but his name is sure to come up during trade discussions this winter. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
I was trolling big-league waters for possible trades that would bring pitching to Colorado when I netted an interesting article from Paul Hoynes, the respected baseball writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
they need an impact hitter. Here’s what Hoynes wrote:
“To get the hitter they need, the Indians are going to have to trade one of their top starters — Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar or Trevor Bauer. Or they could deal young starter Cody Anderson along with a prospect like Bradley Zimmer or Clint Frazier.”
The Rockies have two players who might fit the Indians’ needs: Outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Corey Dickerson. The Rockies need quality pitching and they are going to have to give up something valuable to get it. Could the Indians be a legitimate trade partner?
Here is more from Hoynes:
“Among the Tribe’s starting pitchers, Carrasco and Salazar would bring the biggest return. It’s hard to imagine the Indians trading Kluber, their ace, who signed a five-year, $38.5 million deal at the start of last season. There’s also the matter of Kluber going from a Cy Young winner in 2014 to leading the AL with 16 losses this year. Teams are smart enough to realize Kluber’s 2015 stats, with the exception of wins and losses, were in line with his Cy Young numbers, but 16 losses is hard to sweep under the rug.
“Carrasco, 28, went 14-12 with a 3.63 ERA in 30 starts last season. He set career highs across the board and, like Kluber, signed a multiyear deal at the start of last season. Carrasco just finished the first year of a four-year, $22 million deal with two club options.”
Rockies GM Jeff Bridich has said that Gonzalez is “part of the Rockies’ core.” But Bridich has also made it clear that he’s willing to listen to offers, and by trading Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto in late July, Bridich showed he’ll pull the trigger on a bold move.
CarGo, who won a Silver Slugger Award last week, that he’s happy being a Rockie and is already looking forward to spring training.
Trading Gonzalez to Cleveland for pitching has some merit, but how realistic is it? That’s difficult to say. His contract could be problematic for a team like the Indians. Gonzalez will make $17 million in 2016 and $20 million in 2017 before becoming a free agent. Cleveland’s $86 million payroll in 2015 was last in the the AL Central and was one of the smallest in the majors.
A Dickerson trade might be a better fit. He’s a season short of arbitration and is a powerful young hitter. In a full season in 2014, he hit .312 with 24 homers and 76 RBIs in 131 games. His 2015 season was marred by injuries (most notably plantar fasciitis), but if teams view him as healthy, he could be a coveted player.
I’m not saying a trade with Cleveland will happen. I’m just exploring, as I’m sure Bridich and his crew are doing as well.
Tags: Carlos Carrasco, Carlos Gonzalez, Corey Dickerson, Corey Kluber, Danny Salazar, Jeff Bridich, Trevor Bauer.
