For the third straight year the Indians are getting ready to make some deals. Once again they're going to be sellers, not buyers.
Russell Branyan's power makes him a player contenders likely will be interested in as the Tribe once again goes into July looking to trade veterans for prospects.CINCINNATI, Ohio — Let the trading begin. Just don't expect a lot of big names coming the Indians' way between now and Aug. 31.
Then again who had heard of Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo when the Indians acquired them from Seattle for Eduardo Perez and Ben Broussard in separate deals less than a month apart during the 2006 season?
Like this season, 2006 was full of angst and anger. More so than this year because the Indians were expected to contend after winning 93 games in 2005. It didn't happen, and they sent Perez to Seattle on June 30 and Broussard to the Mariners on July 26.
No one thought the Indians were going to contend this year. Few thought they'd be this bad, but they're preparing to do just as predicted -- trade every veteran in the last year of his deal.
The list of available Indians is familiar: closer Kerry Wood, infielder Jhonny Peralta, outfielder Austin Kearns, first baseman Russell Branyan and catcher Mike Redmond. Lots of teams are interested in starting pitcher Fausto Carmona, but he's probably staying put. Carmona is signed through 2011 with three club options.
Branyan and Kearns are probably the most marketable of the available Indians. Kearns has had a solid first half offensively. He's shown power and ability to hit for average. He's also shown he's healthy enough to play on a regular basis after thumb and foot issues limited him the past two years.
As expected, Branyan has shown power. He has 10 homers and 24 RBI. He's also continued to hit for an adequate average. He leaves something to be desired as an everyday first baseman, but it's unlikely Branyan would be playing every day if a contender trades for him.
The market for Wood is not good. Out of the available Indians, he's probably drawn the least interest.
Wood opened the year on the disabled list and he hasn't pitched consistently as a closer for the second straight year. A team like the Phillies might be interested at some point, but Wood didn't help himself by blowing a save in Wednesday's 7-6 loss at Citizens Bank Park.
The Indians would be interested in trading closer Kerry Wood, but too many times his appearances have led to scenes such as this one at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Wednesday, when Jimmy Rollins hit a game-winning two-run homer in the ninth inning.If Wood is going to punch his ticket out of town to a contender, he's going to have to pitch better in the limited save opportunities the Indians are going to produce.
Peralta has been consistently mediocre this year. It's hard to see a contender coming after a regular third baseman who is in the second year of a power slump.
The deals GM Mark Shapiro probably will be able to make will be similar to last year's Rafael Betancourt for Connor Graham trade with Colorado or the Ryan Garko for Scott Barnes deal with San Francisco.
The Indians need to make moves to create playing time for Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley. LaPorta has played well since being optioned to Class AAA Columbus on June 7. Brantley is putting together a solid season at Columbus, especially over the past couple weeks, but the Indians don't feel an urgent need to bring him to Cleveland.
They'd like to get a look at starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco and emerging third baseman Jared Goedert, as well. Jordan Brown, last year's International League batting champion, hasn't played well at Columbus and needs to improve if he's going to get a look from the Tribe.
Improvement: Manager Manny Acta, with his defense springing leaks from all corners, said Cabrera is making strides in his recovery from a broken left forearm.
"He's running and throwing," said Acta. "There's a very good chance he can start taking ground balls when we get home off this trip. Things are moving along pretty good for him."
Cabrera, whose injury along with the loss of Gold Glover Grady Sizemore has taken the Indians' defense from second to last in the league, broke his left forearm on May 17. He had surgery and is in an eight to 10-week recovery period.
"By the end of this month, or perhaps the first week of so of July, he could start swinging the bat a little bit," said Acta. "We're probably shooting for the All-Star break.
"It all depends on how much rehab time he needs. We're not going to rush him back. He's going to need a fair amount of at-bats."