Eight games left before the Indians put it in the barn for the All-Star break. Time flies when you’re having fun.
Indians closer Kerry Wood might garner interest from a contending team if he shows he can consistently earn saves, which of course is difficult when save situations are few. Eight games left before the Indians put it in the barn for the All-Star break. Time flies when you’re having fun.
The flames already have started on their third fire sale in as many years. The difference being that the talent the Indians have to burn this summer is kindling compared with the redwoods they set ablaze over the past two years.
The Indians were surprised when Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik called last month about Dr. Strangeglove, Russell Branyan. That they didn’t leap immediately at the opportunity to trade him might be even more surprising, but the Indians are anything if not thorough.
They had to see if anyone else was interested in Branyan. The Angels, with Kendry Morales out for the season, were a potential fit, but they chose to wait until the July 31 trade deadline drew nearer. Then the front office had to see if the Indians were really as bad as they appeared to be. Need we say more?
Finally, Matt LaPorta had to show he was ready replace Branyan at first. So far, so good in that respect.
So who’s next on the Tribe loading dock? A disclaimer must be added because the players about to be mentioned have not drawn much interest.
Jake Westbrook is probably the most attractive. Starting pitching is always in demand among contenders. It’s fair to say there’s been a few nibbles for him.
He went into Saturday night’s start against Oakland at 5-4 with a 4.69 ERA in 16 starts after missing most of the past two seasons because of Tommy John surgery. Westbrook is playoff-tested, and should get sharper in the second half, but money will be a big part of his deal. He’s making $11 million and the Indians, depending on what kind of return they get, would have to pay a good portion of what’s left on the deal.
There’s a chance the Indians might keep Westbrook and try to re-sign him after the season. Westbrook is open to that, but when was the last time that happened with an Indians free agent?
Closer Kerry Wood, from a pure arm point, would probably be next in line. Unfortunately, he’s making a lot of money ($10.5 million) and is closing for a team that hasn’t produced many save situations the past two years. He’s had consistency problems as well.
If a contender did come after Wood, it would probably be more as a set-up man than a closer unless an injury situation arose.
“He’s got a power arm,” one scout said, “but I don’t like him closing. He walks too many people. But his experience is valuable.”
Wood went to the postseason four times with the Cubs.
Jhonny Peralta, like Westbrook and Wood, can be a free agent at the end of the season. The Indians are unlikely to exercise his $7 million club option for 2011.
Unlike Wood, Peralta has received consistent playing time at third base, but if he’s been trying to attract interest from a new employer, it’s hard to tell. Peralta went into Saturday night’s game hitting .253 (69-for-273) with 21 doubles, three triples, five homers and 34 RBI.
It was speculated Philadelphia might have interest in Peralta because third baseman Placido Polanco and second baseman Chase Utley are on the disabled list. Polanco is expected to return sooner than Utley. The Phillies could move Polanco to second and add a third baseman.
A source, however, said the Phillies were not interested in Peralta.
The Twins are looking for a third baseman. They know Peralta and the Indians don’t have a problem trading to a division rival. They gave the Twins right-hander Carl Pavano last year for virtually nothing so they wouldn’t have to pay his incentives. Peralta’s career stats against Detroit and Chicago, the Twins’ nearest rivals in the AL Central, are not great.
Outfielder Austin Kearns has had a nice first half for the Indians. He’s cooled off considerably, but he’s inexpensive and could help a contender as an extra outfielder or bat off the bench.
The Indians’ chips don’t stack as high as they did over the past two years when they traded CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez. But stretch runs dictate their own needs. Those needs must be met by two dates, July 31 or Aug. 31. So let the deals begin.
PAUL’S RANT OF THE WEEK
The silliest rip job of the Indians over their handling of Russell Branyan went like this:
“The Indians always do something like this. If they hadn’t signed Branyan for $2 million or Jason Michaels or David Dellucci or Roberto Hernandez or Aaron Fultz or Jamey Wright or Mark Grudzielanek, they could have saved enough money to keep CC Sabathia.”
How many times have you heard that argument, or a similar variation? I heard it on talk radio driving to Progressive Field a couple of days after the Indians traded Branyan to Seattle. It made me laugh, and it should make you laugh.
Sabathia wasn’t staying in Cleveland. The same with Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez. The Indians weren’t going to pay them. The Yankees signed Sabathia to a seven-year, $160 million contract. That’s more than the Indians’ payroll in 2009 and 2010, combined.
Branyan was brought here to hit a few home runs and to play first base if Matt LaPorta was restricted by his off-season surgeries. I’ll admit watching him play first was as painful as a tooth extraction, but the signing made sense. The Indians have made a lot mistakes the past few years. Branyan wasn’t one of them.
HOT CORNER
New sheriff in town
One of the candidates to interview for the Indians manager’s job following the firing of Eric Wedge was Kirk Gibson. It was the first indication that Gibson felt he could bank the intensity he showed as a player and manage. The Indians found Gibson highly competitive and motivated. He had strong ideas on how the game should be played and what he wanted to do as a manager. Now he will get a chance to use them in Arizona following the firing of manager A.J. Hinch and GM Josh Byrnes, who hired Gibson to be the Diamondbacks’ bench coach.
It will not be easy. The Diamondbacks have a historically bad bullpen and an offense that is on pace to set a big-league single-season record for strikeouts.
Down on the farm
If Luis Valbuena doesn’t rally at Class AAA Columbus to recapture the Indians’ second base job, and Jason Donald proves to be more a utility infielder than a regular, Jason Kipnis could be the Tribe’s second baseman in waiting. He’s made the switch from center field to second much faster than the Indians anticipated at Class AA Akron with no decrease in his offense. Cord Phelps is another possibility.
A good defender since being drafted out of Stanford in 2008, Phelps has been much better offensively than anticipated at Columbus. Phelps and Kipnis will be in consideration for a big-league shot next season. . . . If the Indians are able to trade Jhonny Peralta, Jared Goedert should get a look at third. . . . Pitching-wise, Carlos Carrasco is starting to come on at Columbus. Alex White, No. 1 pick in 2009, is pitching well at Class AA Akron and making a strong case to remain a starting option for the big-league club sometime next season. . . . Lefty Nick Hagadone is having control issues at Akron.
GAME OF THREES
Baseball is a game of threes. Three strikes and you're out. Three outs in a half-inning. Here are two more sets of threes to consider from last week in baseball.
THREE UP
1. Shin-Soo Choo's four homers off Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo are the most homers by one batter against one pitcher this season, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
2. Yankees lefty CC Sabathia is 6-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his past six starts, allowing 10 earned runs in 45 innings.
3. Seattle lefty Cliff Lee went 4-1 in June with two walks, 36 strikeouts and four complete games in 51 innings.
THREE DOWN
1. The Phillies put 2B Chase Utley (right thumb) and 3B Placido Polanco (left elbow) on the disabled list Tuesday.
2. Mets pitchers have allowed eight grand slams this season (through Saturday).
3. Boston has placed five players – Mike Lowell, Victor Martinez, Dustin Pedroia, Manny Delcarmen and Jason Varitek on the disabled list since June 24.
STAT-O-MATIC
Big news: Travis Hafner and Jim Thome, known for their bulk and power, put on displays of speed Monday — Hafner scoring on a suicide squeeze and Thome hitting his first triple since May 11, 2004.
Mr. Streak: Cincinnati’s Arthur Rhodes’ streak of 33 consecutive scoreless appearances ended Tuesday in a loss to Philadelphia.
Running on empty: Toronto hit .223 in June, lowest in the big leagues, according to Stats Inc.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158