With things as dismal as they are, many fans of the Cleveland Indians seek escape into fantasizing about remedies. Or so it would seem based upon tv and radio sports-talk shows. Everyone is trotting out plausible explanations for what has gone wrong. Firings are being called for by those apparently interested in scapegoating. We're being told the offensive slumping will abate soon, if track records dictate. No team has ever had as many key elements flunk so disastrously simultaneously. For it to continue much longer would be unprecedented.
In the meantime, the team's highest-priced bat is battling not only an extended production drought but also a chronic right shoulder irritation. Travis Hafner received a cortisone shot that will either have him back in the lineup Friday night in Kansas City or possibly heading for a stint on the disabled list.
OF hopeful Shin-Soo Choo is nearing the end of his 20-game injury rehab. Out of minor-league options, he must be activated for the varsity or lost on release waivers.
These two ballplayers figure to influence the status of veteran OF David Dellucci, as Choo would be getting his ABs. Should Hafner be healthy enough to avoid the DL, Dellucci's time with the team would be about up once Choo is activated. Only a DL stint for Hafner figures to prolong Dellucci's tenure in the Wigwam.
Therefore, though his marketability might be lean, Dellucci's destiny could trigger some welcomed trade activity by Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro.
With that in mind, these deals are offered for your entertainment and consideration.
Jhonny Peralta, Andy Marte and Dellucci to SF for the Giants three most expensive and at least two of their oldest position players: SS Omar Vizquel (41, $5 million, .216), Ray Durham (37, $7.5 mil, .285) and OF Randy Winn (33, $8.87 mil, .293).
The floundering SF franchise (20-31) gets relatively inexpensive youth for its infield, as well as a veteran reserve for pinch-hitting---at least until they likely move him along to some contender by the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline---while simultaneously divesting itself of some burdensome contracts attached to declining bit pieces.
Peralta becomes their new 3b, with Marte platooning at 1b with LH rookie John Bowker. The departure of both Vizquel and Durham opens middle-infield jobs for promising youngsters Emmanuel Burriss and Eugenio Velez, respectively, both of whom feature athleticism and speed.
Conversely, Omar and Ray (both of whom, like Winn, are switch-hitters) become Cleveland's everyday keystone combo, with Jamey Carroll surviving as the primary insurance, permitting Asdrubal Cabrera the additional seasoning he needs at Buffalo, where he can polish his game alongside Josh Barfield while the contracts of Vizquel and Durham expire.
Winn, for his part, would not stay for long, but move along to AtL (28-24, third in NL East) with Ryan Garko, Michael Aubrey and Paul Byrd for yet another switch-hitter, this one free-agent-to-be Mark Texeira, currently employed for $12.5 mil/yr.
Garko and Aubrey inherit his vacated post at first, platooning there as they have been here. Winn replaces the injured Matt Diaz as the Braves' LF, while Byrd returns to the Peach Tree capital as the needed rotation addition.
Texeira may amount to an expensive rental, but he also might be pursuaded to sign-on longterm with the money CC will be leaving on the table. Should that be the case, the Tribe would have itself a cleanup hitter just entering his prime and already exhibiting consistent potency and promising necessary run-production relief for the apparently-overburdened Victor Martinez and Hafner. With Jordan Brown at AAA Buffalo and Matt Whitney still developing at AA Akron, the losses of Aubrey and Garko are mitigated.
The 28-year-old Texeira arrived from Texas last summer to return to the city in which he played his college ball (Georgia Tech). Drafted fifth overall in 2002, the Annapolis native has an elite career OBP of .370 and is working to extend four straight years of at least 33 doubles, 30 homers, 105 rbi, .370 OBP and .885 OPS (on-base plus slugging). His best season occurred in 2005, when he achieved 41 doubles, 43 dingers, 144 rbi, .379 OBP and .945 OPS. Thusfar in 2008 he's at 14 doubles, six homers, 35 rbi, .364 and .801, accompanying a .267 BA.
With an order of Grady, Omar, Ben, Tex, Victor, Hafner, Choo/Gut, Blake and Durham the Tribe would have a balanced and experienced lineup with enough talent and diversity to share the offensive burden. What is more, the D would improve, especially by regaining its critical infield leadership. Durham has some pop, even at his advanced age, and, like Vizquel, can threaten an opponent in a variety of ways.
This kind of support is more worthy of the outstanding starting pitching Cleveland's hurlers have provided. Either LH Jeremy Sowers or RH Brian Slocum could hold Byrd's vacated slot until Fausto Carmona returned.
And the team would be more fun and entertaining to watch without Garko and Peralta on it.
To this point, this has all the appearances of a stale, stagnant, complacent contingent in need of a serious shakeup. The deals proposed here would at least suffice to rectify those characteristics.
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