San Diego Padres: Becoming Trade Partners With The Cleveland Indians

The San Diego Padres have a perfect trading partner in the Cleveland Indians.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how the New York Yankees would be a great fit for Tyson Ross, giving the San Diego Padres a chance (no pun intended) to acquire AAA and AA talent that is just a 2018 offseason away from reaching the majors (Chance Adams). Those rumors have cooled off as the Yankees appear to have focused much of their attention towards Manny Machado, Mike Moustakas, and possibly, Brad Hand (save that for another time).

Let’s turn our attention to another potential trading partner, the current leaders of the American League Central division.

Working out a deal with the Cleveland Indians just makes too much sense. The Indians are currently 49-41, 8.5 games up on the Minnesota Twins (nine games below .500) in the American League Central. Outside of one of the biggest miracles in baseball history, the Indians have the Central all but mathematically locked up. However, their roster can’t survive a playoff run against the likes of Boston, New York, and Houston.

The bullpen ranks 26th in saves with 20, just one ahead of the Royals, White Sox, and Marlins. Their strikeout rate ranks 19th while they are giving up an MLB-high 1.66 HR/9. The Mets are second worse on that list at 1.45.

Cleveland relievers are stranding just 67.2% of runners on base, the second-worst mark in the majors. A combined 5.37 ERA ranks dead last and their combined -0.8 WAR is better than only the Mets and Royals.

I think you get the idea now, the Cleveland Indians bullpen is atrocious. Combing through the names and numbers of the Padres’ bullpen has to invoke the same feelings we all had when we were small kids and our parents finally caved and took us into the massive candy store at the mall.

If San Diego and Cleveland were to work out a deal, one of the top names on everyone’s list is Francisco Mejia, for good reason. However, that’s not where I’m looking at the moment.