Who Will the Cleveland Indians Trade Next?

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

IF Jamey Carroll

Current Salary: $2,500,000

Years Left: One

Should he be traded?

Everyone has to like Jamey Carroll and anyone would love to have him on their team.

However, Carroll is nothing more than a utility man that can play a little more often than a regular utility man plays. He can start for stretches at crucial infield spots and help you through an injury.

He's done it multiple times since he's been in an Indians uniform these past two years.

However a guy like Carroll should be nothing more than a luxury. At the time the Indians acquired him, they believed he was a luxury they could afford and perhaps one of the few missing pieces between the Indians and a visit to the World Series.

With the Indians needing to start with fielding a basic team that can contend next year, Carroll's price tag is one that the Indians can't afford to pay, even if he plays more than a regular utility man.

They've also got in-house options to take over his spot, at a much cheaper rate as well. They could pay Josh Barfield and Chris Gimenez to play the same spots, and Barfield could provide the same type of style of play with Gimenez adding a little pop.

If you haven't figured it out by now, I believe the Indians should part ways with Carroll. Any National League team would love to have him for a run in the postseason and you could get something decent in return.

Will he be traded?

I think so, at least when the Indians confirm that they are out of the race. They'll trade Carroll and start grooming both Barfield and Gimenez to take over his role next year.

SP Carl Pavano

Current Salary: $1,500,000 plus incentives

Years Left: One

Should he be traded?

The Indians got more than their fans expected out of Carl Pavano this season.

He had a rough start that was followed by a few games in which the offense didn't give him much help.

Then he turned it on in the month of May and showed why the Indians invested some risk into signing him. He hit a few rough games, an adjustment to pitching this much, but has seemingly got himself back on track this past time out.

How much is Pavano really worth though? He's pretty much earned the one and a half million the Indians paid and will pay him for the guaranteed portion of his deal. He'll start earning more cash with his 18th start, which is two starts away.

And as long as he pitches well, all that cash that he gets for starting those games would be money well earned on his part.

I wouldn't personally trade Pavano, but rather look into extending him beyond this year. The Indians could use a guy like him, a veteran pitcher at the end of their rotation to give them innings, mostly good starts, and the occasional brilliant one.

The doubt of Carmona and Westbrook puts this thought into my mind. But if they both turn out to be okay and viable options, Pavano sort of becomes expendable.

We won't know any of that by the trading deadline though, and it might be unlikely that Pavano can net you any sort of draft pick compensation if he becomes a free agent.

You can see the pickle the Indians could find themselves in if the time comes to make a decision on Pavano.

Will he be traded?

Like I just said, even I can't decide if they should, which leads me to believe not even the Indians are really sure what side of the fence they would be on. I guess it's one of those, cross the bridge when we get there type deals.

Other trading chips

When he comes off the disabled list, Rafael Betancourt is in the same boat as Lee and Martinez. He has an option for the 2010 season that could be exercised. However, $5 million for a relief pitcher seems like a lot, especially with the Indians in possession of a $10 million closer.

I'd much rather decline his option and offer him arbitration. They could either get a more suitable salary for The Gavel, get a sandwich compensation pick in return if he signs elsewhere, or get a new deal done.

I mentioned Kerry Wood, and while he hasn't been involved in any rumors yet, some people have an idea of trading Wood because they believe he is in the same boat as Carroll. He's a luxury for a championship caliber team, not one that is still looking to contend.

I wouldn't deal Wood though and I don't think the Indians will. They want to contend next year, and Wood has to be a part of that given they need bullpen arms. If he gets more consistent closing chances, he should be much better.

Not a lot of people like Ryan Garko very much and I don't know why. Some people want to trade him because he's getting wasted around here; some just want to trade him because they really believe he sucks.

Garko did knock in 90 runs last year, and when he's gotten consistent playing time this year, he's been good.

Wedge is committed to getting Garko more consistent playing time for the time being.  That could be to showcase him, or it really could be genuine with the failings of Kelly Shoppach.

I wouldn't trade Garko, but rather make him my everyday first baseman.

Of course there are other names floating around, spare parts such as Jeremy Sowers and Ben Francisco. I believe those two specifically can have roles on this team and for the price we are paying for them, why not?

Francisco fits the prototypical role of fourth outfielder. Although he may have more value than that to trade, what are you really going to get in return for him unless someone sees something special that they think is there?

Sowers meanwhile, isn't a starting pitcher, at least not in this stage of his career. He's excellent the first and even second time through the lineup and has gone out start after start and has shut the opposition down for the first few innings.

However, the average of opposing batters is well over .500 when the hitter is facing Sowers for the third time.

I'd use Sowers as a two-inning relief pitcher for the time being rather than trade him. I don't know if you could get much for him unless you put him in a package, and I don't think the Indians are going to do that right now but the thought has been brought up.

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