Potential Trade Candidate: Fausto Carmona

As the trade deadline begins to inch closer and closer, it becomes more obvious which teams will be buyers, and which will be sellers.

It is fairly obvious that the Indians will be one of the teams that will be sellers. They are currently 13.5 games out of first place, and 16 games under .500 with a 26-42 record.

There has been talk about a few Indians pitchers being moved between now and the trade deadline. Jake Westbrook's name has been mentioned in connection with many teams.

However, there is a more interesting name that has been circling in the trade winds.

Fausto Carmona is a name that should garner a lot of attention from contending teams. With one year left on his contract and three years of club options, Carmona would be under a team's control for up to four years.

Carmona is also only 26 years old and is just beginning to enter his prime. This could make Carmona more appealing to teams than older pitchers signed to shorter deals, such as Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and even Dan Haren.

However, Carmona may come at a lower cost than all of these pitchers due to his struggles over the past few years. After having a breakout season at age 23, Carmona could not repeat his success the next two seasons.

Carmona posted a 19-8 record with a 3.06 ERA and 1.209 WHIP at age 23. The following season, Carmona went 8-7 with a 5.44 ERA (to read the rest of the article and see who the Indians could get in return for Carmona, click on the link below).

This article is also featured on Mr. Mets Daily.