MLB Trade Speculation: Can the Cleveland Indians Upgrade via the White Sox?

Monday night, Buster Olney tweeted that: "White Sox GM Kenny Williams is talking about turning over entire roster." For Indians fans, this should be treated with enthusiasm. While that doesn't mean that we can count the White Sox out of it, if they're talking about turning over their entire roster, it's safe to say that the AL Central race will likely come down to the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians.

Taking it one step further, maybe the Indians can use the White Sox's misfortune to improve their own lot. Teams don't normally make trades within their own division, but White Sox GM Kenny Williams isn't just any normal GM. Williams tends to make the deals he feels are best for his club, other consequences be damned. This could help out the Tribe.

If the Indians offer the right package, maybe they can upgrade their roster with one (or more) of the White Sox players that have been killing them all year. Our top four prospects should be safe (Drew Pomeranz, Alex White, Lonnie Chisenhall and Jason Kipnis), but no one else should be bolted down. If Williams wants any other two (or so) prospects, we should make a move. 

Since the Tribe's biggest needs are starting pitching and an outfield bat, let's take a look at what the White Sox could potentially send to Cleveland.

Alex Rios

On name recognition alone, maybe the Indians should target Alex Rios. As it is, his .207/.253/.300 slash line, .553 OPS (51 OPS+) and minus-1.5 WAR indicate just how useless he has been to the White Sox this year. Why would he instantly turn it around if he joined Cleveland?

Chances He Helps the Indians Make the Playoffs: Zero Percent

Juan Pierre

Juan Pierre isn't a bad player at this point of his career, but his .276/.334/.327 slash line, .661 OPS (83 OPS+) and 0.3 WAR aren't what the Tribe need. He'd just end up being an older, more expensive version of Ezequiel Carrera. 

Chances He Helps the Indians Make the Playoffs: Zero Percent

Jake Peavy

Though Jake Peavy's Cy Young Award would look nice in the Tribe's rotation, the 2011 version of Peavy wouldn't help them make the playoffs one bit. His 5.19 ERA (79 ERA+) and 0.3 WAR aren't what the Indians need. Though his 1.253 WHIP, 7.0 SO/9, 2.1 BB/9 and 3.36 SO:BB ratio are very good, the kicker is Peavy's contract.

There's no way the Indians should take on the $5.3 million Peavy would be owed for the rest of 2011, $17 million he'd be owed in 2012 and the $22 million team option (with a $4 million buyout) in 2013. Though it'd be a big splash, trading for Jake Peavy would destroy the Indians cap flexibility for a pitcher that isn't what he used to be.

Chances He Helps the Indians Make the Playoffs: Five Percent

Philip Humber

At first glance, Philip Humber offers the Indians everything they need. He currently sports a 3.24 ERA (124 ERA+), a 1.08 WHIP, 5.8 SO/9, 2.2 BB/9, 2.61 SO:BB and a 2.5 WAR. While he hasn't been an ace this year, he is certainly an improvement over such Indians pitchers as Mitch Talbot and Fausto Carmona.

Add in the cheapness of Humber's contract (only $167,000 for the rest of the season) and you'd think Humber would fit right into Cleveland's plans, right? Wrong.

The problem with Humber is that this is his breakout season. He's never come close to this kind of success before, making it hard to trust him as the savior of the Tribe's season. He's not a bad player, but I don't want look to him to carry us to the playoffs. 

Chances He Helps the Indians Make the Playoffs: 20 Percent

Edwin Jackson

Edwin Jackson is the sort of talented, inconsistent pitcher that makes coaches, GMs and fans pull their hair out. Considering Jackson's been traded before and is available once again, maybe he could fix the Tribe's rotation. 

Jackson's in the midst of a decent, but not great year. His 3.92 ERA (104 ERA+), 7.2 SO/9, 2.9 BB/9, 2.49 SO:BB and 2.0 WAR aren't bad at all, but his 1.422 WHIP is cause for concern. Overall, though, he is the kind of electric arm that could team well with Justin Masterson and scare some people. I wish there were a more sure thing, but maybe Jackson can take the Indians to the playoffs.

Chances He Helps the Indians Make the Playoffs: 50 Percent

Gavin Floyd

Honestly, it's a toss-up for me between Gavin Floyd and Edwin Jackson. Jackson can be better, but Floyd is a safer bet. Floyd's 4.11 ERA (99 ERA+), 6.4 SO/9 and 1.7 WAR are worse than Jackson's, but his 1.197 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9 and 2.90 SO:BB are much better. Jackson could become a great one-two punch with Justin Masterson the rest of the way, while Floyd would be more likely to settle in as an obvious second fiddle to Masterson. 

The other knock on Floyd would be his contract. He's owed $1.7 million for the rest of 2011, $7 million in 2012 and has a $9.5 million team option in 2013. That's not bad, but it is fairly pricey.

If the Indians let Fausto Carmona go at the end of the season, though (not picking up his $7 million option), then they'll have it covered. Like Jackson, Floyd wouldn't be a bad addition to the 2011 Indians. 

Chances He Helps the Indians Make the Playoffs: 50 Percent

John Danks

Before the 2011 season, it seemed that John Danks was about to establish himself as a truly great pitcher. Then he started the season with a 5.25 ERA and 0-8 record through the month of May. Not the sort of start Danks or the White Sox were looking for.

At this point, Danks has put together a decent 2011 campaign, registering a 3.92 ERA (104 ERA+), 1.317 WHIP, 6.3 SO/9, 2.6 BB/9, 2.45 SO:BB and 1.5 WAR. Considering how poorly he started the year, it's amazing to see his stats as good as they are. 

Since Danks is only 26 years old, there's a good chance he'll regain his former glory. This is still the same guy that averaged 3.61 ERA (125 ERA+) and 5.3 WAR in the past three years.

If the White Sox make him available for three prospects not named Kipnis, Chisenhall, White or Pomeranz, the Indians should jump on it. He'd be a great addition both for 2011 and beyond.

Chances He Helps the Indians Make the Playoffs: 60 Percent

Carlos Quentin

Despite his inconsistencies in the field, Carlos Quentin has been a monster hitter. This season, Quentin's posted a .266/.358/.519 slash line, .878 OPS (138 OPS+), 20 HR and 62 RBI. His 61:30 SO:BB ratio is solid, and his 3.0 WAR would put him higher than anyone not named Asdrubal Cabrera or Justin Masterson on the 2011 Cleveland Indians.

Quentin is still young at 28 years old, only owed $1.7 million for the rest of 2011 and not eligible for free agency until 2013. While these are all reasons the Indians would love to have him, they're also reasons the White Sox might not trade him.

With the whole roster potentially available, however, the Tribe would be remiss not to check on the cost of Carlos Quentin. If the price is right, he'd make a nice outfield combination with Michael Brantley and Ezequiel Carrera (and Shin-Soo Choo when he returns).

Chances He Helps the Indians Make the Playoffs: 70 Percent

Mark Buehrle

Of all the players currently on the Chicago White Sox, only Paul Konerko and Mark Buehrle are the faces of the franchise. Dealing either of these two would be a massive change and signal a major rebuilding on the South Side.

Yet, Buehrle is exactly the sort of player the Indians desperately need. He may not be the pitcher he once was, but would the Indians be worse off adding Buehrle's 3.38 ERA (120 ERA+), 1.234 WHIP, 4.8 SO/9, 2.0 BB/9, 2.43 SO:BB and 2.5 WAR?

Buehrle's contract might not be ideal ($4.7 for the rest of 2011, $15 million in 2012 that would be vesting if he is traded), but for his veteran leadership and ace status, he'd be a great addition to the Indians. He'd be the perfect person to mentor Justin Masterson, Carlos Carrasco, Alex White and Josh Tomlin while keeping the role of "ace" warm for Drew Pomeranz.

Chances He Helps the Indians Make the Playoffs: 75 Percent

No one move will guarantee that the Indians will beat out the Detroit Tigers and make the playoffs, but trading for Carlos Quentin and/or Mark Buehrle (or John Danks/Gavin Floyd/Edwin Jackson) would set them up well. As long as it doesn't mortgage the future, the Indians would be wise to add any of these players at the trading deadline.