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Cleveland Indians Roundup: Indians Midseason Awards; Francisco Lindor’s Trade Value; Series Preview; Drew Pomeranz Traded Yet Again

By Andrew Schmid

Jul 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) hits a single during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) hits a single during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Francisco Lindor could bring the Cleveland Indians quite a bounty if he were to be traded

With the All-Star break over, our own Henry Palatella took the time to give the Cleveland Indians their own midseason awards. Francisco Lindor took home the Most Valuable Player honors, which he most certainly deserves. In just 87 games he has been worth 4.1 Wins Above Replacement, per FanGraphs, and he matches elite fielding with great batting. 

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As for the team Cy Young Award, Danny Salazar was the clear pick. After several years of showing flashes of brilliance, he has finally settled in to become a true ace. In fact, I noted just the other week that he could be up for not only the team Cy Young Award but also the American League version as well. His stuff is impeccable, and he certainly has the numbers that the voting academy loves.

On another Francisco Lindor story, Dave Cameron of FanGraphs has continued his 2016 trade value series and has ranked the Indians’ shortstop as the fifth most valuable trade asset in baseball. The reason for the nod is his elite talent combined with lengthy and cheap team control. Cameron notes that Lindor is arguably the best shortstop in baseball, but his defensive profile is something that most teams tend to value less than a top slugger. He also comments that while this seems like a bad thing, it also gives the Indians a higher chance of keeping their superstar in town for longer.

Speaking of trades, former Cleveland Indians prospect Drew Pomeranz has been traded yet again, this time from the San Diego Padres to the Boston Red Sox. The Indians sent the lefty to the Colorado Rockies as a part of the Ubaldo Jimenez trade, and the deal ended up as a bit of a mixed bag for both teams. Pomeranz rediscovered himself with the Oakland Athletics in 2014, and he improved even further this season before bringing home the Padres a top prospect from the Boston Red Sox. 

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The most significant part of the trade for the Cleveland Indians is not that a former player has been traded yet again but the return that he fetched. If Drew Pomeranz, who has a bit of an iffy track record, can return the 14th best prospect in baseball, according to ESPN’s Keith Law, then Danny Salazar or Carlos Carrasco are certain to bring home a king’s ransom. While the Indians are certainly not looking to sell, it is still a good reminder of the chips they hold if things fall apart within the next year or so.

Finally, the Cleveland Indians opened a new series against the Minnesota Twins. Carlos Carrasco faced off against Ervin Santana last night in what was a surprisingly close game through the first half. Despite Carrasco being the decidedly better pitcher, the teams entered the sixth inning tied with two runs apiece. A single and a wild pitch brought home two runs in the following inning to give the Indians the late lead, which Mike Napoli extended to 5-2 with his 19th home run of the season before Cody Allen closed out the win with his 19th save of the season.

Trevor Bauer and Tyler Duffey will face off tonight in what could be a highly lopsided affair, as Bauer has been one of the better pitchers in baseball recently while Duffey has been the exact opposite. Nevertheless, it is always a bad idea to count one’s chickens before they hatch.

More from around the American League Central:

Cleveland Indians 2016 Midseason Awards – Wahoo’s on First

2016 Trade Value: #1 to # 10 – FanGraphs

Cleveland Indians: Former Indian Drew Pomeranz Has Found Yet Another Home – Wahoo’s on First

Cleveland Indians-Minnesota Twins Series Preview – Wahoo’s on First

Cleveland Indians Begin Second Half With 5-2 Win Over Twins – Wahoo’s on First

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