In order for Carlos Lee to become an Indian, the Astros would have to agree to pay about 78 million dollars of the remaining 86 million dollars on his deal.

And I know this isn’t what you asked but Carl Crawford isn’t playing very well at all, nor do we really have much to offer the Rays that they need. They’re the only team in the majors with more pitching depth than us.

don’t forget jason bay and ken griffey jr.

Damn it, I keep forgetting to add “No suggesting we trade for Carl Crawford” to the Ground Rules.

For that reason and many others, I suggest building the discussion around the leaders in PrOPS — to filter out some of the luck nonsense — and look only at LF and RF in the NL.

Here they are.

I doubt that Crawford would be available. Lee is a disastrous fielder, if memory serves, and has a huge contract ($12 million this year, with several years to go). You’d have to DH him, I suspect, which he doesn’t like, and that would give you two DH’s with big salaries and no real position. Dunn is probably available, but he makes big money and is a free agent this Fall. So, it would be a rental. The Reds allegedly are trying to win this year (it’s not working), so might not be satisfied with prospects from the lower minor leagues. If we could get him without giving up the store, that would be an option.

I looked at the list Jay suggests: some of these names are there. I’m not a Jason Bay fan, but I know others are. I imagine he won’t be cheap. Brian Giles could be had, I think. I don’t think Colorado would trade Brad Hawpe (they just signed him to a 3-year deal). You could probably get Austin Kearns, but he always seems to disappoint. Wouldn’t it be funny if the Mets were willing to trade Church?

Except for Giles, I suspect most of these guys would cost the Indians major prospects, so caution is in order.

I agree about 1B. The list doesn’t inspire. Lance Berkman might be nice, but it’s hard to imagine the Astros would trade him now (and he’d cost us major prospects too, at age 32).

A silly thought (I think). Anyone interested in Dmitri Young? He’s supposedly on rehab and they don’t have a spot for him on the Nationals, really. He could probably be had cheap; not sure as you’d want him, though.

My conclusion: short of trading for a real front-line guy (which would certainly cost us Laffey or Cabrera plus more), I’d say the realistic option is someone like Brian Giles.

it’s seems to me like the Tribe already has a number of “proven hitters” in the lineup, and none of them have hit as well as they’re capable this season.

doesn’t it seem more likely that the problem is systematic rather than individual?

HIRE RYAN LUDWICK!

Wait, we already did that once. Sort of.

The problem with trading is that trade partners always seem to clamor for the talent at the Major League level when Cleveland is looking to make a deal. Yet the Tigers managed to trade for Cabrera/Willis without giving up any talent pivotal to their big league roster (Andrew Miller was only up because he signed a MLB contract from the draft; there’s no way this guy was ready, and he’s proving it this year.)

Pay for Dunn so he can leave as a free agent? Hrm…I’m not sure the Reds are going to be reasonable in their demands on that one. But the guy has hit 40 homeruns 4 years in a row.

I think reasonable targets are:

1) Moises Alou for Paul Byrd.
Both players are at similar stages in their careers, similar contractual situations, and both are good when in the game, but not in the game as often as a “core” player would be. The Mets may need another outfielder to cover for Alou, and that happens to be something the Indians can provide if the Mets include the right player.

2) Corey Hart
If I’m giving up talent, get talent in return. The Brewers haven’t committed long-term to Hart. He murders lefties. He’s only 26. He doesn’t walk much, but he didn’t strike out 100 times playing full time last year either. He’s got some pop and speed on the bases. To get him, it’d probably require a true CF to take the place of Mike Cameron-think Gutierrez-plus a legit arm, which is what the upper levels of the system seem to have right now (Lofgren, Huff, Sowers). It’s not that the Brewers want to move him. It’s just that they may be forced to make a move to make room for…

3) Matt LaPorta
Back to the Brewers, but this time to AA. This would be taking a real chance. A Miguel Cabrera circa-2003 chance. It’d probably take Major League talent to grab somebody like LaPorta, but the Brewers are blocked in LF/RF by Ryan Bruan and Corey Hart for the foreseeable future. Neither is a CF, though some suggest Hart may be. But Braun just learned LF. I don’t see him moving to RF for LaPorta, who is merely passable in LF with the glove. Some big guy named Prince Fielder occupies first base, so LaPorta really is blocked a la Sean Casey/Richie Sexson/Brian Giles/Jeremy Burnitz from the Cleveland 90s’ teams.

4) Brian Giles
Probably the most realistic target. He’s no longer a star. He’s not really the same player who earned his 3 year, $30M contract. But he’s the guy Trot Nixon was supposed to be last year. The same kind of guy who is a professional hitter. What is that, anyway? He doesn’t give away at-bats. His numbers are depressed by playing in Petco. He’s the #2 hitter Wedge has been seeking all year. He’s an .800OPS in right field when he’s not playing half his games in SD. It won’t take big talent to get him. I can’t see this getting much beyond Sowers territory (who’s a perfect fit for that ballpark) if the Indians even want to go that far. Giles does have a $9M option for next year with a $3M buyout, so there’s some money issues involved.

5) Raul Ibanez
Impending free agent. Not a star. Defensively challenged. Can play some 1B. When the Mariners finally realize they aren’t going anywhere, even with Eric Bedard, this guy should be available. And usually, trading with Seattle ends up a “winning” trade. See: All Recent History.