3 Players the Indians Should Explore Trading This Offseason

The Cleveland Indians were the odds on favorite to win the AL Central, but then the Minnesota Twins came out of nowhere and won over 100 games. So, should the Tribe give it one last go?

The competitor in me says they should, but as a small market team who can't afford to spend big year after year, it might be time to start tearing it down and build the next great Indians team.

So, here are three players the Indians should explore trading this offseason.

3. SS Francisco Lindor

This one seems crazy, but Francisco Lindor, the face of the Indians franchise, will be a free agent in two years, and since Cleveland doesn't have the money to sign him to the lucrative deal he deserves, they have to start gauging the market now. His arbitration figures are going to be monstrous, which will put a strain on this team financially. The return would be insane and it could replenish their farm system at the drop of a hat. It wouldn't be popular in Cleveland, but baseball is a business and the Indians have to look out for the interests of their team in the short and long term.

2. LHP Brad Hand

Unless the Indians want to make one last October run before tearing it down, there's no need to keep an All-Star closer around, even if he has two years of club control remaining. Brad Hand is coming off a down year, so his value might not be at its highest, but he should still fetch this franchise a nice haul, especially in today's day in age of "bullpenning."

1. RHP Corey Kluber

Corey Kluber was not the dominant force on the mound we've been accustomed to seeing, making just seven starts and posting a 5.80 ERA. However, if Kluber proves to be healthy there would be plenty of teams interested in acquiring him, especially with two years of club control remaining. The Indians already have a nice young core of starting pitchers with Mike Clevinger, Shane Bieber and Zach Plesac, so Cleveland could afford to trade Kluber and still be competitive if that's their intention in 2020.