Kuzul

For some reason, I liked Vern Fuller.

Don’t ask me why. For five seasons, from 1966 to 1970, he occasionally played second base for the Cleveland Indians. He had a career batting average of .232 in 785 at-bats.

He wasn’t my favorite player, but, when I think of the Tribe teams of that era, his name is always one of the first that comes to mind.

As I watched a little bit of the Indians’ latest loss on TV Thursday night, I found myself thinking: Vern Fuller would be a star on this team, or close to it.

With all due respect to Mr. Fuller, that’s sad.

Here’s what else I was thinking as I watched guys like Jordan Brown and Frank Hermann ply their trade in an Indians uniform:

1. Who are these guys? and

2. Why on earth am I watching this?

I’m not alone. Attendance at Progressive Field has plummeted. Ratings for Indians telecasts on SportsTime Ohio have experienced a similar decline.

Once the hottest ticket in town, the Indians have become irrelevant.

As Oscar Wilde once said, “The only thing worse in the world than being talked about is not being talked about.”

That’s our Tribe.

As I paused briefly to watch a few moments of Thursday’s telecast, Luis Valbuena came to bat. What he’s doing back in the majors, I don’t know, but he’s hitting .169 on the season.

Then six-year veteran Andy Marte and his now-predictable .204 batting average stepped up, followed by Lou Marson (.192).

I’m sorry, but when you’re fielding a lineup like that, you’re simply not competing.

Then I looked up their salaries. They’re each making about $400,000 this season. In fact, most of the guys on the team are.

I guess that explains it.

The Indians have become the Pittsburgh Pirates of the American League. They play in a beautiful stadium in the heart of the city. They have a loyal fan base. They have a minuscule payroll.

And they’re terrible. Just terrible.

It also appears that, before they get better, they’re going to get worse.

In recent weeks, they went through their annual exercise of gutting the roster. This time, Jhonny Peralta, Austin Kearns, Kerry Wood, and Jake Westbrook were sent packing. Good old Russell Branyan was shipped out before them.

Carlos Santana, their brightest young player, suffered a horrendous, season-ending knee injury this week.

In their place are youngsters like Brown, Valbuena, Hermann, and another $400,000 man, Hector Ambriz.

Whatever.

It’s hard to assess what kind of job Manny Acta is doing as manager. How can we, with the roster he’s been given?

Shin-Soo Choo is the closest thing the Indians have to a star. Santana has promise, and Sizemore is a solid pro, but both must now overcome injuries to return to form next year.

Otherwise, the jury’s out on virtually everyone—including the new ace of the pitching staff, Fausto Carmona, who sports a 44-45 career win-loss record.

Yawn.

What’s alarming is that this routine is becoming the norm in Cleveland.

Develop a few solid players, and sign some veterans. Mix them with young kids for half the season, then unload the guys that will bring some prospects. Play out the rest of the season with the youngsters, and do it all over again the next year.

Three years ago, the Indians won 96 games, the A.L. Central Division crown, and very nearly an A.L. pennant.

A year later, their win total plummeted to 81. Last year, that number dropped to 65.

While this year’s winning percentage is better than last year’s at the moment, one wonders how long that will last now that the lineup is littered with AAA-level talent.

Mark Shapiro’s tenure as general manager has been one of missed opportunities. Larry Dolan’s tenure as owner has been one of lowered expectations.

The problem is, when expectations get too low, people lose interest. That means the Indians don’t just need to figure out how to win games, they need to figure out how to win back the fans.

Goodness, where’s Vern Fuller when you need him?

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

As the trade deadline approaches, Minnesota Twins fans are hoping the team adds another arm to the rotation to help push the Twins to an AL Central division title and beyond.

It was about this time last year when the Twins added Carl Pavano to the rotation. Pavano has emerged as the ace of the rotation with a 12-6 record and 3.26 ERA.

The Twins, typically bargain shoppers, don’t appear to be in the sweepstakes for Roy Oswalt, Ted Lilly, or Dan Haren, the most mentioned pitchers in current trade rumors.

Looking to the rosters of potential sellers, here’s a list of the top candidates that the Twins should consider.

The criteria used to rank these pitchers included salary, contract situation, and 2010 performance.

Begin Slideshow

With the Mets having lost the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, they are still in need of another starting pitcher. Losing the last two games to the Braves and falling to five games out of first place and two back in the wild card race have made this need even more obvious.

Names that have recently come up in connection to the Mets include Ted Lilly , Fausto Carmona , Jake Westbrook, and Dan Haren . However, all of these players come at a price.

A popular name that is being thrown around as a player the Mets would need to include in a deal is Josh Thole. At just age 22, Thole had success during his short stint in the major leagues last season.

After starting the season in the minors, Thole has worked his way back up to the big league club. He struggled in the minors this year posting just a .267 batting average and a .353 on-base percentage. Many wondered if Thole had truly merited his promotion. Others wondered if it was in an attempt to showcase him for a trade. It appears to be the latter.

Thole would be a key piece in a deal for any of the aforementioned pitchers. He would have different value to each team.

The Cubs appear to have no need for Thole, yet they have requested that he be included in a deal for Ted Lilly. This speaks volumes about the confidence the Cubs have in Geovany Soto. (to read the rest of the article click on the link below)

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Welcome to Tribe Talk, where Bleacher Report’s Cleveland Indians fans weigh in on the ups and downs of the club each week throughout the season.

This week, we discuss the Tribe’s terrible luck with injuries, Fausto Carmona’s All-Star Game nod, and the long-awaited emergence of Matt LaPorta.

I would like to thank this week’s participants Lewie Pollis, The Coop, and Nino Colla for their contributions. This discussion is open to all, so please feel free to comment below and pitch in your thoughts on the questions we’re addressing this week.

Go Tribe!

1. First it was Grady. Then it was Asdrubal. Now it’s Shin-Soo Choo who is headed for a lengthy stint on the DL. 

Choo sustained a sprained thumb last Friday diving for a ball. What at first appeared to be a minor injury is now believed to potentially require surgery and could keep the right fielder out until September. 

Are the Tribe EVER going to catch a break? 

Do you really think Choo will be out until September, and if so, how will this impact the team’s performance? How do you think the adapted outfield of Crowe in left, Brantley in center, and Kearns in right will fare? 

One more thing: At the risk of being a harbinger of doom, who’s next? Will we lose another important roster member to the DL soon?

Samantha Bunten: As a Cleveland fan, it’s tempting to meet this question with a blank stare and mumble something like, “Catch a break?” What does THAT mean? The only thing the Tribe seems to be catching this season is the injury bug, and yes, I did also mean that as a knock on our abysmal defense. 

We lost our two best defenders in Sizemore and Cabrera, and our best hitter in Choo. That would be tough for any team to absorb, but the Tribe’s lack of depth has made the impact of the injuries even more glaring. 

As far as the outfield in its current state, Brantley has improved but still has a long way to go, Kearns has cooled off, but is certainly still doing his job, and Crowe…well…you all know how I feel about that. 

Who’s next? Well, if the pattern continues, you have to assume it will be Mitch Talbot or Chris Perez. And the shot to the head LaPorta took from Elvis Andrus on Monday was eerily ironic given LaPorta’s recent impressive improvement.

Nino Colla: Oh boy…This is just deflating to see. Not just the injury but the fact he’ll be out for the next two months? Man, just man. 

I don’t know if they are ever going to catch a break, but this is certainly annoying to continue to see year after year. Just once, even if the team isn’t going to compete, you’d like to see your best player have a good season from start to finish. 

I don’t know how it will impact the team, but it certainly isn’t going to help. They’ll have to depend on Carlos Santana, Travis Hafner, and Matt LaPorta to carry the offense, and that is a tough task for those three with the supporting parts right now. 

The outfield will be fine for now. I want to see Jordan Brown now though. If he isn’t up at some point, there is something really wrong. They have the space, and if they trade Kearns they will have no excuse not to give him a shot.

Lewie Pollis: I don’t think there’s much to say about this besides that it sucks. Though the image of Trevor Crowe having some job security makes me want to vomit.

The Coop: I can only assume your question about the Indians ever catching a break is rhetorical, because the next break any Cleveland team catches will be the first one. 

Regardless of whether or not Choo needs surgery, the most important thing is that the Indians do not rush him back. Put him on the shelf for the rest of the year if you have to, but there’s no sense in jeopardizing the future and long-term health of one of the best players on the team. 

As far as the team is concerned, anytime you lose a guy who means as much to his team as Choo means to the Tribe, there’s going to be a painful drop-off. Let’s not forget there was a reason Brantley was sent down before May. 

My only hope is he has become a better player after suffering through his early season struggles. His latest stint in Columbus might be just what he needed to regain his focus and confidence. Plus, with the Indians out of it, he should feel a lot less pressure. 

And for the record, I fully expect Fausto Carmona to incur some sort of freak injury while attending the All-Star Game, putting him on the DL for the rest of the year. Tendinitis in the elbow from holding his video camera during the Home Run Derby, perhaps?

2. On Sunday, Fausto Carmona was selected as the Indians’ representative for the 2010 All-Star Game. 

Do you think Fausto deserves to be an All-Star? Was he really the best choice to represent the Indians in the Midsummer Classic?

Who would you have chosen to represent the team? Why?

Samantha Bunten: The nod should have gone to Choo, no question. As it stands, he’s the only player on the team who by rights might belong on an All-Star roster without that “every team has to have one player on the squad” designation attached. 

Given Choo’s unfortunate injury though, I like the pick of Carmona. I’m not sure he truly has given the performance necessary to be nominated, but you have to love that a guy who was so bad that he was banished to rookie ball just one year ago has improved so much he’s now an All-Star representative. 

Nino Colla: Is Fausto an All-Star this year? I don’t really think so. I think it is awesome that he made it, and I’m glad there will be an Indian in the game after all. 

However, other pitchers in the AL got left off the roster for him being on it. Jered Weaver is one name that comes to mind, but I don’t think it was a huge travesty that Carmona did make it over a few other AL pitchers. 

Shin-Soo Choo should have been this club’s representative. It sucks he won’t get the honor and it sucks he got hurt and wouldn’t have been able to play anyway, but he deserved to at least have the honor attached to his name. Choo has the best offensive numbers in virtually every category and he deserved the nod.

Lewie Pollis: It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that I’m not Carmona’s biggest fan, but since we can’t have Choo, I can’t really justify being angry. 

He absolutely doesn’t deserve to be an All-Star over, say, Francisco Liriano, but he’s probably the best the Indians have to offer.

I had one other possibly crazy idea that I think merits consideration: Carlos Santana. He’s been absolutely insane; his .436 wOBA would rank third in the game if he had enough at-bats to qualify. 

The main argument against him would be his lack of playing time, but given that he’s produced more in 28 games than All-Star John Buck has in a full season (1.4 to 1.3), I don’t think it’s the smallness of the sample size that matters.

The Coop: The last time I spoke on who the Indians’ All-Star representative should be, I thought it was obvious, so I didn’t name anyone. But a few other people didn’t necessarily agree with my choice of Choo, so maybe I should have clarified. 

Hands down, Shin-Soo Choo should be there. Obviously, his injury could not have happened at a worse time. But to me, there isn’t any debate on this topic. Austin Kearns? Seriously? Since when does .260 / 7 / 35 get you to the All-Star game? 

Is Fausto Carmona the next best choice? Maybe, maybe not. Sure, his stats aren’t exactly reminiscent of Nolan Ryan, but considering he’s come back from the depths of hell (Rookie Ball) to be among the team leaders in virtually every statistical category is enough for me. I hope that this opportunity increases his confidence and helps him return to his 2007 form for good. He deserves it.

3. Since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus after Russell Branyan was traded to the Mariners, Matt LaPorta has been a pleasant surprise.

With a .236 average and just four home runs on the season, LaPorta obviously still has a long way to go before he can reach the level of play he’s reportedly capable of. Still, you can’t deny LaPorta is finally looking like the guy we thought we were getting from Milwaukee way back when we sent them CC Sabathia in 2008.

Over the last week, LaPorta is hitting .360 with 3 home runs and seven RBIs. Do you think LaPorta is finally having his breakthrough? What do you think changed since his last stint in the majors at the beginning of the season?

How much do you think it will help LaPorta to have the bulk of the at-bats at first base, as opposed to having to share time with Branyan as he did before? Do you think LaPorta is finally here to stay, or is there a chance he lands back in Columbus again before the end of the season?

Samantha Bunten: As much as I’ve been glad to see LaPorta’s breakthrough, I’m more relieved than impressed. The Sabathia trade looks a little better now. 

I don’t mean to take anything away from LaPorta though—he clearly took his demotion seriously and made good use of his time back in Triple-A. 

He still strikes out too much and looks like he’s swinging for the fences on pitches where he should just be trying to make contact, but he does appear to have found his power stroke and while it still needs work, his pitch selection has definitely improved. 

I do think he’s here to stay, and I don’t think he’ll be ceding too many of the at-bats at first base except for routine days off. The pressure will be on LaPorta to perform now though; with the Branyan trade, there really isn’t anyone on the roster who can absorb some of the at-bats at first, which made it that much scarier for the Tribe when Elvis Andrus tried to kill LaPorta on Monday. 

Nino Colla: I think Matt LaPorta just got some confidence and support. Just knowing you are going to be in the lineup every day and knowing you are also going to be playing one certain position each day does a lot for the mind. 

I think this is finally Matt’s time to shine. He has regular playing time, the team is backing him and trading Branyan proves that. He’s confident, and he appears to be healthy. He’s got everything on his side right now. 

He’s not trying too hard like he was earlier in the year and things are just coming easy for him right now. I think he’s here to stay and would be shocked to see him back in Columbus at any point.

Lewie Pollis: Now that’s more like it. If nothing else, this should be a confidence boost for the Tribe. Consistent playing time at an easier position can only help LaPorta. Obviously a surge this strong won’t last, but it sure is nice to see him finally doing something.

On the other hand, there are still some things to worry about—namely, his plate discipline. He’s hacked at over 30 percent of pitches out of the strike zone this year, and hasn’t done particularly well with them, with an O-Contract rate under 62 percent. 

His strikeout rate has actually been worse since his promotion (27 percent) than it was before he got sent down (21 percent).

The Coop: By all accounts, LaPorta is finally healthy, comfortable and not worrying about re-injuring himself. If that’s all it took for him to look like the prospect the Indians thought they were getting, then that’s great. 

But I’m actually sensing a common theme here. The Indians have seemingly found guys with the right attitude. My guess is LaPorta, like Fausto Carmona, used his time in the minors to refocus and regain his confidence. You can trot out all the statistics and sabermetrics you want; there’s no way to truly measure these intangibles. 

Giving LaPorta that bulk of the playing time at first base is going to be great for him. Like Brantley and most other young Indians, the pressure should be off. Now, these guys can relax and work on becoming better players each day, so they can contribute to the long-term success of the organization. 

At this point, there would be virtually no reason to send him back to Columbus. The Indians need to find out what he can do in the big leagues, plain and simple. We all know what he can do in the minors.

4. In just one week, we will have reached the midpoint of the 2010 season. 

While we knew this would be a tough year for the Tribe, so far the team has struggled even more than we thought they would. 

Please list 5 things you think the Indians have done wrong, or have been a central cause of their struggles this season.

Samantha Bunten:

1. Unproductive players like Luis Valbuena were allowed to hang around the roster way too long before being ousted. Jhonny Peralta has been violating this one for years.

2. Horrible, horrible defense. The kind that loses games all on its own. 

3. Having to utter the phrase “Andy Marte is the best option” when asked who should be starting at third base.

4. Sizemore, Cabrera, and Choo are all on the DL, while Crowe and Peralta stubbornly refuse to hurt themselves. 

5. The complete vanishing act of the fan base. I want to get mad about this, but really, can you blame them?

Nino Colla:

1. Signing Russell Branyan was a mistake, no question.

2. Injuries to guys like Cabrera have made it a necessity to hold onto guys like Anderson Hernandez, but I’d still like to see Josh Rodriguez at some point.

3. Early season hitting woes were surprising.

4. I think Kerry Wood being out hurt the bullpen depth early.

5. Luis Valbuena and Lou Marson.

Lewie Pollis:

1. Miserable defense. Our collective -36.8 UZR is worst in the game, by a mile.

2. Giving regular playing time to Jhonny Peralta.

3. Strike some people out. The Indians staff has the lowest K/9 rate (5.6) in baseball. The difference between us and No. 29 is greater than the difference between No. 7 and No. 19.

4. Throw some strikes! Our 3.8 BB/9 rate is also the worst in the league.

5. Jhonny Peralta gets to be mentioned twice.

The Coop:

1. Lack of a true No. 1 starter (too bad the Indians can’t find a guy who can win a Cy Young Award).

2. No power hitting (unless you think one guy with double-digit HRs is good).

3. Improper use of Justin Masterson (move him to the ‘pen!).

4. Mark Shapiro still has a job (seriously, does this guy have pictures of the Dolans?).

5. Injuries (not an excuse, but definitely an explanation).

5. Despite the overall disappointment and those struggles mentioned above, things haven’t been all bad this season. 

Please list five things the Indians have done right, made a positive contribution to the team’s success, or have just pleasantly surprised you thus far this season.  

Samantha Bunten:

1. The potential of the Tribe’s young talent is still very apparent; it’s just taking a little longer to manifest than we expected.

2. Mitch Talbot—they gave us this guy for Kelly Shoppach? Mark Shapiro finally did something right!

3. Carlos Santana—The hype was legit. His contributions on the field are already making a difference. And he’s the kind of player who will increase ticket sales. 

4. I’m not sure whether Manny Acta is truly a winner yet, but he’s infinitely less frustrating than Eric Wedge. His charisma and enthusiasm (not to mention his in-game management skills) are a refreshing change from Wedge’s “manager in a coma” style.

5. Despite his early struggles, I still love Michael Brantley. Yes, I know he’s still hitting .143, but his bat will come around, and his defense is already there. 

Nino Colla:

1. Starting Pitching has been a pleasant surprise, namely Talbot and Carmona.

2.  Chris Perez has been the brightest spot in a bullpen that has had its moments of hope.

3. Sticking with Justin Masterson has been something that the Tribe deserves some props for. People wanted to oust him after the first few starts.

4. Their aggressive promotion within the minor league system has been refreshing. Bryce Stowell is in Triple-A, Alex White is in Akron, and Joe Gardner is in Kinston. Give them some credit for changing that and their draft strategy as well.

5. Carlos Santana.

Lewie Pollis:

1. Chooooooooooooooooo!

2. Letting Masterson work through his struggles.

3. Moving Sizemore out of the lead-off spot (boy, I’m really reaching here).

4. Not raising the price of Kosher dogs.

5. Playing Muse’s “Uprising” before the game.

The Coop:

1. Jake Westbrook (though pretty mediocre, his five wins are about four more than I thought he’d have).

2. They have good-character guys who have struggled but fought to make it back to the big leagues and contribute (exception: Jhonny).

3. Chris Perez (just make him the closer already).

4. Mitch Talbot (no one saw this coming).

5. Carlos Santana (dude is for real).

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Yankees, Red Sox , and Rays have nearly come to a stand still in the fight for the AL East crown, and likely the best record in baseball.

So who is going to come out ahead?

Well, it is likely that the team that makes the best acquisitions is going to end up on top, making the month of July, more specifically the July 31st trade deadline, the deciding factor in this year’s race in the East.

The Yankees currently sit in first, up by a half a game over the Red Sox and two games over the Rays, but have seen their bullpen struggle mightily and have an extremely young bench, with three rookies presently keeping it warm.

If the Yankees really wanted to put themselves over the top of the other teams in the AL East, then they would go out and acquire a front line stater like Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt , both of whom are both available and are Cy Young capable pitchers, which the Yankees know all too well with Lee.

But it is probably more likely that the Yankees will look to add a veteran bat to the bench and some much needed help in the bullpen, which blew another game Friday against the Blue Jays.

Regardless of who they go after, the Yankees are capable of going out in the trade market and acquiring almost any player they want, with both the talent in the minors and of course, the financial means to afford any contract they might have to pick up.

Some of the players that will draw interest from Brian Cashman this month will be:

Bench/DH: Ty Wigginton, Kelly Johnson, David DeJesus , Josh Willingham , Cristian Guzman, Corey Hart, Cody Ross, and Adam Dunn.

Bullpen: Joakim Soria (wishful thinking), Octavio Dotel , Scott Downs, Shawn Camp, Will Ohman , Alfredo Simon, Rafael Perez, Matt Lindstrom , and Brandon Lyon.

I think Ty Wigginton makes the most sense for the Yankees; he’s certainly available, and at a relatively low price. He’s a very versatile player, who can also supply a lot of power, which the Yankee’ bench desperately needs.

I would love to see Adam Dunn in pinstripes as the DH, he would do a lot of damage with the short porch in right, but he would require more prospects and more money than probably any other player on that list, and I don’t think Cashman will go down that route.

In the bullpen, I think Brandon Lyon would be a great fit.

He has proven that he can perform well in the AL, with a 2.86 ERA with the Tigers last year, and he has continued to pitch well this year for the Astros (currently with a 3.00 ERA and 15 holds).

He also makes sense for Houston to move, he’s due $4.25 million this year, and he’s 30 years old, so he’s not a young prospect.

Two of the key players that might be on the move for the Yankees are Eduardo Nunez and Brandon Laird

Nunez is a shortstop at AAA Scranton who is hitting .312, with 17 stolen bases and 39 runs driven in, but has trouble fielding the ball with nine errors this year. He seems to have the bat that’s ready for the majors, but unfortunately he is behind Derek Jeter , so he could be out of options with the Yankees unless he switches positions.

Laird is a slugging third baseman at AA Trenton who is hitting .291, with an impressive 19 home runs, and 80 RBI. But like Nunez, Laird will soon be out of options for a future in the big leagues with the Yankees as Alex Rodriguez is under contract to man the hot corner until 2017.

I seriously doubt that Cashman deals either of the top two catchers in the minors, Jesus Montero and Austin Romine , unless he goes after Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt .

If they do go after a starter, I would expect them to go after Fausto Carmona, who is 7-6 with a 3.86 ERA and is available along with teammate Jake Westbrook.

CC Sabathia will certainly put in a good word for his former teammates Carmona and Westbrook, but I think the Yankees are happy with the starting five they have now.

The bullpen has been atrocious and needs help now, and the bench could use a veteran presence, so look for the Yankees to be out there seeking to improve those two areas, and hopefully that will be enough for them to capture their second strait AL East crown and eventually repeat as World Series champions.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Welcome to the Cleveland Indians Trading Post, a weekly segment meant to help my fellow Tribe fans sort out which of the few familiar faces left on the team won’t be around much longer.

This week’s potential trade bait is Fausto Carmona.

The basics

Three years ago today, Fausto Carmona was in the midst of a breakout season. With nine wins and a 3.21 ERA in his first 14 games, he had teamed with Tribe ace CC Sabathia to give the Indians’ rotation arguably the best one-two punch in baseball.

But in 2008, just months after finishing fourth in AL Cy Young voting, Carmona’s game went down the toilet (13-19, 5.89 ERA in 2008-09).

This year, the 26-year-old right-hander is enjoying a resurgence (6-5, 3.31 ERA), though his peripherals (1.58 K/BB rate, 4.46 xFIP) indicate that his success is largely due to luck. He’s under team control through 2014, with just under $9 million guaranteed through 2011, followed by three years of club options.

Why he has value

Did you miss the last paragraph? He has a 3.31 ERA, good for 15th in the American League. When a player like that becomes available, teams take notice.

He throws 97 mph (92.7 average fastball velocity this year, 14th in the league) and can burn worms with the best of them (56.6 percent groundball rate, behind only teammate Justin Masterson).

As we discovered in 2007, he has Cy Young-caliber upside. He’s only 26 and is under team control until he’s 31. Wake up—I think you’re drooling.

There’s always a chance that he’ll bust again, but if that happens the team can cut ties with him after next year. So what is there to lose?

Why he’s expendable

First, let me make it clear that if I were Mark Shapiro, I wouldn’t be actively shopping Carmona. But I’d listen carefully if another GM called with an offer.

Carmona’s 2007 campaign looked like a fluke even before his collapse. That year, a .281 BABIP and 78 percent strand rate kept his ERA down at 3.06—almost a full run lower than his good-not-great 3.94 FIP.

Not much of a strikeout pitcher to begin with, Carmona struggled with massive control problems the next couple seasons; in 246 innings from 2008-09, opposing batters actually saw ball four more often than strike three.

He’s definitely made some improvements this year, but he still doesn’t look like an ace.

With a 3.2 BB/9 rate, Carmona appears to be getting the walks under control. But his strikeout rate (5.1 K/9) has actually decreased since last year (5.7 K/9).

The difference between his sterling 3.31 ERA and mediocre 4.46 xFIP shows that the winds of fortune have been blowing in from the Progressive Field bleachers. His .262 BABIP, 72 percent strand rate, and seven percent HR/FB rate are well below, above, and below his career averages, respectively.

More importantly, though, the Indians have more exciting young pitchers than we know what to do with—guys like Carlos Carrasco, Nick Hagadone, Jason Knapp, Hector Rondon, and even Justin Masterson. All probably have higher upside than Carmona and will be available at or near the league minimum for the remainder of his contract.

It’d be nice to keep Carmona around for a while, but if we can get a solid package in return, I wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.

Where he’d go

Any team looking for a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter with the ability to absorb a bit of salary would likely be interested in Carmona.

As mentioned earlier , the Mets would love another starter to bolster their rotation. While they have yet to engage the Indians in trade talks, the Mets are already discussing Carmona internally.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim could use some pitching help as well. Joe Saunders and Scott Kazmir are scuffling; each has an ERA over 5.00.

The Halos’ edge over the Texas Rangers was supposed to be their pitching. If they’re going to complete their comeback, they’ll need to solidify their staff.

An intriguing sleeper candidate might be the Arizona Diamondbacks. They won’t be trading for any two-month rental stars, but having a proven player under team control through 2014 could certainly pique the interest of GM Josh Byrnes.

The D-Backs have plenty of talent and were a popular sleeper pick coming into the season. They could turn into contenders in the near future, and Carmona could make a solid deputy for ace Dan Haren.

What do you think? Will the Indians trade Carmona? Where will he go, and who will we get in return?

More Trading Posts

May 13: Austin Kearns

May 20: Jake Westbrook

May 27: Mitch Talbot

June 3: Jhonny Peralta

June 10: Russell Branyan

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

As we near the All Star Break, divisions begin to take shape and the contenders and pretenders begin to separate. At this time, general managers begin to look over their teams in search of what they may need for the stretch run.

In this three part series, I will examine the best available talent at this year’s trading deadline. I will outline salaries and future status as well, giving you an idea of their worth going forward.

Begin Slideshow

Fantasy Baseball’s Pitching Line of the Week:

Stephen Strasburg (SP-WAS)  7 IP, 4H, 2R, 0 BB, 14 K, W

The long awaited Major League debut of Stephen Strasburg is officially over. The dust has settled, but some fans have yet to pick their chins off of the ground from the amazement that was a dominating fourteen strikeout performance.

Strasburg schooled the Pirates with remote like control of his blazing fastball, changeup and a curveball that had the Bucs’ knees bucklin’. What may have been more impressive was the velocity on his pitches as he progressed into the later innings, it never changed.

The only runs Stephen surrendered came on a two-run home run by Delwyn Young in the top of the fourth inning for Pittsburgh that also scored Neil Walker. Strasburg was awarded the National League Player of the Week award in his first full week in the Major Leagues.

He started two games, went 2-0, pitched 12.1 innings while posting a 2.19 ERA and striking out 22 batters. Good luck trying to acquire this guy in most fantasy baseball formats. He is currently owned in 92% of Y! Leagues. I wonder what the fools in the other 8% of Y! leagues are waiting for?

The “Double Dipper ” is a starting pitcher who will get two starts in the same week. Each Sunday we will preview top three options in each league and highlight streaming options for players owned in less than 50% of Y! leagues.

Top 3 NL Double Dippers:

Roy Halladay/PHI (@NYY, vs. MIN): He starts regardless of match-ups.
Josh Johnson/FLA (vs. TEX, vs. TB): 1 ER allowed in last five starts. Insanity.
Adam Wainwright/STL (@SEA, @OAK): 8.71 K/9, Ludicrous Ratios.

Top 3 AL Double Dippers:

David Price/TB (@ATL, @FLA): 1 ER in last two Starts. LOB% 81.3
Clay Bucholz/BOS (vs. ARI, vs. LAD): two Starts @Home. 3 ER in last three. Breakout.
CJ Wilson/TEX (@FLA, @HOU): 2-0 in last two. .226 BAA.

Warning: Streaming can be lethal. The following are owned in less than 50% of Y! leagues.

Carl Pavano/MIN (@NYM, vs. SEA): Solid ERA & WHIP. 3.69 K:BB
Justin Masterson/CLE (vs. NYM, @PIT): 2-0 in last three including two-hitting the BoSox.
Freddy Garcia/CWS (vs. HOU, vs. TOR): 3-0 in last three. 15:4 K:BB in that span. 

Don’t Touch ‘Em

Brad Lincoln, Ian Snell, Kyle Davies, John Lannan 

Week 10 One Start Stars Owned in 50% or Less

Clayton Richard /SD 48% Y! – Saturday vs. BAL (Millwood): 4-1 w/2.29 ERA over last nine  
Fausto Carmona /CLE 26% Y! – Friday @PIT (Maholm): Tossed a CG, 3 H, 1 ER Gem last turn.

Who will be the best Two-Start Pitcher owned in 50% or less in week 11?
Will Stephen Strasburg continue to live up to the hype?
Leave a comment, or reply to us on Twitter
Twitter.com/thefantasyfix

Make sure to check out our weekly Two-Start Pitchers and Must or Bust Analysis on www.thefantasyfix.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com