The bloodletting continues in Cleveland as the Indians have traded 30-year old switch hitting C/1B Victor Martinez to the Red Sox for 24-year old starter/reliever Justin Masterson, 23-year old lefty starting pitcher Nick Hagadone and 22-year old righty starting pitcher Bryan Price. Martinez played in 99 games for the Indians this season and he was 107 for 377 (.284 avg, .832 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 15 homers and 67 RBIs. In 8 years with the Indians, V-Mart played in 821 games in which he was 900 for 3,035 (.297 avg, .832 OPS) with 413 runs scored, 103 homers and 518 RBIs. Losing Martinez is hopefully the final kick in the nuts for Indians’ fans this season. The Indians will probably put Masterson into the starting rotation, pronto. Masterson pitched in 31 games (6 starts) for the Red Sox this season and he was 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has now pitched in 67 games (15 starts) in his major league career and he is 9-8 with a 3.76 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. In 160 1/3 innings in the majors, Masterson has allowed 140 hits while striking out 135 batters showing what kind of stuff he has. Nick Hagadone was the Red Sox’ #3 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. He had Tommy John Surgery last May so the Red Sox were easing him back into action this season watching his pitch counts. Hagadone has started 10 games in A-ball this season and he is 0-2 with a 2.52 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He has only allowed 13 hits in 25 innings this season while whiffing 32 batters which indicates that his stuff is coming back. Hagadone could be a top of the rotation starting pitcher down the line for the Indians. Bryan Price was the Red Sox’ #20 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. He has started 19 games in A-ball this season and he is 4-8 with a 4.67 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Price does however have 97 strikeouts in 96 1/3 innings so the stuff is there he just needs to learn how to use it. The Indians have appeared to stockpile pitching prospects the last couple of weeks….too bad Mark Shapiro and Eric Wedge won’t be around to see them pitch.

The Indians have traded 30-year old lefty starting pitcher Cliff Lee and 27-year old righty swinging outfielder Ben Francisco to the Phillies for 22-year old righty starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco, 24-year old righty swinging 2B/3B Jason Donald, 23-year old righty swinging catcher Lou Marson and 18-year old righty starting pitcher Jason Knapp. Cliff Lee was undoubtedly the Indians’ best pitcher the last two seasons. He started 22 games for the Indians this season and he was 7-9 with a 3.14 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. In 8 seasons with the Indians, Lee pitched in 182 games (178 starts) in which he was 83-48 with a 4.01 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Lee will be missed big time by the Indians. Ben Francisco played in 89 games for the Indians this season and he was 77 for 308 (.250 avg, .758 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 10 homers, 33 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. He played three seasons for the Indians covering 235 games in which he was 213 for 817 (.261 avg, .768 OPS) with 123 runs scored, 28 homers, 99 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. The Indians should be able to cover for Francisco’s loss as he really is a #4 outfielder that the Tribe needed to start.

The Indians acquired 4 of the Phillies’ top 10 prospects in this trade. Carlos Carrasco will likely get a call to Cleveland if he gets off to a good start at Columbus. He has started 20 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 6-9 with a 5.18 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has whiffed 112 batters in 114 innings this season which shows that he has good stuff….he just needs to learn how to pitch. Carrasco was the Phillies’ #2 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. Lou Marson was the Phillies’ #3 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. Marson played in 7 games for the Phillies this season and he was 4 for 17 (.235 avg, .644 OPS) with 3 runs scored. Marson has also played in 63 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 62 for 211 (.294 avg, .752 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 1 homer, 24 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. If the Indians do indeed trade Victor Martinez then Marson will get a call to Cleveland. Marson has now played in 8 games in his major league career and he is 6 for 21 (.286 avg, .851 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. Marson could develop into a .300 hitter in the majors but don’t expect much power out of his bat. Jason Donald was the #4 rated prospect in the Phillies’ system heading into this season according to Baseball America. He is having a rough time this season though. Donald has played in 60 games in AAA + Rookie Ball this season and he is 55 for 234 (.235 avg, .629 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 1 homer, 17 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. He was blocked by Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley in Philly but he will have no trouble finding playing time in Cleveland soon, most likely at 2B. 6′5″, 235 pound Jason Knapp has the biggest upside of the players the Indians got in this trade. He has pitched in 17 games (all starts) in A-ball this season and he is 2-7 with a 4.01 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Knapp has only allowed 63 hits in 85 1/3 innings this season while whiffing 111 batters which shows how nasty his stuff is. The Indians felt that they had to make this move for money reasons but every player the Indians received from the Phillies has a chance to be a impact player down the road.

The Indians have recalled 25-year old righty swinging 3B Andy Marte from AAA. Marte will play more 1B than 3B this time around as he will essentially be replacing Garko. Marte was outstanding in the minors this season, playing in 82 AAA games in which he was 98 for 300 (.327 avg, .962 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 18 homers, 66 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. It will be interesting to see how Marte does this time around in the majors as he has yet to live up to his “potential”. Marte has played in 174 games in parts of 4 years in the majors and he is 108 for 513 (.211 avg, .603 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 9 homers and 52 RBIs.

The Indians have traded 29-year old righty swinging 1B Ryan Garko to the Giants for 22-year old lefty starting pitcher Scott Barnes. Garko played in 78 games this season for the Indians and he was 68 for 239 (.285 avg, .826 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 11 homers and 39 RBIs. In parts of five seasons for the Indians, Garko played in 408 games in which he was 397 for 1,404 (.283 avg, .805 OPS) with 180 runs scored, 53 homers and 205 RBIs. The Indians have called up Andy Marte to replace Garko on the active roster. Scott Barnes was the Giants’ #9 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. He has pitched in 18 games (all starts) this season in A-ball and he is 12-3 with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Barnes has pitched 98 innings this season and he has whiffed 99 batters while only allowing 82 hits which shows that he has pretty good stuff. The Indians have added Chris Perez, Jess Todd, Connor Graham and now Scott Barnes recently which should bode well for the pitching staff down the road.

Matt LaPorta did not look good his first time around in the majors playing in 13 games in which he was 8 for 42 (.190 avg, .572 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 1 homer, 4 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. But, he’s earning his way back to the show by dominating in AAA ball. LaPorta has played in 72 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 82 for 267 (.307 avg, .925 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 13 homers and 49 RBIs. The Indians should promote LaPorta and stick him in LF in the play of Ben Francisco who has not played well this season. The Indians have to justify trading C.C. Sabathia by giving the centerpiece of the trade a legit shot to prove himself.