With the trading deadline quickly coming up I would trade Jake Westbrook. Sure the Indians say that they want him back in 2011. Well there’s nothing saying they can’t re-sign him because he’s going to be a free agent. The Mets are desperate for a starting pitcher so I would deal them Westbrook for 2B/SS Ruben Tejada, righty starting pitcher Kyle Allen and righty reliever Bobby Parnell. Then I would flip lefty reliever Rafael Perez to the Tampa Bay Rays for righty starter/reliever Andy Sonnanstine. Finally I would deal outfielder Austin Kearns to the San Francisco Giants for IF/OF Eugenio Velez and OF/1B John Bowker. These trades make perfect sense to the Indians as Sonnanstine would replace Westbrook in the rotation, Parnell would help the pen and Bowker and Velez would give them more versatility on the major league roster. Ruben Tejada and Kyle Allen are very highly thought of prospects and the Indians would be lucky to get them.

The Cleveland Indians are 33-49 on the season which has them in last place in the A.L. Central, 11.5 games behind the Tigers. The Indians are going to be sellers but they don’t have any big time players to move. Jhonny Peralta, Austin Kearns, Fausto Carmona, Jake Westbrook, Rafael Perez and Kerry Wood will be the best trade chips the Indians have to offer up. The Indians wouldn’t hesitate to move Mike Redmond, Shelley Duncan, Anderson Hernandez and Andy Marte despite likely getting a small return for any of them. The Indians would like some team to take DH Travis Hafner off their hands but I don’t see that happening because of his contract. This will be another depressing July for Cleveland Indians’ fans.

I see the Indians having another fire sale sometime before the trading deadline as I see at least 9 players being sent packing by the Tribe. At least this year they won’t be trading a Cy Young Award winner. Here is what kind of trades I think could go down this summer for the Indians. I see the Mets wanting Jake Westbrook and Mark Grudzielanek and offering the Indians 1B/OF Daniel Murphy and righty Fernando Nieve for them. That is a trade even I would make. Backup catcher Mike Redmond will likely be sent packing to a team like the Dodgers for a C-level prospect or cash considerations. The Mariners might make a play for DH Travis Hafner if the Indians send them a ton of cash in the deal which could net the Indians lefty starting pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith and 3B Matt Tuiasosopo. The division rival Twins will probably come after Jhonny Peralta with a offer of Alexi Casilla and Kevin Mulvey. The Reds would probably have a huge interest in Kerry Wood and Jamey Wright if the Indians sent them a bunch of cash. The Indians would probably get something back like OF Chris Dickerson and SS Paul Janish. The Yankees might have a interest in Russell Branyan who would fit their stadium like a glove offering the Tribe reliever Mark Melancon. Austin Kearns might be moving to a team like the Giants for 1B Travis Ishikawa and IF/OF Eugenio Velez. I’m not a fan of Indians’ GM Mark Shapiro who almost never gets value back in these kinds of trades so Indians’ fans shouldn’t hold their breath.