CLEVELAND — The question of whether the Cleveland Indians will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline has been answered. They are sellers.
Less than an hour before the start of what became a 2-1 loss to Kansas City Royals on Tuesday, Indians outfielder David Murphy was removed from the starting lineup.
Murphy was traded to the Los Angeles Angels for minor league shortstop Eric Stamets. After wavering on whether they still had a chance to climb back into the wildcard race, the Indians in the last week played so poorly general manager Chris Antonetti had no choice. The buy-or-sell question was answered for him.
Counting their loss Tuesday, the Indians have lost six games in a row and are firmly entrenched in last place in the AL Central. At 45-54 the Indians are nine games below .500, their low water mark of the season. They have also lost eight home games in a row, their longest home losing streak in 40 years.
In the first six games of a seven-game homestand that will end on Wednesday, the Indians are 0-6 and have not held a lead at any time in those six games. With such overwhelming evidence, Antonetti has become a seller.
“It’s really disappointing,” he said. “None of us expected to be in this spot, but we are where we are. A week ago we were looking to add players, but at this point our focus is more on the long term.”
The Indians inventory of available players probably doesn’t include any game changers for a contending team. Murphy was the best of the expendable parts. He is hitting .296 with five home runs and 27 RBIs in 206 at-bats.
With three days left before the trade deadline, the Indians probably won’t trade any of their core group, which includes starting pitchers Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer and Danny Salazar, plus position players Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley, Yan Gomes and Francisco Lindor.
The Indians would probably listen to offers for first baseman Carlos Santana and outfielder Brandon Moss. Others who could draw some interest are outfielder Ryan Raburn, and perhaps a reliever such as Zach McAllister, Jeff Manship or Ryan Webb.
