2012 Trade Deadline: Last minute updates

Will the Indians be buyers or sellers?

All of us should know that for certain in the next few hours as the 4:00pm EST trade deadline passes today. Here are some quick notes and thoughts on some players tied to the Indians or may be tied to them: 

• The Indians have been scuffling the past few weeks, and have gone from a being what many considered a definite buyer to maybe a seller now. But the way things look today, they may end up just standing pat and doing nothing, meaning they neither buy nor sell. That will not make a lot of fans happy, and I tend to agree as the White Sox and Tigers are vulnerable right now and the division is for the taking. They may not have the ammo to get on a consistent run over the last two months and over-take them, but they should do everything they can to try and do so. Reason being, once the offseason hits both of them will get a lot healthier and they have the means to make significant improvements via trade or free agency because of their financial situation and the aggressive nature of their GMs.

• From the sounds of things, the Indians are still not sure about the team and may need more time to make a determination on what to do as far as buying. Don’t forget, trades can still be completed in August, but the only difference is that players on the 40-man roster that are dealt have to clear waivers. Some of the players they have been in on such as Alfonso Soriano should clear waivers and likely will be traded next month so they could always complete a deal for him in a week or two.

• Speaking of Soriano, the Cubs outfielder still looks like a possible match with the Indians. It may happen now, in August, or in the offseason, but he is probably going to get dealt at some point before next year and the Indians have had a lot of dialogue with the Cubs about him. I have heard from a source that the Cubs have offered to pick up a substantial amount of his remaining contract, but the Indians have turned them down several times. I am not sure why they turned them down as that was not explained, but logic would be that they were not happy parting with the player(s) the Cubs wanted in return.

• There have been lots of reports the past few days that outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, right-handed pitcher Justin Masterson, and right-handed closer Chris Perez are all available in a trade. The truth of the matter is any player is available in a trade, it just depends on if the acquiring team is willing to pay the price to acquire them. The Indians asking price is high right now for all three of them as they are not in a fire sale mode and don’t have to trade them. All three players are vital pieces to their plans to contend and win the AL Central in 2013, so even if 2012 is a lost cause, they still want to win next year and trading any of them is a sign they do not think they can. So unless the Indians are blown away with an offer of three very good players, most of which would need to be Major League ready, they are not being traded.

• If any of the three is traded, it would probably be Choo. With the Pirates, Giants, and Dodgers all making deals for outfielders in the last 24 hours, the outfield market has really shrunk which could make Choo very attractive to a team desperate to make a move for a bat. That team could be the Rangers. They would have the means to resign him when he hits free agency after next season and they are not afraid to deal with a Boras client. Plus, they reportedly are really searching for an outfield bat. I still think a Choo trade is unlikely, but if the Rangers offer up Mike Olt as a center piece of the deal along with two other good prospects that are near the big leagues, I am listening.

• The Marlins are shopping first baseman/outfielder Carlos Lee. The Indians have not been tied to him, but he would be a logical fit to help them now. They have mostly targeted players with control beyond this season and are not interested in rentals, which is what Lee would be, but if he comes at a cheap price in prospects, they should consider it. The hangup to any deal between the Marlins and a team for Lee is what they want in exchange for the free agent to be as the acquiring team gets no compensation if he bolts in free agency. The new compensation rule as agreed to in the CBA last offseason does not allow a team to get compensation for a player that has not been with them all season.

• The Indians are still in talks to acquire Padres outfielder/third baseman Chase Headley. The asking price from the Padres is still reportedly very high, and there are several teams in the mix, so the Indians still appear to be a longshot to acquire him. It may even be a longshot he is dealt at all.

I will edit and update this piece with any news that comes up over the next few hours.

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIBI. Also, his new book the 2013 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider which profiles the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is available for sale.