Report: Indians listening on Encarnacion, Diaz; have talked with Rays
While moving one of Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer in an attempt to lower payroll remains on the table for the Cleveland Indians, some of their sluggers are also garnering trade interest.
Cleveland is reportedly listening to teams that are inquiring about veteran designated hitter and first baseman Edwin Encarnacion and corner infielder Yandy Diaz, according to Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com.
The Tampa Bay Rays are one of those teams, Hoynes reports. However, it doesn't appear a trade is imminent.
Encarnacion is entering the final season of a three-year, $60-million deal with the Indians that will pay him $20 million in 2019. His $20-million club option for 2020 can be bought out for $5 million.
In 2018, the 35-year-old produced a .246/.336/.474 slash line, a slight dip compared to his previous six seasons, and he only walked 63 times while tallying 132 strikeouts. But Encarnacion continued to hit for power, slugging 30-plus homers and driving in 100-plus runs for the sixth time since 2012.
Diaz, 27, has only appeared in 88 big-league games for the Indians over the past two years while being blocked at both corner-infield spots. The Cuban hit .312/.375/.422 with a homer, 15 RBIs, and 11 walks over 120 regular-season plate appearances at the big-league level in 2018.
Diaz has several years of team control remaining, as he's only built up one year of MLB service time and remains a few seasons away from arbitration. However, he only has one minor-league option left.
Cleveland is looking to shed payroll after winning three straight AL Central titles and signing right-hander Carlos Carrasco to an extension on Thursday. Dealing star pitchers Kluber and Bauer might bring back a larger return, but parting with Encarnacion would open up more financial wiggle room, with the inexpensive Diaz potentially acting as a sweetener for a team willing to take on the veteran's contract.
The Rays won 90 games last year despite an array of injuries, but they finished a distant third in the AL East behind the powerhouse Yankees and Red Sox. They're apparently hoping to add some talent this winter, and need power after letting 30-homer hitter C.J. Cron go on waivers.
In addition to Encarnacion, Tampa Bay is also reportedly interested in free agent Nelson Cruz, another veteran DH.