Cincinnati Reds: Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco should be trade targets

The Cleveland Indians are apparently shopping some of their starting pitchers. The Cincinnati Reds should target Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco.

There are several starting pitchers available during free agency this offseason. However, with the recent rumors of the Cleveland Indians making hurlers Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco available, the Cincinnati Reds should abandon the idea of chasing would-be starters in free agency and trade for one of the Tribe’s veteran pitchers.

I know that the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians don’t always play nice, but this may be the exception to the rule. It’s time for Dick Williams to pick up the phone and give his counterpart in northeast Ohio, Mike Chernoff, a phone call.

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Indians are making several of their veterans available via trade this offseason. That list includes former Red Edwin Encarnacion, Yan Gomes, Jason Kipnis, and starters Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco.

Call me crazy, but this seems like a no-brainer for the Reds. They have to at least kick the tires on a potential deal for either Kluber or Carrasco. Kluber, the three-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner won 20 games and posted a 2.89 ERA last season.

Carrasco wasn’t too bad himself. The 31-year-old went 17-10 in 30 starts. He struck out 231 batters last season through 192 innings with a WHIP of 1.125. For his career, Carrasco has an ERA of only 3.71 and a WHIP of 1.184.

Both right-handers have very affordable contracts as well. Kluber is under team-control through 2021 for an average of only $15.5 million per year. That’s a steal for someone of Kluber’s talent. Carrasco has two years remaining on his deal for just under $10 million per season. If the Reds were to chase a free agent like Patrick Corbin, it would cost them at least double that.

So, while trading for Kluber or Carrasco seems like a logical move for the Reds, who they would have to give up in return might not make such a transaction so simple. The Cincinnati Reds are loaded with talented minor leaguers, but the Indians are unlikely to give up their top pitchers for potential. The Reds would have to offer up MLB-ready talent or established Major Leaguers.

Francisco Lindor and José Ramirez are established stars at their positions, so the Indians have no need for a shortstop or third baseman. Not that José Peraza or Eugenio Suárez are up for grabs in the first place. But, the Indians could be looking to upgrade almost every other position on their roster.

Could young prospects like Shed Long or Tyler Stephenson be enticing enough for the Indians to make a deal? Or would the Reds have to dangle a top prospect like Nick Senzel or Taylor Trammell in order to get a deal done?

What about some of their Major Leaguers? Would the Reds be willing to part with Jesse Winker, Scott Schebler, or even Tucker Barnhart? Though all signs point to Scooter Gennett signing an extension with Cincinnati, trading him to Cleveland could open up a spot at second base for Senzel.

Several fans of the Cincinnati Reds don’t want to see the team part with players like Gennett or Senzel or Trammell. But, if they want to land a big-time starter, they’ll have to part ways with one of their up-and-coming prospects or one of their established stars.