Rumors run rampant, but Tribe should retain rotation

Rumors of trading one of the Indians’ starting pitchers is the story that just won’t go away, like something seen on a magazine cover at the grocery store checkout counter.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic brought it up again in a March 18 tweet, linking the Indians to the Padres showing interest in Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer. The Padres were one of about a halfdozen teams reportedly in trade talks with the Indians for three months after the Red Sox won the 2018 World Series.

“Padres in continued discussions with Indians on starting pitching, sources tell me and @ dennistlin,” Rosenthal’s tweet read. “Interest primarily in Bauer or Kluber, but asking price — while lower than before — remains beyond SD’s comfort level. Trade not close, unlikely to occur before Opening Day.”

Ironically, Indians manager Terry Francona was asked about his starters in a lengthy interview with reporters in Goodyear, Ariz., before Rosenthal revived the trade rumor.

Never say never, but the Indians should not trade one of their starters unless they are completely blown away. In other words, don’t do what Dave Gettleman, the general manager of the football New York Giants, did when he traded wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns. And, if the Indians are asking for less now than they did in December, as Rosenthal is saying, then Tribe president Chris Antonetti should keep the strength of his team intact.

“Every day we go out there, I count my blessings, because every starting pitcher we run out there, I think is really good,” Francona said. “I know how I feel when we’re playing another team and facing somebody and it’s like, ‘Man, we have to be on our game, because it’s gonna be tough.’

“That’s how it has to feel every night (for Indians opponents) … That’s why we’re always going to have a chance as long as we keep those five guys healthy.”

The other members of the Indians Fab Five starters are Carlos Carrasco, Mike Clevinger and Shane Bieber.

A reporter reminded Francona a couple years ago he was asked whether he would rather have a hitting-dominated team or a pitching-dominated team. The question wasn’t even completed before he answered again.

“I guarantee I said ‘pitching,’ “Francona said. “You can’t win without pitching. (A hitting team) might be fun to watch. Now, if you’re short somewhere, it’s going to get exposed over the course of a long year. But if you don’t have starting pitching, you’re going to get exposed a lot quicker.”

The ‘Team X is talking to the Indians about Corey Kluber’ was one of the longest-running stories of the hot stove league this winter. Francona said he talked to his ace about the rumors, but Francona never did put much stock in them.

“That’s why I wasn’t all shook up, because I never thought that would happen,” Francona said in the March 18 interview.

But now the trade whispers are starting again with the March 28 season opener in Minnesota just a little more than a week away.

Francona is satisfied bullpen issues have been resolved in spring training. Some questions remain in the outfield, but breaking up the starting rotation is a risky way to answer them.

Schudel can be reached at JSchudel@News-Herald. com; @jsproinsider on Twitter.

ROSS D. FRANKLIN — ASSOCIATED PRESS Corey Kluber delivers a pitch during spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 18.

ROSS D. FRANKLIN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber throws a pitch at the Indians spring training baseball facility in Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 18.