Cleveland Indians: Danny Salazar’s performance could dictate trade plans

Cleveland Indians pitcher Danny Salazar makes his return tonight, and how he performs could determine how aggressive the team is at the trade deadline.

The Cleveland Indians let out some frustration Friday night with a 13-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, but one win won’t be enough to ease fans’ uneasy attitudes.

Tonight’s game is not only important in the sense the team is trying to build some momentum, but it also marks the return of a key player in Danny Salazar.

Salazar has not started a game for the Indians since May 27, but did appear out of the bullpen twice in June before hitting the disabled list. A month of rehab starts has led to this return, which could dictate the makeup of the starting rotation going forward.

The Indians have two sure things in Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco. Then there is Mike Clevinger, who has been doing great, but the sample size is still too small to slot him in as a definite third starter. He is just there now because he is the best option available.

Salazar was always supposed to be the third starter, or even the second, but his year got off to a bad start as he was apparently hurt all season long. Time to recover and rehab will hopefully help him get back to his old ways, but tonight’s start will be a crucial point for the team’s plans before the trade deadline.

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With links to Sonny Gray, the Indians may be holding off on any deal until seeing how Salazar does in his return. One start may not be a fair amount of time to judge, but the deadline is in just over a week and time is running out to acquire help.

Yet it all depends if the front office is seeking a major addition in the first place. There is the possibility Clevinger has been deemed the third starter for the duration of the season and Salazar is the only one who can push him from that spot. But denying any outside help doesn’t seem all that likely.

Salazar is essentially getting a fresh start tonight, and a solid outing could go a long way in establishing some certainty with this rotation.

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However, a bad start from the former All-Star could mean the Indians start working the phones before tonight’s game comes to an end.