Here's what Cleveland Indians should do at MLB trade deadline 2015: Paul Hoynes' take

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Here's what I think the Indians should do before Friday's 4 p.m. trade deadline.

- They should try hard to trade Carlos Santana. This certainly hasn't been Santana's best year, but there is interest in the switch-hitting first baseman. He's 29, signed through 2016 with a club option for 2017.

He hit 27 homers and drove in 85 runs last year while posting a .792 OPS. It doesn't look like Santana is going to be the .280 to .300 hitter the Indians thought he'd be when he came to the big leagues, but he's productive in spurts and still has power as his 433-foot homer against the Royals on Monday night showed.

This year he seems to have forgotten exactly what kind of hitter he is. He's been drawing a lot of walks as usual, but there have been too many times where he's looked overly aggressive at the plate, especially with runners in scoring position.

The Indians are no longer a contender in the AL Central and the wild card race is a race for fool's gold. Santana would bring the Indians their biggest return as GM Chris Antonetti looks ahead to 2016.

If the Indians dealt Santana, they could give Jesus Aguilar a shot at first base to find out once and for all if he can play. In brief trials in the big leagues, the reviews on the big right-handed hitter have been mixed.

- I believe Santana would bring the Indians the biggest return because Antonetti says he is "not motivated" to trade any of his front-line starting pitchers. Reports, however, said he was close to sending Carlos Carrasco to Toronto, but those talks have apparently quieted.

I wonder if they'll reignite now that the Blue Jays have acquired shortstop Troy Tulowitzki from Colorado. Certainly Toronto has some offense to spare after adding Tulo.

The Indians have worked hard to put this rotation together. There have been some downturns, but a team has to hang its hat on something. Starting pitching seems to be the Indians' biggest hook at the moment, and it's not like they have a lot of pitching help on the way.

-Don't get me wrong; I'm not calling for a Cliff Lee-Victor Martinez fire sale. I like the idea of going into the deadline - especially with a last-place club like the Indians - being able to buy and sell with an eye on the last two months of the season as well as the future.

Here are some other things I'd consider:

- It's hard to imagine the productive platoon of David Murphy and Ryan Raburn making it through the rest of the year in Cleveland, so they could be on the move. Either one would be an ideal fit on a contender that needs a bat off the bench.

I can't imagine the Indians would get much of a return on either player. Probably a prospect or two, but it could create playing time for an outfielder in the minors such as Tyler Holt, Jerry Sands or Tyler Naquin.

Murphy and Raburn are free agents at the end of the season.

- If I'm an opposing GM zeroing in on the Indians, I'd be especially interested in Zach McAllister. He's made a good transition to the bullpen, where he's struck out 62 batters in 48 innings. There's also the possibility that he could move back to the rotation.

That's exactly why the Indians shouldn't trade him.

- Unlike last year, the Indians don't have any high-profile free agents to move at the deadline. Antonetti said he could bring back most of this roster for next season. I think that would be a mistake.

The Indians need a tweak. Not a radical makeover, which would be the emotional response considering the way this season has gone, but they need changes. This roster has been crying for help on the offensive side for the last two years and hasn't gotten it. The results are evident.

- There's not a whole lot the Indians can do with Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn except grin and bear it. Swisher is still rehabbing and Bourn is playing in a limited role.

Swisher will make $15 million next year and Bourn $14 million. The money is guaranteed whether they're on the roster or not.

- If there's a market for Lonnie Chisenhall, I'd try to trade him. I know he's making a lot of money for a Triple-A third baseman, but it's time for him and the Indians to part ways.

The big leagues are full of successful players who have had a tougher time making it than Chisenhall. Hopefully, Chisenhall is one of them some day. I just don't think it's going to happen in Cleveland.

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