Yoenis Cespedes

Would two-time Home Run Derby champ Yoenis Cespedes look good in the middle of the Indians lineup -- yes and no.

(Jeff Roberson/Associated Press)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Are the Indians a good trade partner for the Red Sox?

Boston has already signed two of the top free agent hitters on the market in Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez for just under $200 million as it tries to rebound from its last-place finish in the AL East this year. They're trying to sign free agent lefty Jon Lester and have outfielders to trade stacked from the Green Monster to Logan International Airport.

Besides Lester, they're looking for at least one more starting pitcher. Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto seems to be the choice of the Boston media. Justin Masterson is a possibility as well.

So where do the Indians fit in this conversation?

They have starting pitching in Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, T.J. House, Danny Salazar, Josh Tomlin and Zach McAllister. They're not eager to trade those arms, but they know they're not a perfect team. McAllister, Carrasco and Bauer are out of options.

The dilemma is that the players the Red Sox are shopping aren't deemed to be good fits by the Indians.

Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is a fine talent with power and a great arm. He's won the Home Run Derby at the All-Star game the last two years and hasn't hit fewer than 22 homers a year in his first three seasons in the big leagues since defecting from Cuba.

The Red Sox seem willing to move him for the right starting pitcher, and his right-handed bat would look great in the middle of manager Terry Francona's lineup. Cespedes, however, is a free agent after 2015.

He'll have only four years of big league service at that time, but when Oakland originally signed him before the 2012 season, the deal included clauses that said he must be non-tendered after his fourth year and that he cannot be given a qualifying offer. Those two provisions will make Cespedes an unrestricted free agent.

The A's, who signed Cespedes to a four-year $36 million deal, did that to recognize the eight years Cespedes played professionally in Cuba.

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As much as Cespedes could do for the Indians, would it really be worth trading a Salazar or Bauer for a one-year rental?

Besides the Red Sox are probably looking for bigger names than Bauer or Salazar. If they don't get Lester, they'd need Cespedes and others to land Cueto or Philadelphia lefty Cole Hamels among others.

Allen Craig is another Boston outfielder who appears to be available. Craig hit .315, .307 and .315 from 2011 through 2013 for St. Louis. During the 2013 season, he injured his left foot and has not been the same hitter since. St. Louis traded him and Joe Kelly to Boston for John Lackey last season and Craig reinjured his foot right after the trade.

Craig hit .215 (99-for-461) with eight homers and 46 RBI last season with the Cardinals and Red Sox. He's owed $26.5 million through 2017.

Shane Victorino, yet another outfielder, could be available as well. If that name sounds familiar, it should.

Before the Indians signed Nick Swisher for four years and $56 million in December of 2012, they offered a similar deal to Victorino. The Indians made a four-year, $44 million offer to the switch-hitting Victorino. He turned it down and signed a three-year, $39 million deal with the Red Sox.

Victorino hit .294 with a .801 OPS in 2013 to help the Red Sox win the World Series. This past season he played just 30 games because of back surgery. Victorino, 34, will make $13 million in 2015.

DH-first baseman Mike Napoli might also be available, but the Indians already have Carlos Santana and Swisher, who is coming off double knee surgery. Napoli will make $16 million in 2015 before becoming a free agent.

The Red Sox have several talented younger players, who undoubtedly interest the Indians much more than Cespedes, Napoli or Victorino. Outfielder Mookie Betts, shortstop-third baseman Xander Bogaerts and utility man Brock Holt would probably be hard to pry loose. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks might be available, but the Indians have Lonnie Chisenhall, who had a much better season in 2014.

Millbrooks, 26, played just 63 games in the big leagues last season as he dealt with finger and calf injuries.

The Red Sox have several young starters in the pipeline between Triple-A and Fenway Park including Eduardo Rodriguez, Edwin Escobar, Brandon Workman, Matt Barnes, Anthony Ranaudo, Henry Owens, Brian Johnson, Steven Wright, Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster.

After their seven big-league ready starters, the Indians need an influx of young starters, but the Red Sox seem to be after players in a much higher tax bracket than the Indians have to offer.