The Indians are getting tempted.



A source with knowledge of the team’s discussions said the team on Monday experienced “a definite uptick in the interest level” in Trevor Bauer. But whether the Indians will trade their ace right-hander in the middle of a pennant race remains to be seen.



The only way the Indians could justify moving Bauer would be if the return did not dramatically reduce their chances of winning their fourth straight AL Central title. Perhaps the team could pull it off by adding an outfielder and a major-league-ready starting pitcher who would help them short- and long-term. But rival clubs say the Indians routinely set a high threshold in trade conversations and rarely deviate, even under the pressure of a deadline.



One option for the Indians is to keep Bauer and use the information they gained from their current conversations as a launching point for additional talks in November. But at that point, Bauer’s value...