CLEVELAND, Ohio – It’s always good to have a backup plan. A Plan B if Plan A falls through.

If the Indians aren’t able to get what they want for starting pitchers Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer in a trade, they’re willing to move in different directions to keep their payroll in check and still be favored to win the AL Central in 2019. A longer October run than they’ve experienced the last two years is part of that goal as well.

One of those directions is a potential trade for Edwin Encarnacion or Yandy Diaz. Teams such as the Tampa Bay Rays have asked about them and the Indians are listening.

Encarnacion, 36 in January, has done exactly what the Indians signed him to do – hit home runs and drive in runs from the middle of the lineup. But he’s entering the last season of a three-year, $60 million deal and trading him and a portion of his $20 million contract may be less painful than parting with Kluber or Bauer. Encarnacion’s deal includes a $20 million club option for 2020 with a $5 million buyout.

Last season Encarnacion hit .246 (123-for-500) with 32 homers and 107 RBI. In 2017 he hit .258 (143-for-554) with 38 homers and 107 RBI. Encarnacion’s batting average has dropped and his strikeouts have increased since he left Toronto, but he is still a middle-of-the-order threat.

The usually low-budget Rays are looking for offensive upgrades and have money and talent to spend.

That the Indians are talking about moving Diaz is interesting. He’s been a man without a position for the Indians, but one scenario this offseason had the Indians starting him at third base, moving All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez to second and playing second baseman Jason Kipnis in left field in 2019.

Diaz, 27, hit .312 (34-for-109) with five doubles, one homer and 16 RBI in 39 games for the Indians last season. Over the last three seasons, he’s worn out Triple-A pitching at Class AAA Columbus, but he still has one option left.

A trade of Diaz wouldn’t give the Indians much financial relief. He’s making just over the big-league minimum, but he could be added to a deal to make it more attractive.

If Diaz is traded, the Indians could move Ramirez back to third and play Kipnis at second. Kipnis would also be a likely trade chip if the Indians are unable or unwilling to trade Kluber or Bauer. Kipnis, 32 in April, will make $14.7 million in 2019. The Indians hold a $16.5 million club option on Kipnis for 2020 with a $2.5 million buyout.

Chris Antonetti, director of baseball operations, touched on the different paths the Indians are considering taking to remain dominant in the AL Central and create payroll flexibility when he said, "We’re focused on the two goals: we want to make sure we have a team that’s capable of winning the American League Central in 2019 and then also better position our team for success beyond that.

"There are a variety of different ways that can happen with a variety of different impacts on our payroll. What those opportunities will be for us over the next coming weeks to execute on those goals, I don’t know for certain. But we’ll actively explore them.”