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Should the Indians become buyers and not sellers before the July 31 trade deadline, one of the key pieces they could acquire would be Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins or outfielder Matt Holliday.
Like the Indians, the Rockies are one of the biggest disappointments in all of baseball. Entering Tuesday night's series opener, the defending National League champions were a league-worst 28-42.
They were only nine games behind Arizona in the NL West, a division that rivals the AL Central as the worst in baseball. Given Colorado's incredible hot streak last year that carried it all the way to the World Series, anything is possible. But the overwhelming feeling for the last few weeks is the Rockies are ready to tear down and rebuild.
That would include shipping off Holliday, one of the top slugging outfielders in baseball, or Atkins, who would be the better fit, both for what the Indians need and what the Rockies can give up.
Holliday is in the first year of a two-year, $23 million deal, but will be looking for a $100 million contract after 2009. That's why he's available, but it's also why the Indians can't really afford him.
Atkins, however, is two years away from free agency, making him a prime candidate for the Indians to sign to a long-term deal, thereby buying out the first few years of his free agency.
He won't turn 29 until after the season and has averaged 27 homers and 115 RBI over the last two years, while batting .315. The Rockies' top prospect, Ian Stewart, is a left-handed hitting third-base prospect, which is why they would be inclined to deal Atkins.
Colorado would undoubtedly ask for Aaron Laffey in any deal, although perhaps would settle for Jeremy Sowers as the key piece to the package.
Trading for any hitter coming from the thin air of Colorado is always a risky proposal, but Atkins has hit 39 homers at home in his career, compared to 38 on the road.
Even if the Indians become sellers, it still might be worth calling to inquire about Atkins. He could finally be the long-term solution the Indians have been searching for at third base since Travis Fryman retired in 2002.
Memorable first year at The Q
The playoff picture for the Gladiators is pretty simple: Win and they're in.
One year removed from a dreadful 2-14 season in Las Vegas, the Gladiators are 8-7 and host the 3-12 Columbus Destroyers at 7 p.m. on Saturday night.
A win, coupled with losses by both New Orleans and New York, and the Gladiators will host a first-round playoff game.
Bernie Kosar bobbleheads will be given to the first 10,000 fans on Saturday night.
Attendance has steadily decreased in the Gladiators' debut season in Cleveland - from 17,391 for the opener down to 11,717 for the June 7 win over Chicago. Still, the AFL's return to Cleveland has been wildly successful. Saturday night's game should push the season's attendance over 100,000. Entering Saturday night, they have averaged more than 14,000 per home date.
