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The Cleveland Indians have made a major move in the MLB offseason, trading pitcher Aaron Civale to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for two prospects. The move was made in order to free up some salary cap space and give the Indians some much-needed depth in their farm system.
Aaron Civale was drafted by the Indians in 2016 and made his Major League debut in 2019. He quickly became a key part of the Indians’ starting rotation, posting a 3.52 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 2020. He also had a 3.2 WAR, which was good for third-best among all Indians pitchers.
In exchange for Civale, the Indians received two prospects: outfielder Cal Stevenson and right-handed pitcher Shane McClanahan. Stevenson is a left-handed hitter who has shown promise in the minor leagues, hitting .280 with a .788 OPS in 2019. McClanahan is a hard-throwing righty who has been clocked as high as 97 mph and posted a 2.50 ERA in the minors last season.
The trade is a win-win for both teams. The Rays get an experienced pitcher who can help them immediately, while the Indians get two promising prospects who could help them down the road. It’s a move that could pay dividends for both teams for years to come.
