At 45-49 entering the weekend and sitting 12 games back of the Royals in the AL Central, the Cleveland Indians face a crossroads as they approach the July 31 trade deadline: They’ve got talent all over their roster, but they haven’t made good on it this year. And they might be best served trading away some pieces to retool for 2016.
But though versatile free-agent-to-be Mike Aviles might appeal to some contenders as a useful utility player, the Indians will not be trading him. Aviles’ 4-year-old daughter Adriana is battling leukemia with treatment at the nearby Cleveland Clinic, and the club’s front office had the decency to let Aviles know he can plan to be around for his family for the rest of the season.