LET’S MAKE A DEAL

Indians send Cliff Lee, Ben Francisco to Philadelphia

Cleveland has had the last two A.L. Cy Young Award winners. They’re both gone, for eight prospects, none of whom are in the majors.

By PAUL HOYNES

THE Plain Dealer

ANAHEIM, Calif. — This will be remembered as the Indians trip where only the club’s luggage made it home.

In the span of this nine-game, nine-day swing through Toronto, Seattle and Anaheim, Calif., the Indians traded four players off their big-league roster. The fire sale culminated Wednesday in Cliff Lee, last year’s Cy Young winner and the team’s first 20-game winner since 1972, being sent to Philadelphia, along with outfielder Ben Francisco, for four prospects.

The biggest surprise of the trip was that Victor Martinez made it from start to finish. There’s still a chance, however, Martinez could be traded before Friday’s 4 p.m. non-waiver deadline. Boston, Detroit and Tampa Bay are among the clubs looking for a proven hitter.

The Indians waited 33 years for a Cy Young winner following Gaylord Perry winning the award in 1974. CC Sabathia ended the wait in 2007. Lee gave the franchise its second straight Cy Young award in 2008. Now they’re gone for eight prospects, none of whom are in the big leagues at this time.

The trading started in Toronto with right-hander Rafael Betancourt being dealt to Colorado on July 23 for right-hander Connor Graham. Monday night, they sent DH/first baseman Ryan Garko to San Francisco for left-hander Scott Barnes.

The Lee-Francisco trade story broke Wednesday morning, before the Indians lost to the Angels, 9-3. The Indians didn’t make it official until after the game when manager Eric Wedge told Lee and Francisco what they already knew.

The Phillies sent the Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco, middle infielder Jason Donald, right-hander Jason Knapp and catcher Lou Marson. Carrasco, Donald and Marson will report to Class AAA Columbus. Knapp, on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis in his right arm, will report to Class A Lake County.

Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said he made the decision to trade Lee because he was not convinced the Indians could contend next year. He said Lee’s trade, along with the talent the Indians have added to the system over the last two years, will make them a consistent contender for years to come rather than taking a improbable shot in 2010 before Lee, Martinez and Jake Westbrook leave through free agency.

To keep Lee the Indians would have had to exercise his $9 million club option for 2010. Martinez has a similar $7 million option for 2010.

“We are under no orders from ownership to move payroll or trim payroll,” said Shapiro.

Shapiro did make it clear that if he entered next season with Lee and, presumably Martinez, still on the roster, he could add nothing to the club this winter because of the losses in revenue the Indians have taken due to their poor record and subsequent drop in attendance.

“We would not have done this without getting compelling value in return,” said Shapiro.

Carrasco, 22, is 6-9 with a 5.18 ERA in 20 starts at Class AAA Lehigh Valley. The Indians believe he can come into spring training next year and compete for a job in the big-league rotation. He throws 92-93 mph and has 112 strikeouts in 1142‚Ñ3 innings this year. The Indians realize he has some work to do. They also realize he’s 22 and pitching at Triple-A.

Donald, 24, is batting .236 (49-for-208) with one homer and 15 RBIs at Lehigh Valley: He just returned from knee surgery. The Indians plan to use him at second, short and third. They expect him to compete with Luis Valbuena in spring training for the second base job. They see him as good right-handed complement to Valbuena and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. At the very least, he could be next year’s utility infielder.

Marson, 23, who had 17 at-bats with the Phillies this year, is hitting .294 (52-for-211) with one homer and 24 RBIs at Leigh Valley: He’s closer to catching in the big leagues than Class AA prospect Carlos Santana, who still needs another year in the minors. Marson doesn’t have much pop, but he’s a good receiver with an average arm. He could complement Martinez or Kelly Shoppach next year.

Knapp, 18, is 2-7 with a 4.01 ERA at Class A Lakewood of the South Atlantic League: He has 111 strikeouts and 39 walks in 851‚Ñ3 innings. Without Knapp, the deal wouldn’t have happened.

He’s still a long way from the big leagues, but the Indians feel he has the potential to be a front-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.

The Indians could have gotten outfielder Dominic Brown or Michael Taylor in the deal, but at the expense of Marson or Knapp. The Indians wanted Knapp and feel they have enough corner outfielders. That’s why they agreed to trade Francisco.