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Indians GM Mark Shapiro attempts to put a positive spin on Cliff Lee trade

combined dispatches

CLEVELAND — Timing played a big part in the Indians trading of Cliff Lee on Wednesday to the Phillies.

The team could have kept Lee for the rest of the season, picked up his $9 million club option for next year and then traded him during the winter or next season, as it was clear he was going to become a free agent after 2010.

To the Indians, it came down to value.

They decided that what they received for Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco — right-handers Carlos Carrasco and Jason Knapp, infielder Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson — was better than any deal they were going to get at a later date.

The deal certainly helped the Phillies as well.

It gave them Lee for the stretch run. During the offseason, Philadelphia can decide if it wants to pick up his option, or perhaps discuss a multi-year deal with him.

Because the Phillies have more options than just renting Lee for two months before he files for free agency, they were probably more agreeable at the bargaining table.

Why not wait? Why didn’t the Indians wait until Toronto traded Roy Halladay — perhaps to Philadelphia — before trading Lee? Wouldn’t that have increased his value?

The Indians say no because they felt the best deal out there was the one they made with the Phillies. They said that if they had waited until Toronto traded Halladay, perhaps to the Phillies, the deal would not have been there.

With the trades, the Indians, who have already made four deals this season and are listening to offers for All-Star catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez before today’s non-waiver deadline, made history — just not the kind to be proud of.

Cleveland is the first team to trade incumbent Cy Youngs in consecutive seasons. Lee joined CC Sabathia, Frank Viola (1988) and David Cone (1994), as the only winners to be dealt in midseason the year after getting the award.

Cleveland’s decision to trade Lee — a move panned by the majority of Indians fans — came after general manager Mark Shapiro was informed by ownership that he would not have significant money to spend on overhauling his roster in the upcoming offseason.

Shapiro was in a similar spot last year, but Sabathia was eligible to leave after the 2008 season so there was a greater sense of urgency to get quality players in return. Shapiro defended his shipping Lee for prospects, three of whom he believes are major-league ready, as necessary to get the Indians back into contention in the winnable AL Central.

“It’s not going to be wait, wait, wait and see,” he said. “I think we’ll be playing championship baseball again and that we’ll do it quickly.”

Shapiro has rapidly changed the face of the Indians, who just two years ago were within one win of a trip to the World Series.

Instead, they’re rebuilding — again.

In dumping Lee ($9 million), reliever Rafael Betancourt ($5.4 million), first baseman Ryan Garko ($2 million) and Francisco (about $600,000) for eight prospects, the Indians have slashed nearly $18 million in payroll for next season. Martinez has a $7 million option for 2010.

From the outside, the moves appear to be nothing more than cost-cutting measures, with attendance dropping due to a dreary economy and disappointing team.

Shapiro said it’s all about securing the future.

“There has been no directive from ownership to move salary,” Shapiro said.

The Indians said things were quiet on the Martinez trade front on Thursday.