Despite remaining competitive in the American League Central over recent seasons, the Cleveland Indians went into the winter looking to essentially strip down their roster as a means of slashing payroll.
Thus, several of the team’s veterans, including Trevor Bauer, Yan Gomes, Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, among others, were put on the trade block. The Los Angeles Dodgers were linked to Gomes, but he was traded to the Washington Nationals.
The Indians then worked out a contract extension with Carrasco, which removed him from possibly being traded. It was believed that left Cleveland as further motivated to move one of Bauer or Kluber.