Longtime Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo is drawing interest as the July 31 MLB trade deadline draws closer.
According to CBS Sports baseball insider Jon Heyman, the Cleveland Indians have discussed the possibility of acquiring the 27-year-old right-hander this summer:
The Indians seek a starting pitcher and have held discussions about Matt Garza and Yovani Gallardo.
It’s no surprise the Indians would like to add a starter. The twist is that they are limiting themselves to a top-of-the-rotation type.
…for now, Garza and Gallardo are the Indians’ main and only pitchers of interest.
Gallardo has made 19 starts for the Brewers in 2013 and boasts a 7-8 record. To say he’s struggled would be an understatement, however. The Mexican ace is sporting a career-worst 4.85 ERA through the first half of the year and has more hits allowed (116) than strikeouts (88) through his first 19 appearances on the mound for Milwaukee.
For his career, though, Gallardo is 76-51 with a 3.76 ERA. He’s also made four postseason starts for Milwaukee, sporting a 2.08 ERA in those appearances.
Gallardo, who has never finished a season with a losing record in the majors, is batting .286 in 35 at-bats this season as well. He made the All-Star team and won a Silver Slugger Award three years ago in 2010.
Cleveland could certainly use his services during the second half of the season. Although the Indians rank fifth in runs this season and are right on the Detroit Tigers’ heels in the AL Central race, the team ranks 28th in the majors in team ERA (4.46).
Only Minnesota and Houston have fared worse.
Gallardo has another season remaining on his contract and then a club option for the 2015 season; unlike Matt Garza and Joba Chamberlain, Gallardo won’t hit the free-agent market this coming fall, potentially making him a more attractive piece this July.
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