Is Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Zach Plesac about to be placed on the trading block? David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Indians more likely to trade Zach Plesac than Mike Clevinger?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/26/20

When the Cleveland Indians announced that formerly demoted right-hander Mike Clevinger would take the bump versus the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field on Wednesday, some wondered what that decision meant for the future of fellow starter Zach Plesac as he remains at the club's alternate training site.

CBS Sports' Jim Bowden offered some insight on the subject ahead of Monday's trade deadline.

"Their intent is not to move either one," Bowden explained on Wednesday.

"That being said, this Indians team also needs a corner outfielder. They need another middle-of-the-order bat. And I think if the right team came with the right bat, they would at least consider (trading) Plesac in a deal for that bat.

"That being said, I'm told they're handling this situation internally. They're going to forgive the players for what happened, and they're going to move forward. They're intent is to keep them.

"But remember this: They're listening, and you never know what kind of offer a GM could put in front of you between now and Monday."

The Indians demoted Clevinger and Plesac to their alternate training site after the pair violated MLB health and safety protocols when they left a team hotel without permission for a social dinner in Chicago on Aug. 8. Plesac then defended his actions while ripping the media in a since-deleted Instagram video.

Southpaw reliever Oliver Perez reportedly threatened to opt out if Clevinger and Plesac were immediately welcomed back to the squad, and righty Adam Plutko held little back when speaking with reporters about his teammates earlier this month.

"They lied to us," Plutko said. "They sat here, in front of you guys, and said things publicly that they didn't follow through on. It's gonna be up to them. It really is."

According to ESPN, the Indians began Thursday with the league's fourth-lowest team batting average (.214) and third-worst OPS (.657).

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