Keith Law's "5 who should have been picked and 5 who shouldn't" includes 2 who should've in the AL. Both Central Division starters: Jose Quintana and Kluber. His case for Kluber follows. But Corey's frequent lousy games disqualify him in my mind despite his overall excellent stats

Corey Kluber, RHP
Cleveland Indians
2016 WAR: 2.1

I'd be more angry online about Kluber if I weren't busy being angry online about Quintana. Kluber's ERA is unsightly at 3.79, but he has the best FIP in the AL at 2.96, and the gap is really about Kluber's having a bizarre, probably flukish time with men on base, especially with men in scoring position: Hitters have slugged .529 off him in 82 such plate appearances. That's well above his career slugging percentage allowed with men on base (.430), which is why I say it's likely a fluke and not a good reason to leave off the roster someone who is clearly one of the top 10 pitchers in the league. Of course, AL manager Ned Yost picked five relievers for the AL roster, on top of the three the players chose, so we're left with way too few starters -- you know, the names, the stars, the players fans show up to watch.

His "don't belong" includes Orioles middle reliever Brett Brach and SS Eduardo Nunez of the Twins -- but the latter is the one mandatory Twin.

Kluber in no way deserves all star status.

I had posted earlier about the theory that he struggles unless he has his best stuff. Haven't seen anything since then to dispute that theory.

We've seen it, he rips through lineups easily when he is ON. To me, that artificially inflates his stats.

Good pitcher, love having him overall, but year no higher than the 3rd best starting pitcher on this team

Alright, I don't think my idea of landing a stud 1st baseman and platooning Santana & Napoli at DH was very popular around here. (I'm not letting his recent hot streak deter me, though. I would personally still love to do that) So trying to figure out another way to get a good hitter in the middle of the lineup.

How about this idea .... A small package featuring Bradley Zimmer in return for Milwaukee catcher, Jonathan Lucroy.

Gomes just does not seem to be able to get back on track. At some point you have to quit being patient and look for improvement. .180 just is not going to cut it. And his replacement, Giminez, is just as bad.

We already have Naquin in the majors proving he can do the job in centerfield, and Frazier is at the same level as Zimmer, doing better than him, and he is 2 years younger than Zimmer. So I think he is disposable.

Lucroy is a 2 time all star that swings a very solid bat with some pop. And is good defensively as well. (his play suffered last year offensively and defensively but battled injuries. He's back on track this year)

Also, Lucroy has a team option for 2017 at a very affordable 5+ mill. So he's not just a 1 year rental. We'd have him around next year too. And give our fine looking young catching prospect, Francisco Mejia, another year to develop.

Would be nice to see Gomes' bat return to respectable but his value to the team is the way he handles pitchers and calls the game. No accident when Gomes took over the catching duties, the pitching improved immensely.

I don't have a problem trading Zimmer, although he could turn out to be very good, but I agree that we still benefit from Gomes as an excellent defensive catcher despite his incredibly frustrating offense [what really bugs me is that he lacks any selectivity at the plate; he almost never walks, and of course swinging at all those pitches out of the zone results in lots of his weak outs and his strike outs]. We also have Roberto Perez coming back pretty soon -- he's starting his rehab with the Arizona League team, although I think only as a DH so far. I do hope that without his personal catcher Bauer can stay at the top of his game. In 2019 Mejia takes over.

Would you trade for Jay Bruce? Is he worth giving up Frazier?

The Cincinnati Reds are "almost certain" to trade right fielder Jay Bruce as well as a few other players before the Aug. 1 non-waiver deadline, reports Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com. Rumor CentralRosenthal lists the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals among the teams interested in Bruce, adding the Cleveland Indians as another possibility.

Bruce may have moved the process along last week, claiming he was open to waiving his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a deal to a contender this summer. "I would consider waiving the no-trade clause for all types of reasons," Bruce told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "There's no blanket reason I wouldn't. I'm open to all possibilities, but it would be situation to situation.”

Among the teams on Bruce’s no-trade list are the Indians, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, and Arizona Diamondbacks, per Sheldon.

The 29-year-old Bruce is hitting .268/.317/.546 with 18 homers and is signed to a $12.5 million deal that includes a $13 million team option next season. While the Dodgers and Nats may not have a glaring need for an outfield bat, the Indians seem like a better fit given Michael Brantley is on the disabled list for the foreseeable future.

I would like to have him. I really don't know to value minor league prospects vs. current major leaguers. We're almost always on the other end of these deals. Last year the Reds took pretty marginal value for their Frazier but I don't think they'll be that stupid now. They'd be smart to ask for our Frazier and I suppose it would make sense.

HB - you said:

How about this idea .... A small package featuring Bradley Zimmer in return for Milwaukee catcher, Jonathan Lucroy.

Like that one far more than the Goldy idea. Obviously I'd love to have Goldy but that's one of the top 5 hitters in the game. The cost in trade for that guy would be staggering. Mind boggling, if he is touchable at all.

Now Lucroy, this is a guy that's gettable. I do think you'd be talking more than Zimmer, as this guy is a top catcher who hits. But yeah, within reach and a great middle of the order RH bat.

I don't think you agree if I remember correctly, but I'd also put Bruce in the same category. Quality bat, middle of the order. Very gettable. Would be cheaper than Lucroy IMO.

Both these guys WILL be dealt. BTW, Ryan Braun will be dealt too IMO. I know, I know the issues but if Milwaukee picked up a decent part of his contract (and they WILL end up doing that for someone) then I go for him.

We can talk all we want of course, but only the front offices know the prices. In every, every case the answer ends up being "what is the cost"?

J.R. wrote:Would you trade for Jay Bruce? Is he worth giving up Frazier?

If I remember Bruce's contract correctly, there is an team option for next year. Exact same for Lucroy.

Obviously that always complicates things.

And then again, if either of those guys are open to extensions, that also changes things.

By the way, for sure add in Carlos Gonzalez. Same as the others, he is signed through next season.

Word is he talked to the front office and asked to be traded.

Like Milwaukee (Braun and Lucroy), and Cincy the Rockies also have nothing to play for. They are looking to the future and those veterans stick out like a sore thumb.

IMO they will ALL be traded, slam dunk. Like to be in on one of them.

Kluber named to all star team as injury replacement for Estrada.

He's pitching tomorrow, so he should be fine to toss an inning or so in an all star game.

Hell, Carrasco and Bauer are more deserving anyway

I imagine that our host of middle infielders are in demand as well. Erik Gonzalez is hitting over 300 and apparently is a find defender. Not ready for a couple years and might not wind up at SS Y-C Chang is a very good power hitter. One of them would make a useful add-on to a package that starts with one of the Akron OFs. I wouldn't like to deal Justus Sheffield - we could stand to develop a lefty. I'd include Merritt or Morimando or Kaminsky, who might be of interest.

based on the statistics Kluber clearly belongs. Although he'll bring by far the highest ERA of any All Star in 2016.