Once thought to be buyers at the trade deadline, the Cleveland Indians continue to field offers from a number of contending teams involving their top players. And as reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Rob Biertempfel, the Pirates are actively trying to swing a deal for Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo with the deadline roughly 50 hours away:
#Pirates still checking in on #Indians OFChoo. Price likely would include Marte.
— Rob Biertempfel (@BiertempfelTrib) July 29, 2012
The name Marte obviously means Pittsburgh's super-prospect Starling Marte, a 23-year-old outfielder who smacked a home run into the bleachers on his very first MLB at-bat last Thursday. The Pirates recently gave Marte their starting job in left-field, but could be willing to mortgage a bit of their future for Choo's All-Star bat right now with the playoff race heating up.
After playing the better part of the last seven seasons in Cleveland though, Choo was obviously taken aback by the news on Sunday, but told MLB.com's Jordan Bastian that his No. 1 priority right now is to win games:
On trade rumors, Choo said he's comfortable in CLE, feels like family, but "more important is I want to win. I want to make the playoffs."
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 29, 2012
Although Marte would be a serious coup for any team to acquire regardless of the cost, it's likely that it will take a young talented arm or another big-time prospect from Pittsburgh to get the Indians to seriously consider making this deal.
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