Indians trade rumors: Tribe is NOT preparing for fire sale

At 13-21, the Cleveland Indians have not had an ideal start to the 2015 campaign. But that does not mean they are preparing to trade several major league pieces just yet. The Indians may have several attractive pieces for clubs seeking upgrades, however according to Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com, the organization is not quite prepared for a fire sale.

As Hoynes adds, fire sales are typically conducted towards the end of the season, most notably in July or August. Cleveland has the option to determine if it can put together a winning streak or if trading several veterans would prove to be beneficial.

The Indians' core is predominantly composed of younger players who are signed to long-term deals, and as a result, the front office may be more lenient with regard to the team's overall performance. General Manager Chris Antonetti is likely considering all of his options as the summer approaches, and many front office executives have multiple plans depending on the squad's record.

While some teams could be interested in Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher, they may not be valued highly because of their early struggles. For teams seeking an additional bat and speed at the top of the lineup, Bourn may be an attractive option. He has posted a .222./306/.287 batting line to this point in 2015 but is coming off of a .257/.314/.360 campaign during which he also drove in 28 runs and stole ten bases.

Swisher has similarly had difficulty offensively, batting .265/.306/.353 in only nine games in 2015. He batted just .208 last season and as a result, the Indians may have difficulty finding a team interested.

Although the Indians have several veteran pieces that could begin to have success and subsequently be dealt, a young core may prevent a massive trade. Carlos Carrasco, Corey Kluber, Jason Kipnis, and Michael Brantley are all signed to extensive deals and may receive time before Cleveland decides to move forward with a new core.