Freak-Out Factor: Trade Deadline edition

The non-waiver Trade Deadline is fast-approaching, and executives for contending clubs are weighing how aggressive they ought to be in shoring up their rosters between now and Aug. 1. Quite often, late-breaking developments compel action, and we’ve had quite a few of those developments this month.

It’s time, then, for a trade-related installment The Freak-Out Factor™, a 1-10 scale, with 1 being relative calm and 10 being a five-alarm fire worthy of a Deadline binge.

Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw’s continued back issuesFreak-Out Factor: 9, or one for every walk Kershaw’s issued in 121 innings this season

Hey, it’s Kershaw we’re talking about here. He was a legitimate National League MVP Award candidate before he got hurt, and you could make a convincing argument that he held more value to his club than any individual player on any contender. So the news this week that Kershaw’s back did not respond well to a simulated start and that back surgery is, as manager Dave Roberts put it, “a possibility” is an upsetting situation for a Dodgers team that has not exactly led the league in injury luck this year.

The only reason I’m not putting this at a full-bore 10 out of 10 is because the division-rival Giants have scuffled lately (and more on them in a second) and because the Dodgers are about as well equipped, in prospects and finances, to make impact deals at the Trade Deadline as anybody.

But yeah, the thought of not seeing Kershaw on the Dodger Stadium mound again this year? Pretty freak-out worthy.

Indians: Shoulder issues for Michael Brantley and Yan Gomes Freak-Out Factor: 5, which doubles as the number of runs scored by Brantley this season

Hard to know how to rate this one, so we’ll just go straight down the middle with it.

The news in November that Brantley needed surgery on his non-throwing right shoulder was unsettling. At that time, it would have been darn near impossible to imagine that the Indians would have him in their lineup just 11 times by July 22, and yet not only lead the American League Central comfortably but be one of only two AL clubs averaging more than five runs per game. The very low-profile addition of Rajai Davis, the emergence of AL Rookie of the Year Award candidate Tyler Naquin, a more consistent season from Lonnie Chisenhall and a breakout from utilityman Jose Ramirez have made the Brantley hit far less impactful than imagined. Gomes, really, was a non-factor offensively all year, and if defense is the primary concern, the Tribe can feel reasonably comfortable with Roberto Perez and Chris Gimenez behind the dish.

Having said all that, you’d still feel better about Cleveland’s chances of ascending through October if Brantley’s steady bat were back in the mix or the lineup was lengthened some other way. Right now, Brantley’s return is questionable, at best, so it will be interesting to see whether the Indians, who are already on the hunt for relief help, find a way to land Jonathan Lucroy or an outfielder.

Giants: 0-5 since the …

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