CLEVELAND — The trade is official.
Mike Clevinger is gone, along with outfielder Greg Allen. In return, the Cleveland Indians got a haul of players from the San Diego Padres, including infielder Gabriel Arias, left-hander Joey Cantillo, catcher Austin Hedges, infielder Owen Miller, utility man Josh Naylor and right-hander Cal Quantrill.
Just after the trade deadline hit at 4:00 pm ET, Indians team president Chris Antonetti met with the media on a conference zoom call to explain what went into the trade, how the club assesses this deal and what this means going forward for the organization.
It was also announced that right-hander Zach Plesac will take Clevinger's spot in the Tribe's starting rotation and is expected to start Tuesday night against the Kansas City Royals. An ironic twist considering Plesac and Clevinger were together in Chicago a few weeks ago when the two pitchers violated club protocols leaving the team hotel.
Meanwhile, Antonetti said that Clevinger violating team protocols in Chicago did not play a role in Monday's trade with San Diego.
After Clevinger and Plesac violated team protocols in Chicago, they were both sent down to the Indians' alternate training site in Lake County. Clevinger last pitched on Thursday, Aug. 26 in a 6-3 Indians comeback win over the Minnesota Twins.
In order to make room on the Tribe's 40-man roster for Hedges, Quantrill and Naylor, the club designated veteran outfielder Domingo Santana for assignment.
One surprise team that was reportedly interested in a trade for Clevinger was the division rival Chicago White Sox. Antonetti addressed the White Sox rumor specifically on Monday afternoon.
"We don't close any doors," Antonetti explained. "There's only 29 teams to trade with. If a trade makes sense for us, we'll do it."
With only 26 games left in the regular season, the Indians sit tied with the Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central Division.