They're the hottest, most surprising team in all of baseball. But how has this unexpected start come together for the Indians?
The answer is, mostly through trades many fans considered giveaways at the time.
After all, who can forget when names such as CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Casey Blake and Victor Martinez ruled the roster?
Today, the names have a considerably less glamorous ring — with youngsters such as first baseman Matt LaPorta, catcher Carlos Santana, outfielder Michael Brantley and others still coming of age.
But today's names have been even more effective than bigger ones of the past, as the Indians won 18 games in April for the first time in the club's 111-year history. And it was the so-called (and often-criticized) fire sales that led the Indians to where they are right now.
LaPorta and Brantley arrived from Milwaukee in 2008 as part of the Sabathia trade.
Santana came from the LA Dodgers, also in 2008, in a deal for Blake.
Meanwhile, Martinez was traded to Boston (now with Detroit) and brought back pitcher Justin Masterson. And all the right-handed Masterson has done is start 5-0 with a 2.25 earned run average heading into Friday's game at Los Angeles.
Suddenly, all those deals made by one-time Indians general manager and current team president Mark Shapiro don't look so awful.
And when you think about it, few current Indians arrived with a splash. Let's take a look:
* Pitching staff ace Fausto Carmona worked his way up through the ranks, becoming the first member of the Lake County Captains (Class A) to play in the majors. Not a whole lot exciting about that.
* Closer Chris Perez came from St. Louis in a 2009 trade involving Mark DeRosa — who has since signed with San Francisco and barely played following major wrist surgery. Meanwhile, Perez has been very good and become known as "Pure Rage" for his willingness to go right at batters.
* Starter Josh Tomlin was drafted in the 19th round in 2006. He then spent the next three-and-a-half years pitching for the likes of the Mahoney Valley Scrappers, Kinston Indians and Buffalo Bisons before getting called up last July. He out-threw Sabathia in his debut (a win over New York) and has been exceptional this year.
* Starter Carlos Carrasco arrived in the Lee trade with Philadelphia. Indians backup catcher Lou Marson also came over in that deal.
* Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo was also acquired in a trade, this one with Seattle in 2006 for Ben Broussard. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera also came from Seattle in 2006 (for Eduardo Perez).
* Third baseman Jack Hannahan, who is having the seasons of seasons at age 31, basically came out of nowhere. After years as a journeyman, Hannahan signed a minor-league contract with the Indians last December. He then earned a spot in the infield during spring training.
* Outfielder Austin Kearns also signed a free agent contract in December. This after the Indians traded him to the Yankees (for current Tribe minor-league pitcher Zach McCallister) six months earlier.
* Utility man and designated hitter Shelley Duncan spent time with the Yankees before signing a minor-league deal with the Indians in January 2010. He was called-up from Triple A Columbus last season when Grady Sizemore went down with an injured knee.
* Finally, reserve infielder Adam Everett received an invite to spring training, and like Hannahan, played his way onto the roster. Also like Hannahan, Everett bounced around before coming to Cleveland — and has been an underrated key to the team's early success.
Obviously, there have been other contributors, from fan favorites such as Sizemore and veteran DH Travis Hafner, to relief pitchers Rafael Perez, Tony Sipp, Joe Smith, Chad Durbin and 26-year-old rookie Vinnie Pestano.
Few became Indians with any sort of real fanfare — but all that really matters is they make a impact now. And right now, they are.
