Is Cody Allen Pitching His Way Out of Cleveland with His Success Thus Far in 2018?

Indians reliever Cody Allen closed out the latest Indians road trip making history, recording saves 139 and 140 to set a new franchise high.

Allen is having what could be an All-Star season, something he's yet to earn in his career, saving 18 games already this season with a 2-3 mark and a 3.38 ERA.

Last season as the Indians won 102 games, Allen recorded 30 saves, so if things go in the second half as they have so far in the first, it's likely he'll set a new high for saves in a season, surpassing the 34 he had in 2015.

While Allen is having success closing games, it could also be sealing his fate in terms of his future with the Indians.

It's no secret that both Allen and Andrew Miller, who remains on the disabled list, are both going to be free agents at the end of the season, and with the success that Allen is having in 2018, he is going to get plenty of attention on the free agent market, leaving the Tribe minus a closer in 2019.

If you look at the top closer salaries as well as contracts around baseball, it's hard to think that the Indians are going to break the bank on a player like Allen, despite the fact he's still just 29 years old and likely has a number of years left to close games at a high level.

The Yankees, Dodgers and Giants have the top three payouts to closers in baseball, as one would expect, with Aroldis Chapman signed in New York till 2021 at a ridiculous 5-year deal worth $86 million, an average of $17.2 million per season.

In comparison, Allen is making $10.5 million this season, a very respectable number but one that a team could easily overshadow with a huge deal on the open market this offseason.

Allen is ranked seventh in the AL in saves this season, but has blown just one save. Edwin Diaz, who leads the AL in saves from the Mariners with 33, has three blown saves for Seattle.

So just what is Allen worth and what is he going to command on the open market? Two deals that just took place this offseason for closers might give a better indication as to what to expect come the offseason.

The first deal is the one that Colorado gave to closer Wade Davis, who saved 32 games for the Cubs in 2017. He earned a deal worth $52 million over just three years, earning a wild $17.3 million per season average wise.

Davis has saved 25 games for the Rockies this season, but has four blown saves, and an ERA over four.

Another contract for a closer just signed this offseason is that of Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez, who inked a deal till 2023 worth $22 million over four seasons, an average of $5.6 million a season. He's saved 17 games for the Pirates in 2018.

It's fairly obvious that the Indians are not going to be able to afford a deal such as Davis, paying a closer $17 million per season, but the number Allen is being paid now which is $10.5 million is a little more realistic in terms of the Indians chances of keeping him with the franchise should he be willing to accept a deal such as that.

There's always the chance that the team looks around this month and tries to make a deal for a pitcher who could close games and also bridge the gap in the later innings and then takes over should Allen leave next season.

Jensen Lewis, who once closed for the Indians and now does the pre and post game on Fox Sports Ohio, said today he'd love to see a deal where the team brought in a pitcher like Texas closer Keone Kela, who has multiple years left on the contract (through 2022).

It would be a bold move but would be something that the Indians might consider as they would then have an insurance policy in place should both Allen and Miller find greener pastures next season.

All in all, the way that Allen is pitching and the way that baseball economics work, it's going to be a serious challenge having him wearing an Indians uniform next season, something the team is surely thinking about already.