The Cleveland Indians are three games under .500 and 12 games out of first in the AL Central. Their playoff hopes are dim at the very best. They will most likely enter the trade deadline as sellers as they try to retool. However, there is one player who is untouchable and it isn’t because he is a superstar. That player is utility man Mike Aviles.

Aviles is not on the trading block and won’t be so long as Aviles’ 4-year-old daughter needs treatment for her leukemia. The Indians let Ken Rosenthal know that although they have received interest in the 34-year-old they will not deal him because they do not want to upset his family situation at this time. The Indians are to be commended for this move.

Adriana Aviles has been receiving treatment  at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the most highly regarded cancer treatment centers in the country. To uproot Mike from his daughter, or disrupt their family situation, would be a bad move. However, the Indians do have a business to run and a team to try and put on the field that would give them the best chance to compete for a World Series. That doesn’t matter to the Indians at this time and that should be commended.

We are finally seeing a sports team putting an employee before the organization. It is rare you see that in sports and to see it now is uplifting. It would be easy for the Indians to turn the interest in Aviles into a chance to grab a potentially serviceable prospect. The team could certainly use a retool and, if his daughter were healthy, it would be a no-brainer to deal Aviles for whatever they can get. They won’t and it is one of the most refreshing stories you’ll hear in sports these days. Well done, Cleveland.