CLEVELAND — With less than a week before the trading deadline, the Indians have yet to make any noise.

“I’m confident we will do everything we can to make a deal,” said general manager Chris Antonetti. “Now, whether that results in a trade is difficult to say. It takes two parties to make a deal. Despite our best efforts, we haven’t been able to line up the right value.

“Our preference would have been to have done something a few weeks ago. Hopefully, over the next day or two, some dominoes will start to fall and that will open the market.”

The Indians are in contention for the first time since 2007, entering Tuesday a game behind the Tigers in the Central Division standings. They have been searching for offensive assistance to improve their chances in the division race, but Antonetti said they have also had talks concerning perspective pitching trades.

“Our philosophy is that we want to take advantage of every opportunity we have to get to the postseason,” Antonetti said. “That being said, you have to be mindful of the cost of doing that. We are prepared to do what’s reasonable to improve the team. But we can’t be limited in our focus to just the last 2 1⁄2 months. If you make a foolish decision now, it’s one you could regret for multiple years.”

Any trade of significance would most likely involve parting with one or more of the Indians’ prized prospects. Ideally, Cleveland would bring aboard a player or two with favorable contracts that could replace the prospects.

“To trade our best young players that have multiple years of control, it would have to be a compelling deal,” Antonetti said. “It would be difficult to see us trade our best young players for a player that would only be here for two months. That being said, we’re willing to trade good players and willing to take on salary to improve the team.”

Antonetti said the Indians have exchanged proposals with a number of teams. Still, the deadline could pass with the club doing nothing at all.

“I think it would be (a disappointment) in some sense,” Antonetti said, if the Indians are unable to make a trade. “I feel confident in the way this young group has played and am optimistic about the return of Grady (Sizemore) and (Shin-Soo) Choo. But we have an opportunity to improve our chances and improve our team, and to that extent, I’d like to get something done.”

Throwing perfection

Justin Germano’s first win for Triple-A Columbus was a perfect one.

Germano, who started the season pitching out of the Indians bullpen, tossed a perfect game Tuesday night in the Clippers’ 3-0 victory at Syracuse. He struck out seven.

Germano entered the night with an 0-2 record and 4.58 ERA in 14 games (four starts) for Columbus.

Wounded Wahoos

Choo (broken left thumb) is able to grip a bat and says he is ahead of schedule in his bid to return before the final month of the season, but Antonetti is reserving judgment. “I don’t think we’ll know for certain until he starts baseball activities,” Antonetti said. “We’re encouraged by the way he’s progressed.”

Alex White (surgery right middle finger) emerged unscathed from his first simulated game Monday, and is scheduled to pitch another today at Double-A Akron. Depending on how White holds up, manager Manny Acta said he would require three to four minor league rehab outings before returning to the Indians as a reliever.

Mitch Talbot (lower back strain) pitched 22⁄3 scoreless innings Monday in a rehab outing with Triple-A Columbus. Talbot, who is out of minor league options, is eligible to leave the disabled list, but with no room in the rotation, he will most likely be designated for assignment. He would then need to clear waivers before being outrighted to Columbus.

Minor details

• Beau Mills’ first hit since being promoted to Columbus was a home run, the first baseman connecting on a solo shot in the Clippers’ 4-1 loss to Lehigh Valley on Monday. He was 1-for-9 in three games through Monday.
• Drew Pomeranz made his third start since being promoted to Akron, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out six in 41⁄3 innings of the Aeros’ 9-8 loss to Trenton on Monday. The fifth overall draft choice last year, is 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA in three starts for Akron.

Roundin’ third

• According to Elias Sports Bureau, Jason Kipnis is the first Indian to record a walk-off hit as his first career big league hit since the RBI became an official statistic in 1920.
• A crowd of 19,384 Monday pushed the Indians over the one-million mark in attendance in their 48th game. They didn’t reach the one-million mark until their 57th home date last year.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.