It’s that time again.

The Indians needed offense at the July 31 trading deadline and instead got pitching in heralded right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. Not knocking the Jimenez move or saying it was a great one, just stating the facts here folks.

I will say that trading for Jimenez was a deal geared toward the future and not the NOW, which showed the Indians in contention for a Central Division title — 2 1/2 games behind the Tigers heading into Saturday night’s showdown at Detroit’s Comerica Park.

Well, right NOW, Tribe fans, this team needs some offense to stay in the race — again.

An inconsistent lineup at best was damaged further by the loss of rookie second baseman Jason Kipnis, who is out for three weeks with an injured hamstring that he sustained while stretching before a game??????????

Though it was a brief spell, Kipnis looked as though he was en route to establishing himself as an everyday big league player — one that could help the Indians in their playoff push and into the postseason, much like All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera did in 2007.

The loss of Kipnis has caused general manager Chris Antonetti to change his focus as he searches for a bat or two in his last opportunity to improve the club with a waiver trade prior to the Aug. 31 deadline.

Instead of looking for offense at the corner infield spots or even in the outfield, Antonetti must consider finding a replacement at second base, if the Indians don’t feel Jason Donald can pull his weight.

Antonetti added a nice complimentary piece at the trading deadline in outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, but though the Asian import has been solid, he isn’t nearly enough in the offensive department, where the Indians need reinforcements at whatever position it comes from.

It isn’t coming from the minors – they’ve tried pretty much every player down there to this point, save veteran first baseman Nick Johnson, who is barely hitting his weight at Triple-A Columbus.

And though the Indians keep saying he will return, it’s not coming from Grady Sizemore, who isn’t expected back before the last half of the final month of the season, and can’t be counted on to make an impact anyway.

It is pretty clear that with the addition of Jimenez, who admittedly has looked bad in two of his three starts since being acquired in a trade from the Rockies, and a top-shelf bullpen, the Indians have enough pitching to contend for a division title and maybe even win a postseason series or two.

But pitching can’t keep carrying the Indians. The offense has to start contributing in more than a couple of games per week or the quality performances from the rotation and relief corps will be wasted.

It already has. The Indians have had some of the best pitching in the American League and it was good for a second-place standing in the worst division in baseball.

Cleveland needs offense, and it’s Antonetti’s job to find it. That’s the only thing that’s going to save this ship of holes.

It figures

Did you see what Drew Pomeranz did in his first start for Colorado’s organization?

Cleveland’s No. 1 draft pick last year, who was traded for Jimenez along with another first-rounder in Alex White, took a perfect game into the seventh inning of his debut for Double-A Tulsa, finishing the debut outing with seven scoreless frames while allowing just two hits.

When they traded Pomeranz and White for Jimenez, the Indians decided a proven commodity was more valuable than two possible future ones, and I can’t blame them.

While both first-rounders appear destined to pitch out of a major league rotation, there is no guarantee with either. White is already dealing with a finger issue and Pomeranz is no reincarnation of Stephen Strasburg.

Jimenez is a frontline starter for the Indians over the next two years and that’s something neither White nor Pomeranz could boast.

Power poll

1. Philadelphia Phillies: These guys have sat atop of this list since the start of the season and will more than likely finish it there.

2. Boston Red Sox: The best team in the American League is about to reclaim the top spot in the East — arguably the toughest division in baseball.

3. New York Yankees: Always dangerous and almost always there in the end, the Yanks have overcome a wealth of injuries to key components.

4. Milwaukee Brewers: The Brew Crew, with Zack Greinke aboard this year, has all but locked up a title in the tough NL Central.

5. Texas Rangers: The defending AL champs are getting hot again, putting some distance between themselves and their competition in the West.

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