Cleveland Indians 2018-2019 Offseason Outlook

[Urban]

Think the only way they move Kipnis's contract without eating 75%+ of it is if it's in a deal for a similar contract, like they did with Bourn and Swisher a few years ago.

 

[Ohio]

This is now a vet group that's been to the playoffs 3 years in a row and earned a winning record 6 years in a row. If he decides to retire I don't think they will crumble.

Maybe not immediately, but it would happen.

 

[Steve_424]

Think the only way they move Kipnis's contract without eating 75%+ of it is if it's in a deal for a similar contract, like they did with Bourn and Swisher a few years ago.

Alonso/Kipnis for Bruce and a reliever?

Kipnis - 2019 - $14.5 M, 2020 - $16.5 M with $2.5 M buyout
Alonso - 2019 - $8 M, 2020 - $9 M vesting option
Bruce - 2019 - $13 M, 2020 - $13 M

Bruce/EE could share 1B/DH.

 

[Kevalier]

Alonso/Kipnis for Bruce and a reliever?

Kipnis - 2019 - $14.5 M, 2020 - $16.5 M with $2.5 M buyout
Alonso - 2019 - $8 M, 2020 - $9 M vesting option
Bruce - 2019 - $13 M, 2020 - $13 M

Bruce/EE could share 1B/DH.

Bruce had a really rough season in 2018 and, as you note, is guaranteed 13 million in 2020 unlike Kipnis and Alonso. Unless you’re getting Seth Lugo back in that package, there’s no other reliever on their roster that would make me pull the trigger on that deal.

 

[Urban]

Some interesting info. from Jason Lloyd's article today:

“I’m going to keep it really short,” Mike Clevinger said when asked to explain what happened in this series. “We were a little bit, I don’t know, kind of had our backs against the wall before this started when it came to the analytical side.”

And one Indians player, speaking privately, told me he believed the Astros’ batters were far better prepared for this series than Indians hitters. He believed the scouting reports were more intricate and the attention to detail was more precise.

“They’re [Houston] probably the furthest ahead, I would guess. But they haven’t even scratched the surface,” Bauer told Yahoo’s Jeff Passan in July. “I don’t know what all they have. They may have everything figured out and have been able to keep it under wraps. But I have my ear out there and I hear about what’s going on and they do a lot of things very, very well. There’s just other things that no one does that should be done.”

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXQlTIz2DvQ


Kipnis weighs in a bit about this at the 1:50 min mark^

 

[Huber.]

Think the only way they move Kipnis's contract without eating 75%+ of it is if it's in a deal for a similar contract, like they did with Bourn and Swisher a few years ago.

They traded Bourn, Swisher and 10 million for Chris Johnson. It ended up saving them 1.5 million in the long run. They would have to find someone looking to get rid of a bad contract with multiple years left in exchange for a bad Kipnis contract that will be off the books after next year.

 

[AZ_]

Kipnis is a 1.5-2.1 WAR player, there would likely be a market for him.

The question is who will fans irrationally despise when he's gone?

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

Some interesting info. from Jason Lloyd's article today:

“I’m going to keep it really short,” Mike Clevinger said when asked to explain what happened in this series. “We were a little bit, I don’t know, kind of had our backs against the wall before this started when it came to the analytical side.”

And one Indians player, speaking privately, told me he believed the Astros’ batters were far better prepared for this series than Indians hitters. He believed the scouting reports were more intricate and the attention to detail was more precise.

“They’re [Houston] probably the furthest ahead, I would guess. But they haven’t even scratched the surface,” Bauer told Yahoo’s Jeff Passan in July. “I don’t know what all they have. They may have everything figured out and have been able to keep it under wraps. But I have my ear out there and I hear about what’s going on and they do a lot of things very, very well. There’s just other things that no one does that should be done.”

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXQlTIz2DvQ


Kipnis weighs in a bit about this at the 1:50 min mark^

To me this is pretty weak

This is an accountability problem. It’s just pointing fingers at the staff for the players’ deficiencies

Was it in the Astros scouting report that the Indians pitchers would commit 3 errors in a game? Or thr Cody Allen would come out and serve up meatballs all game (as if you needed a sophisticated scouting report for this).

Guys put together God awful at bats all series waving at garbage and it rubs me the wrong way to point to preparation over it. Own it.

 

[Steve_424]

Bruce had a really rough season in 2018 and, as you note, is guaranteed 13 million in 2020 unlike Kipnis and Alonso. Unless you’re getting Seth Lugo back in that package, there’s no other reliever on their roster that would make me pull the trigger on that deal.

I think I agree. In terms of salary-for-salary, that's probably what you're looking at though, trades of type.

Some interesting info. from Jason Lloyd's article today:

“I’m going to keep it really short,” Mike Clevinger said when asked to explain what happened in this series. “We were a little bit, I don’t know, kind of had our backs against the wall before this started when it came to the analytical side.”

And one Indians player, speaking privately, told me he believed the Astros’ batters were far better prepared for this series than Indians hitters. He believed the scouting reports were more intricate and the attention to detail was more precise.

“They’re [Houston] probably the furthest ahead, I would guess. But they haven’t even scratched the surface,” Bauer told Yahoo’s Jeff Passan in July. “I don’t know what all they have. They may have everything figured out and have been able to keep it under wraps. But I have my ear out there and I hear about what’s going on and they do a lot of things very, very well. There’s just other things that no one does that should be done.”

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXQlTIz2DvQ


Kipnis weighs in a bit about this at the 1:50 min mark^

Wonder if this is directed at a particular person.

 

[JDailey23]

Some interesting info. from Jason Lloyd's article today:

“I’m going to keep it really short,” Mike Clevinger said when asked to explain what happened in this series. “We were a little bit, I don’t know, kind of had our backs against the wall before this started when it came to the analytical side.”

And one Indians player, speaking privately, told me he believed the Astros’ batters were far better prepared for this series than Indians hitters. He believed the scouting reports were more intricate and the attention to detail was more precise.

“They’re [Houston] probably the furthest ahead, I would guess. But they haven’t even scratched the surface,” Bauer told Yahoo’s Jeff Passan in July. “I don’t know what all they have. They may have everything figured out and have been able to keep it under wraps. But I have my ear out there and I hear about what’s going on and they do a lot of things very, very well. There’s just other things that no one does that should be done.”

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXQlTIz2DvQ


Kipnis weighs in a bit about this at the 1:50 min mark^

So, better coaching? Not surprised.

 

[Real Deal]

I honestly wouldn't mind keeping Kipnis, he's not holding us back at winning a WS. (Please go take a look at other 2Bs production around the league) if anything Kipnis is holding Yandy back because his position is 3rd and Jose can play 2nd.

I'm more interested in the Tribe making an over the top trade. There's 3 powerhouses in our league, some would even say if it wasn't for divisions, the As are a better and more deserving team than Indians. So by default we're the 4th or 5th best team in the AL.

I don't see our current OF crop being good enough to go toe to toe with the cream of the crop. We need a winning trade. We need to bring in a guy that is our 3rd or 4th best player in the lineup.

I'm assuming Donaldson is moving on, and Indians won't have a problem with it.

I like Greg Allen, but I would deal Zimmer, Naquin, Lonnie yesterday. Sheesh, we have a lot of OFs and none of them puts us over the top. There's no average power at best in these bats. That's a problem.

Winter meetings should be really fun and I hope the Indians are creative and active.

I hope the Indians re-sign Brant and solidify that LF spot but work on improving CF or RF obviously, and maybe even 1st Base if opportunity presents itself.

 

[bboy]

To me this is pretty weak

This is an accountability problem. It’s just pointing fingers at the staff for the players’ deficiencies

Was it in the Astros scouting report that the Indians pitchers would commit 3 errors in a game? Or thr Cody Allen would come out and serve up meatballs all game (as if you needed a sophisticated scouting report for this).

Guys put together God awful at bats all series waving at garbage and it rubs me the wrong way to point to preparation over it. Own it.

I agree...give me a break...our team leaders other than Lindor failed to show up for the second year in a row for whatever reason. I also didn't like the teams body language all series....seemed to be defeated before the series even started

 

[godfather]

To me this is pretty weak

This is an accountability problem. It’s just pointing fingers at the staff for the players’ deficiencies

Was it in the Astros scouting report that the Indians pitchers would commit 3 errors in a game? Or thr Cody Allen would come out and serve up meatballs all game (as if you needed a sophisticated scouting report for this).

Guys put together God awful at bats all series waving at garbage and it rubs me the wrong way to point to preparation over it. Own it.

Comments like that are disturbing to me. Really speaks to some of the players mindsets, more than anything.

I don't think Tito was at his best, but to put blame on things like scouting, or not being prepared.

Please... They been treading water for months, and a lot of them have been playing like shit before this series.

Yes. You Jose!

 

[Urban]

I don't see our current OF crop being good enough to go toe to toe with the cream of the crop. We need a winning trade. We need to bring in a guy that is our 3rd or 4th best player in the lineup.

I like Greg Allen, but I would deal Zimmer, Naquin, Lonnie yesterday. Sheesh, we have a lot of OFs and none of them puts us over the top. There's no average power at best in these bats. That's a problem.

Chisenhall was doing great the past 2 years before being derailed by injuries. Unfortunately he has had recurring injuries the past 2 years and would be hard to justify his return unless it's at a pretty great deal.

 

[Kiddo]

Listening to Anthony Castrovince this afternoon.

Brantley - gone
Donaldson- gone
Miller- gone
Allen- likely gone

He painted an extremely bleak future for the team payroll wise and said fans are going to be upset this offseason.