The 2015 Cleveland Indians

[Steve_424]

A look at the 2015 Cleveland Indians, with the year each player is signed through next to his name.

C - Yan Gomes - 2021
1B - Carlos Santana - 2017
2B - Jason Kipnis - 2020
3B - Lonnie Chisenhall - 2017
SS - Jose Ramirez - 2019
LF - Michael Brantley - 2018
CF - Michael Bourn - 2016 (Vesting Option for 2017)
RF - Brandon Moss - 2016
DH - Nick Swisher - 2016 (Vesting Option for 2017)

IF - Mike Aviles - 2015
OF - Ryan Raburn - 2015 (Club Option for 2016)
C - Roberto Perez - 2019
RF - David Murphy - 2015 (Club Option for 2016)


SP - Corey Kluber - 2018
SP - Carlos Carrasco - 2017
SP - Gavin Floyd - 2015
SP - Trevor Bauer - 2019
SP - Danny Salazar - 2019

CL - Cody Allen - 2018
RP - Bryan Shaw - 2017
RP - Kyle Crockett - 2020
RP - Scott Atchison - 2016
RP - Nick Hagadone - 2018
RP - Marc Rzepczynski - 2016
RP - Zach McAllister - 2018

Other Roster Possibilities

SP - TJ House - 2019
SS - Francisco Lindor - TBD
RP - C.C. Lee - 2019
OF - Tyler Holt - TBD
SP - Josh Tomlin - 2016
IF - Zach Walters - TBD
1B - Jesus Aguilar - 2019
RP - Austin Adams - 2019
OF - James Ramsey - TBD
3B - Giovanny Urshela - TBD
SP - Cody Anderson - TBD

STEAMER PROJECTIONS

Hitters - 21.8 WAR
Pitchers - 13.1 WAR
Total - 34.9 WAR

Starting Lineup

CF-Michael Bourn - 2.0 WAR, .253/.313/.351, 20 SB
SS-Jose Ramirez - 1.6 WAR, .262/.308/.355, 18 SB
LF-Michael Brantley - 3.2 WAR, .291/.351/.429, 14 SB
1B-Carlos Santana - 3.0 WAR, .245/.367/.432, 22 HR
RF-Brandon Moss - 2.5 WAR, .249/.333/.485, 28 HR
C-Yan Gomes - 3.4 WAR, .260/.308/.434, 16 HR
2B-Jason Kipnis - 2.6 WAR, .262/.338/.398, 20 SB
DH-Nick Swisher - 0.4 WAR, .234/.321/.384
3B-Lonnie Chisenhall - 2.0 WAR, .263/.320/.428

Bench

UT-Mike Aviles - .245/.277/.351
RF-David Murphy - 0.7 WAR, .256/.319/.392
OF-Ryan Raburn - 0.2 WAR, .232/.291/.380
C-Roberto Perez - 0.2 WAR, .206/.288/.297

Pitchers

Corey Kluber - 4.2 WAR, 13-9, 3.18 ERA
Carlos Carrasco - 2.8 WAR, 10-8, 3.55 ERA
Gavin Floyd - 1.2 WAR, 8-8, 4.06 ERA
Trevor Bauer - 0.6 WAR, 10-11, 4.56 ERA
Danny Salazar - 2.1 WAR, 11-9, 3.57 ERA

Cody Allen - 0.6 WAR, 4-3, 28 SV, 2.87 ERA
Bryan Shaw - 0.2 WAR, 3-3, 6 SV, 3.77 ERA
Kyle Crockett - 0.3 WAR, 2-2, 1 SV, 3.37 ERA
Scott Atchison - 0.3 WAR, 3-3, 3 SV, 3.65 ERA
Nick Hagadone - 0.2 WAR, 2-2, 3.04 ERA
Marc Rzepczynski - 0.3 WAR, 3-3, 2 SV, 3.64 ERA
Zach McAllister - 0.3 WAR, 4-4, 3.93 ERA


Others

TJ House - 1.8 WAR, 9-9, 4.07 ERA
Francisco Lindor - 0.7 WAR, .244/.297/.332
OF-Tyler Holt - .243/.309/.309

 

[Hurl Bruce]

wuck edit: nsfw. take it to eayor but not here.

 

[elcheato]

It's nice that most of the decent pieces on the team are under team control for a while, but it's still not enough talent wise to count on competing, and they really aren't in a position to take on more salary, so they're going to have a hard time improving the team significantly. They seem to just be stuck unless Bauer or Salazar makes the jump to an elite level status next to Kluber, and even then the team would still need more hitting.

 

[Soar]

Biggest needs are a top of the rotation pitcher and a power hitter, preferably right handed.

Every team wants those things.

I can see us being aggressive on a trade though. Simply because if we don't add at least at 1 of those things, we will be about .500 again.

 

[Pyro]

Kluber and Bauer are the only two pitchers I would pencil in the rotation for Opening Day. In other words, we need more competent starting pitchers.

 

[shoes22]

Kluber and Bauer are the only two pitchers I would pencil in the rotation for Opening Day. In other words, we need more competent starting pitchers.

We can pick up a middle of the road veteran starter in free agency this year, but our real targets should be young pitchers with upside that have limited or no MLB experience. And since this team never drafts high-caliber pitchers anymore, we're only getting those via trade.

I'd love to pick up Victor Martinez in free agency if he's willing to give us some kind of discount (which is doubtful), but we'd have to move Swisher or Santana first. And if you're simply replacing Santana, the net gain will probably be minimal.

It's pretty cool that every single one of our core players is locked up through the 2017 season. Of the everyday guys with value, the one I'd be shopping the hardest/put on the trade block is Lonnie Chisenhall. I want to see what we can get for him.

 

[AZ_]

Someone take Bourn, please....PLEASE.

 

[Steve_424]

Here's what I expect:

1) Aggressively pursue a top of the rotation pitcher under team control, offering any prospects not named Francisco Lindor

2) Sign a 2nd starting pitcher to a one year deal (Millwood/Kazmir type)

3) Sign a bat

 

[Chris]

That actually doesn't even look too bad, but we NEED Bauer and Salazar to get their shit together and realize at least some of their potential.

 

[shoes22]

Aggressively pursue a top of the rotation pitcher under team control, offering any prospects not named Francisco Lindor

What you're asking is impossible. If you take Lindor out of the equation, our prospects are ranked nowhere near high enough to facilitate that kind of trade. Think you can acquire a top of the rotation pitcher with multiple years left on his deal for Clint Frazier?

 

[AZ_]

What you're asking is impossible. If you take Lindor out of the equation, our prospects are ranked nowhere near high enough to facilitate that kind of trade. Think you can acquire a top of the rotation pitcher with multiple years left on his deal for Clint Frazier?

You're underselling the Indians farm system right now, IMO.

Finding a capable #2 is not at all out of the question with what the Indians currently have.

 

[PIP]

2nd tier pitcher and a bat is gonna push from a below .500 team to 86 wins...

How about having a young dominant ace or an electrifying outfielder ready down in the minors ?? Watching that little Diet Bret Boone at 2nd base is fun every night..

 

[Steve_424]

You're underselling the Indians farm system right now, IMO.

Finding a capable #2 is not at all out of the question with what the Indians currently have.

Agreed. Frazier, Naquin, Zimmer, Sheffield, Ramsey, and even Jose Ramirez would all interest many teams, and that's just a few names.

 

[Real Deal]

Are there any right handed Cubans coming over? I screamed for Cespedes and Abreu, I didn't know they would be this good, especially Abreu, he is Pujols of his prime slapping homers out there, but I just wanted the Tribe to take a chance. I sure love them on my fantasy team.

This team would be upgraded with the obvious RH stick and a good veteran arm and a lefty. I can't see Tomlin or Zach being penciled in already for next season.

Kluber
???
Bauer
(Some Lefty)
Salazar

 

[Steve_424]

It would really help the Indians if Swisher could still play RF. He played there July 27th, but it doesn't seem like a full-time option. If he was able to, it could set up a Swisher/Murphy platoon in RF and open DH up to add a bat like Martinez.