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Your 2019 Cleveland Indians

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I seriously doubt they’re going to trade Lindor this winter. All for trading Bauer and get a couple young hitters back for him while clearing salary. If we get blown away by an offer for Hand I’m pulling the trigger as well.
 
I've written this up in a few different places, but I'm not giving up on the current window, which has two more seasons after this one.

We should find out just what we have waiting in the wings. Bring up Johnson and Bradley already, and see if they can plug corner OF and DH spots. Because if they can't, those are two areas you must address moving forward.

Trade from your areas of strength to improve the organization. Bauer only has one year left under team control after this season. He's the piece I try and move to a contender for a haul. If they prefer Kluber, I'm okay moving him as well. The following guys are all on the block, but I'm not expecting huge returns:
  • Kipnis
  • Martin
  • Oliver Perez
  • Clippard
  • Otero
Then, you really have to figure out the hardest question on the team (and the most important): What to do with Jose Ramirez. He's the most important piece to this puzzle. With him back in MVP form, hell, we have a shot this year. Without him ever rounding into form, you have to either sell low on him, or it might be time to start looking at the next window.
 
I've written this up in a few different places, but I'm not giving up on the current window, which has two more seasons after this one.

We should find out just what we have waiting in the wings. Bring up Johnson and Bradley already, and see if they can plug corner OF and DH spots. Because if they can't, those are two areas you must address moving forward.

Trade from your areas of strength to improve the organization. Bauer only has one year left under team control after this season. He's the piece I try and move to a contender for a haul. If they prefer Kluber, I'm okay moving him as well. The following guys are all on the block, but I'm not expecting huge returns:
  • Kipnis
  • Martin
  • Oliver Perez
  • Clippard
  • Otero
Then, you really have to figure out the hardest question on the team (and the most important): What to do with Jose Ramirez. He's the most important piece to this puzzle. With him back in MVP form, hell, we have a shot this year. Without him ever rounding into form, you have to either sell low on him, or it might be time to start looking at the next window.

My take: Kipnis - good luck. Unfortunately, just have to ride out this year with him. Nobody really beating down the door to take his position anyway. Martin - DFA and see if anyone bites. If not, just cut your losses. O. Perez - trade if you get a return you like (possible IMO), but if not just keep him, he's not hurting anything. Clippard/Otero - release when someone at AAA is ready. Jose - According to a national guy I heard yesterday he has an option left. If so, it's time to send him to Columbus to maybe get some confidence back. What's to lose?
 
I am not ready to give up on 2020 so I am against trading Brad Hand.
I’m not either. Contract is really good for a reliever for his caliber. I believe if we retool we can be back in the thick of things next year. But if someone was to offer an Andrew Miller package, you wouldn’t take it?
 
My take: Kipnis - good luck. Unfortunately, just have to ride out this year with him. Nobody really beating down the door to take his position anyway. Martin - DFA and see if anyone bites. If not, just cut your losses. O. Perez - trade if you get a return you like (possible IMO), but if not just keep him, he's not hurting anything. Clippard/Otero - release when someone at AAA is ready. Jose - According to a national guy I heard yesterday he has an option left. If so, it's time to send him to Columbus to maybe get some confidence back. What's to lose?

I did preface my list with not expecting much in return. Agreed on Kipnis--doubt anyone wants him. Martin probably doesn't have a place on this team--DFA works for me, and let Mercado play every day in CF. Agreed with the three relievers--you get anything, you move them.

With Jose, I'd almost take the Sano approach and drop him down to A ball. Let him relax, get comfortable against inferior competition, find his balance again.

I just wish we had a 3B and 2B in the wings ready to replace Jose for a stretch, and Kipnis next year.

I'd still try and buy on someone like Whit Merrifield.
 
I like both sides of the Hand approach, i wouldn't mind either or, i just don't want to regret something like Kluber for Verdugo again. Kid looks promising.
 
I’m not either. Contract is really good for a reliever for his caliber. I believe if we retool we can be back in the thick of things next year. But if someone was to offer an Andrew Miller package, you wouldn’t take it?

If someone is offering a haul for Bauer or Kluber, I take it. Heck, with Cookie, Clev, Bieber, Plesac, Jefry... with McKenzie looking to crack the rotation next year, I might be okay with trading away both of them if we get hauls for each of them.

Hand? I'd really rather not create a position of weakness, but if it's an Andrew Miller haul, with the centerpiece being an MLB-ready prospect at a position of need next year, I'm taking it.
 
If someone is offering a haul for Bauer or Kluber, I take it. Heck, with Cookie, Clev, Bieber, Plesac, Jefry... with McKenzie looking to crack the rotation next year, I might be okay with trading away both of them if we get hauls for each of them.

Hand? I'd really rather not create a position of weakness, but if it's an Andrew Miller haul, with the centerpiece being an MLB-ready prospect at a position of need next year, I'm taking it.

I think a lot of us feel Karinchak could take the closers role and we have a ton of talent for the bullpen between this season and next season, Karinchak, Sandlin, Nelson, Broom, then a lot of people have Hentges and Civale translating in the pros better as a bullpen arm than starter. Also Henry Martinez is another name to look at for next season since he did impress this off season as well. Don't forget Morgan as a SP prospect as well since he is from the Bieber style of fast rise just knows how to pitch mold.

Right now I don't personally think we will trade Kluber, but we could possibly afford to trade Bauer and still compete for the wild card especially if we get a solid batting prospect back for Bauer who can play now. I am kind of eyeing Urias from the Padres as the main person in the trade, but I know other people are looking elsewhere, but why not get a top 2B prospect when you don't have good INF prospects MLB ready and solid OF prospects?
 
I think a lot of us feel Karinchak could take the closers role and we have a ton of talent for the bullpen between this season and next season, Karinchak, Sandlin, Nelson, Broom, then a lot of people have Hentges and Civale translating in the pros better as a bullpen arm than starter. Also Henry Martinez is another name to look at for next season since he did impress this off season as well. Don't forget Morgan as a SP prospect as well since he is from the Bieber style of fast rise just knows how to pitch mold.

Right now I don't personally think we will trade Kluber, but we could possibly afford to trade Bauer and still compete for the wild card especially if we get a solid batting prospect back for Bauer who can play now. I am kind of eyeing Urias from the Padres as the main person in the trade, but I know other people are looking elsewhere, but why not get a top 2B prospect when you don't have good INF prospects MLB ready and solid OF prospects?
Would love Urias if they will move him.
 
I think a lot of us feel Karinchak could take the closers role and we have a ton of talent for the bullpen between this season and next season, Karinchak, Sandlin, Nelson, Broom, then a lot of people have Hentges and Civale translating in the pros better as a bullpen arm than starter. Also Henry Martinez is another name to look at for next season since he did impress this off season as well. Don't forget Morgan as a SP prospect as well since he is from the Bieber style of fast rise just knows how to pitch mold.

Right now I don't personally think we will trade Kluber, but we could possibly afford to trade Bauer and still compete for the wild card especially if we get a solid batting prospect back for Bauer who can play now. I am kind of eyeing Urias from the Padres as the main person in the trade, but I know other people are looking elsewhere, but why not get a top 2B prospect when you don't have good INF prospects MLB ready and solid OF prospects?

If you trade away Hand, you really don't have anyone who's ready to step in and fill that closer role in the majors. I'd love for the young guys like Karinchak to be able to come up and maybe start out as a 7th inning arm, be more comfortable in that role, and have a cold-as-ice guy like Hand next to them to learn from.

I guess if we assume that Bauer gets traded for one haul, it depends what other spots you feel you need to fill for this contention window. You might be able to get that 2B/3B you need, plus farm system boosting--and trading Hand would just be hurting your current chances more than helping your down the road chances.
 
If you trade away Hand, you really don't have anyone who's ready to step in and fill that closer role in the majors. I'd love for the young guys like Karinchak to be able to come up and maybe start out as a 7th inning arm, be more comfortable in that role, and have a cold-as-ice guy like Hand next to them to learn from.

I guess if we assume that Bauer gets traded for one haul, it depends what other spots you feel you need to fill for this contention window. You might be able to get that 2B/3B you need, plus farm system boosting--and trading Hand would just be hurting your current chances more than helping your down the road chances.

I feel we need to go for 2020 so I really do not want to trade hand personally so I agree with ya, but sometimes guys can come up and just go straight into the role, but I really don't want to chance it honestly. I feel we can afford to move Bauer for some young/controllable bats and whatnot and still have an effective roster, but we don't have anyone really even as a proven setup man right now, let alone closer. I think the bullpen potential from the minors group has a ton of talent, just if we want to win it all next season, we cannot just move hand.
 
I was against dealing Hand but the way he's pitching makes him extremely valuable. With NY getting EE and Boston and Minnesota sure to load up by the deadline our chances this year are virtually nil. Lots can go wrong with a pitcher between now and October 2020. I would see what kind of haul we can get for Hand and trade him if it's good enough. Between Hand and Bauer we might get three guys who can help us next season and three more to add to our lower level stockpile.
 

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