Masterson to the Cardinals

[Steve_424]

I really don't see the point of that. Either he struggles like he has been, or he does well and leaves again after that one year.

Right now the Indians have Corey Kluber and a bunch of question marks. Even if Bauer/Salazar show they can stick in the rotation, you need two more. I don't think they'll bank on McAllister, Tomlin, and House, so they're likely to acquire 1-2 SP's. I'm guessing one trade,one free agent. Lets examine the list via MLBTradeRumors:

Likely to Sign Multi-Year Deals Out of Indians' Price Range

Johnny Cueto (29) – $10MM club option with an $800K buyout
Jorge De La Rosa (34)
Yovani Gallardo (29) – $13MM club option with a $600K buyout
Hisashi Iwakuma (34) – $7MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Jon Lester (31)
Ervin Santana (32)
Max Scherzer (30)
James Shields (33)

That leaves the following:

Brett Anderson (27) – $12MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout
Josh Beckett (35)
Chad Billingsley (30) – $14MM club option with a $3MM buyout
Joe Blanton (34)
A.J. Burnett (38) – mutual option
Chris Capuano (36)
Bruce Chen (38) – $5.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Wei-Yin Chen (29) – $4.75MM club option with a $372K buyout
Kevin Correia (34)
Ryan Dempster (38)
Gavin Floyd (32)
Jason Hammel (32)
J.A. Happ (32) – $6.7MM club option
Aaron Harang (37)
Dan Haren (34) – $10MM player option if 180 innings reached in 2014
Roberto Hernandez (34)
Josh Johnson (31) – $4MM club option
Kyle Kendrick (30)
Hiroki Kuroda (40)
Colby Lewis (35)
Francisco Liriano (31)
Paul Maholm (33)
Justin Masterson (30)
Brandon McCarthy (31)
Brandon Morrow (30) – $10MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Felipe Paulino (31) – $4MM club option with a $250K buyout
Jake Peavy (34)
Wandy Rodriguez (36)
Joe Saunders (34)
Carlos Villanueva (31)
Ryan Vogelsong (37)
Edinson Volquez (30)
Jerome Williams (33)

It's a pretty underwhelming list. But, like I said, you are going to have to sign at least one of them if you plan on trying to win. Who has more recent upside than Masterson?

 

[elcheato]

There is zero upside with Masterson unless he can show he has regained his velocity before signing.

 

[Steve_424]

There is zero upside with Masterson unless he can show he has regained his velocity before signing.

I think that goes without saying...but there's huge potential upside. More than I can say for most of the others listed.

 

[Real Deal]

Right now the Indians have Corey Kluber and a bunch of question marks. Even if Bauer/Salazar show they can stick in the rotation, you need two more. I don't think they'll bank on McAllister, Tomlin, and House, so they're likely to acquire 1-2 SP's. I'm guessing one trade,one free agent. Lets examine the list via MLBTradeRumors:

Likely to Sign Multi-Year Deals Out of Indians' Price Range

Johnny Cueto (29) – $10MM club option with an $800K buyout
Jorge De La Rosa (34)
Yovani Gallardo (29) – $13MM club option with a $600K buyout
Hisashi Iwakuma (34) – $7MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Jon Lester (31)
Ervin Santana (32)
Max Scherzer (30)
James Shields (33)

That leaves the following:

Brett Anderson (27) – $12MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout
Josh Beckett (35)
Chad Billingsley (30) – $14MM club option with a $3MM buyout
Joe Blanton (34)
A.J. Burnett (38) – mutual option
Chris Capuano (36)
Bruce Chen (38) – $5.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Wei-Yin Chen (29) – $4.75MM club option with a $372K buyout
Kevin Correia (34)
Ryan Dempster (38)
Gavin Floyd (32)
Jason Hammel (32)
J.A. Happ (32) – $6.7MM club option
Aaron Harang (37)
Dan Haren (34) – $10MM player option if 180 innings reached in 2014
Roberto Hernandez (34)
Josh Johnson (31) – $4MM club option
Kyle Kendrick (30)
Hiroki Kuroda (40)
Colby Lewis (35)
Francisco Liriano (31)
Paul Maholm (33)
Justin Masterson (30)
Brandon McCarthy (31)
Brandon Morrow (30) – $10MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Felipe Paulino (31) – $4MM club option with a $250K buyout
Jake Peavy (34)
Wandy Rodriguez (36)
Joe Saunders (34)
Carlos Villanueva (31)
Ryan Vogelsong (37)
Edinson Volquez (30)
Jerome Williams (33)

It's a pretty underwhelming list. But, like I said, you are going to have to sign at least one of them if you plan on trying to win. Who has more recent upside than Masterson?

Those are some bad pitchers. We have to trade for a #2 starter, or may even a #1. I don't mind one of those guys as a back end to have maybe a bounce back season.

 

[Steve_424]

Those are some bad pitchers. We have to trade for a #2 starter, or may even a #1. I don't mind one of those guys as a back end to have maybe a bounce back season.

Agreed. Looking at the list is what made me think of Masterson. Trade for a #1 or (more likely) #2 type and maybe roll the dice on Maseerson for one year.