Offseason Rumors

[elcheato]

I want Puig because he is a talented young player with tremendous upside on a team friendly contract, not because he might boost attendance. There are risks involved obviously, because if there weren't he wouldn't be available.

 

[AZ_]

The addition of an individual player, short of Mike Trout or Cutch, won't increase long term attendance one iota.

Winning only puts marginally more butts in the seats for this franchise in recent history.

If you want to argue that said player assures the franchise of winning, thus driving attendance up...I guess that makes a bit of sense.

But simply adding a good (not great) player with a history of loafing and a lack of commitment isn't boosting their ticket sales.

 

[Steve_424]

The addition of an individual player, short of Mike Trout or Cutch, won't increase long term attendance one iota.

Winning only puts marginally more butts in the seats for this franchise in recent history.

If you want to argue that said player assures the franchise of winning, thus driving attendance up...I guess that makes a bit of sense.

But simply adding a good (not great) player with a history of loafing and a lack of commitment isn't boosting their ticket sales.

I'm sure some will laugh at this, but part of the "sell" on signing Swisher was increasing attendance.

How'd that work out?

 

[AZ_]

 

[AZ_]

Robinson goes to Columbus.

 

[MoFlo]

Extended story from Morosi:

Sources: Indians talking with MLB's heavy hitters for OF help

With glut of starting pitchers, new GM Chernoff talking with the likes of Yankees, Dodgers and Blue Jays, according to sources.

It appears new Indians GM Mike Chernoff's first point of order is replenishing his club's depleted outfield
Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports

By Jon Paul Morosi Nov 19, 2015 at 1:18a ET

Michael Brantley is the only player on the Cleveland Indians roster to start more than 60 games as a major-league outfielder in 2015. And he’s expected to miss the start of the regular season after right shoulder surgery.

The Indians would like to add at least two outfielders between now and Opening Day, so it’s not surprising that they’ve been active in trade talks with multiple teams.

The New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays are among the teams to discuss trade possibilities with the Indians this offseason, according to major-league sources. The general framework of those deals would involve Cleveland trading from its estimable rotation depth to acquire an everyday outfielder.


The Indians are the rare team holding six bona fide starters this early in the offseason: Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, Cody Anderson, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin. New general manager Mike Chernoff can use one as currency on the trade market.

While the precise proposals remain unknown, the following possibilities could be in play:

● The Yankees can move Brett Gardner, now that they’ve obtained Aaron Hicks from Minnesota. Gardner, an All-Star this year, has the versatility to play left or center field. But he’s guaranteed $39.5 million through 2018 — an unwieldy sum for the low-budget Indians, unless the Yankees include cash in the exchange.

● The Dodgers’ outfield logjam persists, with high earners Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier and Yasiel Puig available to varying degrees. Ethier is coming off a productive season in a regular (although not everyday) role, while injury-plagued years for Crawford and Puig diminished their trade value. Scott Van Slyke’s right-handed bat could fit Cleveland’s roster, depending on Chernoff’s other moves.

● The Blue Jays face an intriguing decision in center field: Do they believe enough in Dalton Pompey’s future to trade Kevin Pillar — a Gold Glove-caliber defender — following his career year? Or, conversely, are they committed enough to Pillar that they can part with Pompey, who turns only 23 next month and was their Opening Day center fielder this year? (For now, at least, a trade involving one of Toronto’s corner outfielders -- Ben Revere or Jose Bautista — seems unlikely.)

A trade between Cleveland and Toronto would be fascinating, given the political intrigue surrounding Mark Shapiro’s departure from the Indians to become president and CEO of the Blue Jays.

But if both sides see value in a trade, undoubtedly they’ll look beyond the public-relations complexities. The Blue Jays must plan their rotation as if David Price isn’t coming back, and the Indians need to start work on their most glaring need.

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/...-los-angeles-dodgers-toronto-blue-jays-111815

 

[MoFlo]

Also, very glad to see this:

View: https://twitter.com/SportsNom/status/667403252779130881

 

[Nom]

Also, very glad to see this:

View: https://twitter.com/SportsNom/status/667403252779130881

Wow whoever Important TV Star is - that dude is handsome as fuck.

 

[B Mac]

The addition of an individual player, short of Mike Trout or Cutch, won't increase long term attendance one iota.

Winning only puts marginally more butts in the seats for this franchise in recent history.

If you want to argue that said player assures the franchise of winning, thus driving attendance up...I guess that makes a bit of sense.

But simply adding a good (not great) player with a history of loafing and a lack of commitment isn't boosting their ticket sales.

Thanks for the response.

I admittedly am not as in touch with baseball as I have been in years past but I remember Puig being all over highlight shows every night. While I was really trying to offer a sarcastic response to make fun of those giant shipping containers again I kind of realized that Puig was a big name not so long ago and the casual fan, like it or not, is going to be more impressed initially by getting him then someone with a lesser name.

I wouldn't expect him to give that substantial of a boost in attendance, especially not compared to actually winning, but do believe he would actually give it some.

From an actual ability side, sign me up as someone who is intrigued by his talent. Get him out of crazy LA and hope that the limited distractions do a JR Smith to the guy.

 

[Stark]

Shane Robinson pitched against the Indians this year in that one game where we beat the Twins 17-4.

 

[MoFlo]

I think Bauer is most likely the one to go. He's a step below Carrasco/Salazar as far as what he's proven, yet a step up talent wise from an Anderson/Tomlin to where we can still get a good return without including other pieces.

Olney also said this in his FB chat:

They'd love to sign Juan Uribe, and are interested in Justin Morneau. Clearly, they need at least one outfielder, b/c of Brantley's situation. No matter what they do, they won't take on much money at all.

 

[AZ_]

Man, Uribe is just so done for me.

That would be a questionable move.

 

[CBBI]

Brett Gardner, Greg Bird, $20M dollars for Danny Salazar, Chris Johnson?

Who says no?

 

[AZ_]

Brett Gardner, Greg Bird, $20M dollars for Danny Salazar, Chris Johnson?

Who says no?

Yankees. I think they only agree to that if they're not sending $20M in addition to taking on Chris Johnson's deal.

 

[macbdog]

Brett Gardner, Greg Bird, $20M dollars for Danny Salazar, Chris Johnson?

Who says no?

Brett Gardner got 4 years left on that deal, even if the Tanks throw in cash that is a long deal to swallow. Would almost rather take Bird and a couple pitching prospects off the Yanks for Salazar and just use Johnson against lefties.