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The OF Conundrum

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I'm not going to sit here and say that A. Rosario can or can't be an OFer. I just don't know. What I do know is that there are several OFers to sort through for one of the corner spots and CF. Not a single one of them give us a warm fuzzy feeling of confidence. It's a wait and see scenario and hopefully a couple of them step up.

I partially agree with Gson in the sense that if A. Rosario will not win the SS job and the OF is adequately filled then trading him may be the best option if there is a team interested. What I don't agree with is trading him for another questionable OFer(Aquino). I'd prefer a lower level, high upside prospect that doesn't have to be rostered for awhile. Siani might be a good option if he doesn't have to be added to the 40 man.
 
A few thoughts...

1) The idea that defensive on the job training at the MLB level seldom works flies in the face of reality. Its not an anomaly anymore. Its more of a trend. Versatility has a value.

Just on the Indians, Blake has done it well. As has Chiz, and Victor, and Santana. Naylor and Bauers. JRam.

If they can hit, a place will be found for them to play. The question is more offense than glove.

The Cubs won a World Series by playing guys all over the field.

2) IMO most everyone is underestimating ARosa...offensively and defensively. He was horribly misused in NY and had to play in the worst offensive park in baseball.

If there is a best candidate for the 'change of scenery will be good' category, he is it.

I dont care where he plays, he should get regular at bats....500 for the year. He isn't Lindor at the plate, but he can be 2020 Lindor.
 
I'm not going to sit here and say that A. Rosario can or can't be an OFer. I just don't know. What I do know is that there are several OFers to sort through for one of the corner spots and CF. Not a single one of them give us a warm fuzzy feeling of confidence. It's a wait and see scenario and hopefully a couple of them step up.

I partially agree with Gson in the sense that if A. Rosario will not win the SS job and the OF is adequately filled then trading him may be the best option if there is a team interested. What I don't agree with is trading him for another questionable OFer(Aquino). I'd prefer a lower level, high upside prospect that doesn't have to be rostered for awhile. Siani might be a good option if he doesn't have to be added to the 40 man.
Siani doesn't have to be added to the 40 man roster until after the 2022 season.. two seasons... There was a posted trade suggestion of Logan Allen (LHSP) and Amed Rosario to the Reds for Siani and Mike Lorenzen that seemed to fit the Indians needs more fully.... Agree that Aquino is not a prime target....
 
I wouldn't trade ARosa unless Senzel was part of the return. (Obviously other names would be involved.)

And I definitely would not trade one of our young MLB SPs, unless the return was overwhelming. We don't have enough depth as it is.

By overwhelming, a return for ARosa and Allen would have to start with Senzel and somebody like Stephenson.

So, ARosa-Allen-Hedges-Zimmer for Senzel-Stephenson-an arm capable of starting in a pinch.

An obvious pipe dream, but if I'm gonna help the Reds by giving them a real MLB SS AND a young SP with pedigree, its gonna cost a ton.

They are getting two pieces they can plug in immediately, plus one of the best defensive catchers in the game.

We are getting one immediate plug in, plus our catcher of the future...and a depth rotation piece.
 
If Amed Rosario cannot play SS at the ML level.. and it appears that he doesn't.. then trade him to a place that needs at least a place holder for SS who will give the Indians an OF'er in return..

..like Cincinnati.. for Aquino and Siani..

Learning on the job in MLB works.. infrequently...
Agree - I still believe an Amed trade is a distinct possibility...if the return is there, of course.
 
Personally I really want Mercado to work out. I think he's a solid player, ala 2019. So, my response is based on that

CF: Mercado
RF: E Rosario
LF: Luplow/Naylor

With Naylor also getting work at 1st base.

I'm really ready to move on from Bauers and Zimmer. I was a huge Bauers fan when we got him for Yandy, but it seems like he's just stagnated. The idea that he got no play last year, with the opportunities that injuries provided, tells me that the Indians are close to feeling the same way.
 
Personally I really want Mercado to work out. I think he's a solid player, ala 2019. So, my response is based on that

CF: Mercado
RF: E Rosario
LF: Luplow/Naylor

With Naylor also getting work at 1st base.

I'm really ready to move on from Bauers and Zimmer. I was a huge Bauers fan when we got him for Yandy, but it seems like he's just stagnated. The idea that he got no play last year, with the opportunities that injuries provided, tells me that the Indians are close to feeling the same way.

IMO its past time to move on from Zimmer. Its about a month from moving on from Bauers, and about that long for Chang.

I've been following Tribe baseball since the 1950s.

I'm sure there has been, but I can't think of a Tribe player who scuffled around for three or four years that ever became a productive player.
 
IMO its past time to move on from Zimmer. Its about a month from moving on from Bauers, and about that long for Chang.

I've been following Tribe baseball since the 1950s.

I'm sure there has been, but I can't think of a Tribe player who scuffled around for three or four years that ever became a productive player.
Using players characteristics/traits:

Agree on Zimmer and Bauers.. offensively.. neither appear to be able to hit the baseball with any consistency, power, or control.. neither of them..

Disagree on Yu Chang... there is still enough there to warrant more watching/seeing/developing..

Agree on Bauers' defensively.. he does nothing "plus" with a glove on his hand.. poor jumps and routes to fly balls.. nothing special about his play around the bag at 1B.. coming in on a bunt is an adventure with Bauers

The jury is still out w/r to Zimmer's defense.. he has shown he can really play the OF well.. throws are incredibly good.. but, there was a bit of tentativeness in his last play.. something to consider and the reason not to move on from him defensively...

Scuffling defines all three guys..
 
The Cleveland home page has an article:
The better question is How can the Tribe's outfield not improve for 2021? There's really only one direction for it to go from last year right?
 
I dont understand what anybody sees in Chang, while at the same time dismissing Bauers.

MLB production...

Chang....97 PA...551 OPS
Bauers...811.......691

Obviously, Bauers has had a much longer look, but....

AAA production...

Chang....801...744
Bauers...900....780

They are virtually the same age, but Bauers played at a young age at both levels.

Another thing that I dont understand. For years we had a huge need for a RH bat in the outfield, but if the org thought that Chang could produce at the plate, why wasn't he given a look out there?

If Bauers and Naylor can move to the outfield, why couldn't Chang, who was a better fit out there as a RH bat.

And, with two, maybe three left handers vying for a roster spot at 1B, why hasn't Chang been mentioned? As a MIF who can also play 3B, he would almost automatically become the best defensively, while also giving Tito a balanced batting option.

I've mentioned this before...the writing has been on the wall for Chang for several years. The Tribe has not considered using him as a starter in a position of need, while for several years has brought in eighteen possible replacements for him.

Hernandez twice, Freeman three times, Miller, Arias, Velasquez, Stamets, Miller, Moroff, Flaherty, Donaldson, Rosales, Gonzalez, ARosa, Arroyo and Shaffer.

Now he also has Tyler Freeman and Clement breathing down his back.
 
I dont understand what anybody sees in Chang, while at the same time dismissing Bauers.

MLB production...

Chang....97 PA...551 OPS
Bauers...811.......691

Obviously, Bauers has had a much longer look, but....

AAA production...

Chang....801...744
Bauers...900....780

They are virtually the same age, but Bauers played at a young age at both levels.

Another thing that I dont understand. For years we had a huge need for a RH bat in the outfield, but if the org thought that Chang could produce at the plate, why wasn't he given a look out there?

If Bauers and Naylor can move to the outfield, why couldn't Chang, who was a better fit out there as a RH bat.

And, with two, maybe three left handers vying for a roster spot at 1B, why hasn't Chang been mentioned? As a MIF who can also play 3B, he would almost automatically become the best defensively, while also giving Tito a balanced batting option.

I've mentioned this before...the writing has been on the wall for Chang for several years. The Tribe has not considered using him as a starter in a position of need, while for several years has brought in eighteen possible replacements for him.

Hernandez twice, Freeman three times, Miller, Arias, Velasquez, Stamets, Miller, Moroff, Flaherty, Donaldson, Rosales, Gonzalez, ARosa, Arroyo and Shaffer.

Now he also has Tyler Freeman and Clement breathing down his back.
Who's clamoring for Chang and dismissing Bauers? Did I miss something?

Chang is an IF with versatility. He can play 2B, SS, and 3B to varying degrees. None of which are terrible. Any value that Chang has is due to his IF versatility and the power in his bat. None of Chang, Bauers, or Naylor even have displayed the ability to hit very well at the highest level. Chang's chances of sticking on this roster are slim due to the quality players ahead of him and behind him. Too bad we didn't have the same situation with 1B and RF.

Ernie Clement isn't breathing down anyone's back. He was a fallback option as a utility so the more well thought of prospects wouldn't be limited to a bench role. Now that Freeman resigned, Clement is steadily fading into oblivion.
 
I can understand the reasoning for the Tribe looking to do something with Amed Rosario (on their own roster) & I get MIKE Freeman & Ernie Clement as anchored to the bench backups (so better players/ prospects are playing) -but just keeping Yu Chang around without a plan for usage makes little to no sense.

So the Tribe & Reds can't reach a deal agreement on Amed Rosario... fine, move Chang instead for a couple lower minor lottery tickets..
 
I can understand the reasoning for the Tribe looking to do something with Amed Rosario (on their own roster) & I get MIKE Freeman & Ernie Clement as anchored to the bench backups (so better players/ prospects are playing) -but just keeping Yu Chang around without a plan for usage makes little to no sense.

So the Tribe & Reds can't reach a deal agreement on Amed Rosario... fine, move Chang instead for a couple lower minor lottery tickets..
Agree with all this..
 

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