2022 American League Central Division Champions

I definitely like the idea of Ruf. There's some other options like Yuli Gurriel or Wil Myers who you might be able to pick up in the bargain bin as free agents. Not sure how much is left in the tank in any of those but I'd at least have a little faith that they could fill in where Miller left off.

I think the success of the Guardians makes them more appealing for players to take the 1 year cheap "pillow contract", working with the good instruction and hoping they can add back to their value. It's not going to be a buyers market for these kind of guys with what they're doing to the shift.

Tondo said:

Bring home Carlos Santana and Cookie, perfect veteran fits and might offset whatever grudge Jose will hold after moving on from Amed.

Basically a rotation of Gonzalez, Naylor, Brennan and Santana at 1B, DH, RF with Brennan getting spot starts in CF. Plenty of ABs to go around.

Arias/Freeman battle for Rosario's spot, loser still gets Miller role, so plenty of opportunities for both.

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Are you talking about the Santana who will be 37 at the start of next season, and has a batting average of about .200 the last 3 seasons? His power numbers are declining as well, it would be a lateral move.

Kiddo said:

Are you talking about the Santana who will be 37 at the start of next season, and has a batting average of about .200 the last 3 seasons? His power numbers are declining as well, it would be a lateral move.

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Santana also tends to be even worse the first couple of months. By the time he might finally start to hit, he would probably be released.

If we are going a veteran, one the veteran needs to be switching hitting or right handed, with power and can play multiple positions... Santana doesn't fit the bill... Drury would make way more sense there...

Kiddo said:

Are you talking about the Santana who will be 37 at the start of next season, and has a batting average of about .200 the last 3 seasons? His power numbers are declining as well, it would be a lateral move.

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I think the thought process is that we could use a platoon partner for Naylor at 1B that plays vs LHP

And while Santana has declined over the past 3 seasons, he has continued to hit LHP well

vs. LHP
.271 / .352 / .399

vs. RHP
.181 / .312 / .337

Kiddo said:

Are you talking about the Santana who will be 37 at the start of next season, and has a batting average of about .200 the last 3 seasons? His power numbers are declining as well, it would be a lateral move.

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In his defense, he is talking about Santana strictly to platoon with Naylor against LHP.

And even in a down year, he is slashing .265/.387/.402 vs LHP. That .789 OPS vs LHP would be a large improvement over Owen Miller's .619 OPS vs LHP. Shit, that .789 OPS vs LHP would be the 3rd best on this team behind Gimenez and Rosario. Far from a "lateral move" in that regard.

But I don't think they'd go that route, so this conversation doesn't really matter.

sportscoach said:

If we are going a veteran, one the veteran needs to be switching hitting or right handed, with power and can play multiple positions... Santana doesn't fit the bill... Drury would make way more sense there...

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And a friendly reminder they had a trade lined up to acquire Drury.

He makes a lot of sense, should they move Amed.

SMH still trying to trade Amed

rcristal

sportscoach said:

If we are going a veteran, one the veteran needs to be switching hitting or right handed, with power and can play multiple positions... Santana doesn't fit the bill... Drury would make way more sense there...

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The issue with Drury is it will be all about timing in 2 perspectives. After one great year (2.6 WAR this year vs -0.6 WAR before now), he is going to want that multi-year contract to cash in (on his basically league minimum $700,00 this year career), which we are not probably willing to do quite yet with Noel about a year+ out (blocking the youth). Then there is the timing of other moves of Rosario in particular. As Bimbo says, if we cannot or will not trade Rosario, there is not much of a need for another right handed bat with Rosario/Arias being SS/utility guy to sub with Naylor. Yet,I think Drury will take the first WOW contract he can get before the music stops (needs that $$$ for retirement before finding best position for himself).

If we do anything it is the dumpster dive in March with who ever is left in free agency Myers (going from $22 million to $2-4 million as a platoon player), Mancini (negative 1 war since trade) or Luplow (.1 WAR this year) -- maybe Santana one more time (better than Shaw one more time).

You can also look to trade. Yet, Walker will cost more (in prospects) than you think after one great year and for that cost it will need to be more than a platoon with Valera needing time by year-end with Oscar in RF/DH. Just looking this morning, maybe see what Oakland needs for a prospect trade for Jordan Diaz. Maybe it is as easy as trading a Jones to balance their bats from righties to lefties (and our prospect bats) or a middle of infield prospect between Allen and Muncy like Tena or a pitcher like Allen. It is not going to be a 3-1 type trade due to their crunch too but they have a lot of catchers and corner type players in Soderstorm and Gelof where Jones provides flexibility and redundancy able to move around to OF as well.

BimboColesHair said:

And a friendly reminder they had a trade lined up to acquire Drury.

He makes a lot of sense, should they move Amed.

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Bimbo, has there been a dramatic shift in probabilities that Amed stays?

It seemed like a forgone conclusion, but now… a true toss up?

A RHB platoon 1B should be available for about two nickels and a dime.
Gotta be a caveman out there somewhere.

DJTJ said:

Bimbo, has there been a dramatic shift in probabilities that Amed stays?

It seemed like a forgone conclusion, but now… a true toss up?

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I'd still lean towards him being moved sooner rather than later.

Regardless, they need to make a decision on him soon. Obviously reason 1A is because he is a soon-to-be free agent, but 1B is the effect him being on the roster or off the roster will have on building the roster for 2023. He dictates the entire offseason.

Out of the Rafters at the Q said:

Owen Miller sucks.

His ceiling is utility guy... and if you're bad defensively, you're a bad utility guy.

I'm aware I'm being overly harsh.

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You sure are being overly harsh because Miller certainly does not suck. He's not a bad 2B either so stating that he is bad defensively at a position that he didn't play prior to this season is a bit of a reach.

His power did evaporate, but it seems to be returning. I'd like to see him add 10-15lbs of muscle this offseason. Problem is, where does he fit on this team?

CDAV45 said:

You sure are being overly harsh because Miller certainly does not suck. He's not a bad 2B either so stating that he is bad defensively at a position that he didn't play prior to this season is a bit of a reach.

His power did evaporate, but it seems to be returning. I'd like to see him add 10-15lbs of muscle this offseason. Problem is, where does he fit on this team?

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I think it's safe to say an OPS+ of 77 sucks.

If you think he can still pan out, I don't think you're crazy. I'm just not betting on it. After giving him nearly 700 plate appearances over two years, I think it's more advantageous to give his plate appearances to younger guys with more potential instead of waiting for Owen Miller to maybe turn into something he currently is not.

If he turns into an okay contact guy who can hit some doubles while playing average defense at 2B, that's fine--good for him. It's just not something I care to waste development opportunities on. That guy still doesn't earn a starting role on this team.

There is a plethora of middle infielders who are better with the glove and the bat. There are a ton of guys I'd rather see at 1B, the OF or DH. I just don't see where Owen fits on this roster moving forward.

I'd honestly rather have Ernie Clement and his really good defense as our last man on the roster utility guy.

Out of the Rafters at the Q said:

I think it's safe to say an OPS+ of 77 sucks.

If you think he can still pan out, I don't think you're crazy. I'm just not betting on it. After giving him nearly 700 plate appearances over two years, I think it's more advantageous to give his plate appearances to younger guys with more potential instead of waiting for Owen Miller to maybe turn into something he currently is not.

If he turns into an okay contact guy who can hit some doubles while playing average defense at 2B, that's fine--good for him. It's just not something I care to waste development opportunities on. That guy still doesn't earn a starting role on this team.

There is a plethora of middle infielders who are better with the glove and the bat. There are a ton of guys I'd rather see at 1B, the OF or DH. I just don't see where Owen fits on this roster moving forward.

I'd honestly rather have Ernie Clement and his really good defense as our last man on the roster utility guy.

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There is not a "plethora of middle infielders who are better with the bat". Owen is 25 and has been in the lineup inconsistently while playing a position that he shouldn't be because there was nobody else. There's been marked improvement in his 1B defense and judging him on the entire body of it is kind of a cheap shot really. He's a career minor league hitter of 305/368/450/818 and that wasn't that long ago. That being said, his future in Cleveland is uncertain to say the least. I don't know what happened to his power. He displayed it early and has always had more than someone like Freeman, but until recently it disappeared.