2016-2017 Indians Off-Season Thread

[DJTJ]

Is there a reason Santander hasn't moved passed a-ball while being 22?

 

[sportscoach]

Is there a reason Santander hasn't moved passed a-ball while being 22?

Last season was actually the first full season he played in the minors. The other seasons he never got past 72 games in a season before. So it really was the fact he was always hurt that stopped him from moving on up. I am guessing the plan for next season was A+ then if he kept hitting move him up to AA next season. The Indians were taking it slow with him essentially since he hasn't been healthy

 

[BimboColesHair]

I am not overly fond of Almonte and if we bring back Rajai Davis (which i think we should do) he may end up being the odd man out, it would be him or Naquin who would be. Diaz to be should be on the big league club since I feel his bat is major league ready, but I guess I am one of the few who feel that way, lol

Jeff Johnson has been really good in the minors the last few seasons, and I think he will get a shot to get the last spot in the bullpen since Manship was released. Josh Martin is another guy who will be competing for a spot as well. The guy who went in the Rule 5 draft for the Indians I don't think anyone would have expected to be so you never know what the teams are thinking.

I am sure Gimenez was offered a minor league deal by the Indians so you never know if he doesn't sign elsewhere he could be back with us. I am wondering if they kept him so long since they were trying to make a deal for a player. I am still not ruling out a trade for a starting 1st/CF if we don't find anyone in free agency. I am not sold on Naquin

No...a lot of people think Diaz should be on roster...a lot of us in here felt he should have been on roster early in the summer last season. Just, not being on the roster isn't not being on the 40 man. Not being on the 40 man is a weird complaint, not being on the 25 man though isn't.

Outside of the PED suspension, Almonte has done nothing in his time with us to suggest he isn't a useful rotation OFer. .263/.315/.430 slash in his time here is more than adequate for someone who figures to play the 5th OF role right now and can also play defense in all 3 spots out there.

And we absolutely shouldn't bring Davis back, not for the role he is going to be playing if we bring him back. Rather find someone who isn't going to post sub a .300 OBP against LHP as a platoon man vs LHP.

Johnson and Martin are no more than AAAA pitchers to me right now, in the mold of Austin Adams. I don't think Jeff Johnson is on this roster, and I don't think he is even in consideration right now, or else he'd be on the 40 man.

The gripes on Diaz being on the MLB roster make sense. The ones to see Almonte go or to see Jeff Johnson or Josh Martin on the MLB roster to start the year don't though.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Is there a reason Santander hasn't moved passed a-ball while being 22?

Also, in addition to what sportscoach mentioned about his injury history, he also wasn't this good until the last 1.5 seasons. It all coincided with him changing his batting stance.

 

[sportscoach]

No...a lot of people think Diaz should be on roster...a lot of us in here felt he should have been on roster early in the summer last season. Just, not being on the roster isn't not being on the 40 man. Not being on the 40 man is a weird complaint, not being on the 25 man though isn't.

Outside of the PED suspension, Almonte has done nothing in his time with us to suggest he isn't a useful rotation OFer. .263/.315/.430 slash in his time here is more than adequate for someone who figures to play the 5th OF role right now and can also play defense in all 3 spots out there.

And we absolutely shouldn't bring Davis back, not for the role he is going to be playing if we bring him back. Rather find someone who isn't going to post sub a .300 OBP against LHP as a platoon man vs LHP.

Johnson and Martin are no more than AAAA pitchers to me right now, in the mold of Austin Adams. I don't think Jeff Johnson is on this roster, and I don't think he is even in consideration right now, or else he'd be on the 40 man.

The gripes on Diaz being on the MLB roster make sense. The ones to see Almonte go or to see Jeff Johnson or Josh Martin on the MLB roster to start the year don't though.

Almonte has earned the right to be on this club, but I think a guy like Davis is needed since he can steal bases and was well liked in the clubhouse. Almonte still really needs to impress and stay clean for next season. We still need veterans like Davis on the ball club at the end of the day. Davis stole 40 something bags and he really didnt play very many games later in the year, so he could have stolen more. I think he is a different type of threat who was clutch for us when we needed him to be in the playoffs.

I am sure most of our upper minor leaguers will get an invite to spring training to make the ball club. Johnson and Martin will get a fair amount of innings in the spring. I just feel with Diaz we are keeping him in the minors for more years of control which to a small market team makes sense, but at the same time the best players should be on the roster.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Almonte has earned the right to be on this club, but I think a guy like Davis is needed since he can steal bases and was well liked in the clubhouse. Almonte still really needs to impress and stay clean for next season. We still need veterans like Davis on the ball club at the end of the day. Davis stole 40 something bags and he really didnt play very many games later in the year, so he could have stolen more. I think he is a different type of threat who was clutch for us when we needed him to be in the playoffs.

I am sure most of our upper minor leaguers will get an invite to spring training to make the ball club. Johnson and Martin will get a fair amount of innings in the spring. I just feel with Diaz we are keeping him in the minors for more years of control which to a small market team makes sense, but at the same time the best players should be on the roster.

Almonte has 14 SBs in his ~100 games with the Indians to this point. Not like he can't steal a base...

And steals are nice if you get on base...in the role Davis would play with Brantley back, his SB numbers would drastically decline IMO, without even accounting for him aging another year.

I'm all for finding a vet OFer to pair with Naquin in CF to hit LHP or play any of the other OF spots to protect against injury, I just don't want it to be Rajai. Hit one of the biggest HRs in Indians history and exceeded the value of what we signed him for, but he won't be worth it this next go around IMO.

And no...money and clock has nothing to do with the Diaz decision...had everything to do with preferring a UTIL on roster who could play SS and spell Lindor after Martinez was first DFA'd and claimed by the Red Sox. I'm going to say it again, don't be one of those "Dolanz r cheep" posters.

 

[sportscoach]

Almonte has 14 SBs in his ~100 games with the Indians to this point. Not like he can't steal a base...

And steals are nice if you get on base...in the role Davis would play with Brantley back, his SB numbers would drastically decline IMO, without even accounting for him aging another year.

I'm all for finding a vet OFer to pair with Naquin in CF to hit LHP or play any of the other OF spots to protect against injury, I just don't want it to be Rajai. Hit one of the biggest HRs in Indians history and exceeded the value of what we signed him for, but he won't be worth it this next go around IMO.

And no...money and clock has nothing to do with the Diaz decision...had everything to do with preferring a UTIL on roster who could play SS and spell Lindor after Martinez was first DFA'd and claimed by the Red Sox. I'm going to say it again, don't be one of those "Dolanz r cheep" posters.

I will give the Dolans some credit for the last few seasons especially once they took on Miller's contract There has been times when we needed to make a move and we didn't over the years, but at the least the team has been better the last few years. I am sure we are going to try and extend guys like Lindor and Salazar. to fit into what we have been doing with the team. I don't think we need to keep Chisenhall long term since we have Zimmer. Allen and maybe even Diaz that can play out there. I personally feel you find a spot for a guy like Diaz cause of his bat. I If Brantley's shoulder isnt 100% I wouldn't be afraid to have him at first and have Diaz out in LF. We shall see in due time especially since we should/better get another bat signed. With Boston getting Sale, we cannot win with our current lineup if that rotation stays healthy. It also always feels like to me teams have to have certain characters in the club house to make a deep run, so I am hoping if we don't bring back Napoli/Davis, we still have guys who can be those characters.

 

[BimboColesHair]

I will give the Dolans some credit for the last few seasons especially once they took on Miller's contract There has been times when we needed to make a move and we didn't over the years, but at the least the team has been better the last few years. I am sure we are going to try and extend guys like Lindor and Salazar. to fit into what we have been doing with the team. I don't think we need to keep Chisenhall long term since we have Zimmer. Allen and maybe even Diaz that can play out there. I personally feel you find a spot for a guy like Diaz cause of his bat. I If Brantley's shoulder isnt 100% I wouldn't be afraid to have him at first and have Diaz out in LF. We shall see in due time especially since we should/better get another bat signed. With Boston getting Sale, we cannot win with our current lineup if that rotation stays healthy. It also always feels like to me teams have to have certain characters in the club house to make a deep run, so I am hoping if we don't bring back Napoli/Davis, we still have guys who can be those characters.

The "characters" who run the Indians clubhouse are Kip, Brantley, Lonnie, and Kluber...has been that way for 3 years now.

All they need to do is find people who will fit in with those types, which is pretty much anyone.

And I'm not paying what Napoli or Rajai are going to want for "clubhouse character"...if they aren't going to produce, they aren't worth it.

 

[Derek]

I will give the Dolans some credit for the last few seasons especially once they took on Miller's contract There has been times when we needed to make a move and we didn't over the years, but at the least the team has been better the last few years. I am sure we are going to try and extend guys like Lindor and Salazar. to fit into what we have been doing with the team. I don't think we need to keep Chisenhall long term since we have Zimmer. Allen and maybe even Diaz that can play out there. I personally feel you find a spot for a guy like Diaz cause of his bat. I If Brantley's shoulder isnt 100% I wouldn't be afraid to have him at first and have Diaz out in LF. We shall see in due time especially since we should/better get another bat signed. With Boston getting Sale, we cannot win with our current lineup if that rotation stays healthy. It also always feels like to me teams have to have certain characters in the club house to make a deep run, so I am hoping if we don't bring back Napoli/Davis, we still have guys who can be those characters.

What a silly thing to say. We shut down their lineup without Carrasco or Salazar, and they lost Ortiz. We have done well historically against Sale, Price's struggles are well known, and is anybody actually scared of Porcello?

I fail to think of any times where the current FO has failed to spend when needed. They oversaw a rebuilding effort following an era lost to injuries (Hafner/Sizemore), and have continuously given above market extensions to our young players.

Our team leaders will be the same ones that have been leading this team since 2013. Napoli was a nice veteran presence, who taught the young guys a lot, but he wasn't really the leader, and Davis was just a guy.

 

[sportscoach]

The "characters" who run the Indians clubhouse are Kip, Brantley, Lonnie, and Kluber...has been that way for 3 years now.

All they need to do is find people who will fit in with those types, which is pretty much anyone.

And I'm not paying what Napoli or Rajai are going to want for "clubhouse character"...if they aren't going to produce, they aren't worth it.

Hence why Uribe got cut, since even though he was well like he wasn't producing. I feel we have to get another veteran bat that is a RH power bat like a Napoli to put in our lineup. We should have Brantley back, but we are lacking power from that right side and I do hope that is addressed. Trumbo, Napoli. Encarncion, Baustia all fit the bill. Now Napoli is the best character of the group and would be a good fit back, but Encarncion if we can get him at the right price may be the better player on paper. Part of me says lets blow the budget and go for him and if i was the owner I just may do something like that, but we dont control the cash nor the decisions.

 

[sportscoach]

What a silly thing to say. We shut down their lineup without Carrasco or Salazar, and they lost Ortiz. We have done well historically against Sale, Price's struggles are well known, and is anybody actually scared of Porcello?

I fail to think of any times where the current FO has failed to spend when needed. They oversaw a rebuilding effort following an era lost to injuries (Hafner/Sizemore), and have continuously given above market extensions to our young players.

Our team leaders will be the same ones that have been leading this team since 2013. Napoli was a nice veteran presence, who taught the young guys a lot, but he wasn't really the leader, and Davis was just a guy.

I think Boston will be a better ball club next season, that is just my hunch though. I think them going out and getting Sale will actually will help their offense as well since they will have less pressure on them now and their young guys will be an year older. Now neither Porcello and Price have never been great in the playoffs so I can see what ya mean but I still dont trust a very heavy left handed batting roster. I feel we need a RH bat in there that opposing teams fear a bit. We are almost all switch or LH, our rightes are our catchers/bench players. We have enough in the cap space the FO has set to go out and get someone whether it be through free agency or trade. You put Encarnacion behind Lindor and infront of Brantley, that lineup has become one of the best in baseball.

The FO has been good since we switch to the younger Dolan when it comes to spending on players. We have also drafted a whole lot better in the last few years than we did the previous decade. There was a period though we really didn't do a very good job of keeping/signing the extensions. Right now I would give the extensions and move that last few seasons a high grade. I think another veteran would be nice for this roster. Now I am going with what I feel we need to do and my hunches, which arent all that often wrong.

 

[CBBI]

I think Boston will be a better ball club next season, that is just my hunch though. I think them going out and getting Sale will actually will help their offense as well since they will have less pressure on them now and their young guys will be an year older.

Boston's overall pitching is obviously going to be a lot better, but losing Ortiz and basically (thus far) replacing him with Mitch Moreland is a tremendous downgrade in the middle of that lineup.

Having Benintendi for the whole season will be helpful for them, but I think Bradley Jr. will almost certainly regress so that could possibly be a wash.

It sure sounds like they're putting a lot of faith in Sandoval, which seems crazy to me.

 

[Derek]

I think Boston will be a better ball club next season, that is just my hunch though. I think them going out and getting Sale will actually will help their offense as well since they will have less pressure on them now and their young guys will be an year older. Now neither Porcello and Price have never been great in the playoffs so I can see what ya mean but I still dont trust a very heavy left handed batting roster. I feel we need a RH bat in there that opposing teams fear a bit. We are almost all switch or LH, our rightes are our catchers/bench players. We have enough in the cap space the FO has set to go out and get someone whether it be through free agency or trade. You put Encarnacion behind Lindor and infront of Brantley, that lineup has become one of the best in baseball.

The FO has been good since we switch to the younger Dolan when it comes to spending on players. We have also drafted a whole lot better in the last few years than we did the previous decade. There was a period though we really didn't do a very good job of keeping/signing the extensions. Right now I would give the extensions and move that last few seasons a high grade. I think another veteran would be nice for this roster. Now I am going with what I feel we need to do and my hunches, which arent all that often wrong.

Their offense won't be better than last year, I guarantee it. Also, I don't see our lineup as LH heavy at all. Having switch hitters is a good thing, and we killed lefties last year.

With our current roster, against lefties you have Jose, Lindor, Santana, Guyer, Almonte, and Gomes batting from the right side of the plate. That doesn't even include whoever replaces Napoli on the roster. In all likelihood, we'll be throwing out 7 RH bats against left handed pitching.

Whatever time you're referring to of them not keeping guys around/signing extensions was a long time ago.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Their offense won't be better than last year, I guarantee it. Also, I don't see our lineup as LH heavy at all. Having switch hitters is a good thing, and we killed lefties last year.

With our current roster, against lefties you have Jose, Lindor, Santana, Guyer, Almonte, and Gomes batting from the right side of the plate. That doesn't even include whoever replaces Napoli on the roster. In all likelihood, we'll be throwing out 7 RH bats against left handed pitching.

Whatever time you're referring to of them not keeping guys around/signing extensions was a long time ago.

Which is crazy because, and I want to keep reiterating this, we did that with a leadoff hitter who had a .296 OBP against LHP.

 

[sportscoach]

Boston's overall pitching is obviously going to be a lot better, but losing Ortiz and basically (thus far) replacing him with Mitch Moreland is a tremendous downgrade in the middle of that lineup.

Having Benintendi for the whole season will be helpful for them, but I think Bradley Jr. will almost certainly regress so that could possibly be a wash.

It sure sounds like they're putting a lot of faith in Sandoval, which seems crazy to me.

Their offense won't be better than last year, I guarantee it. Also, I don't see our lineup as LH heavy at all. Having switch hitters is a good thing, and we killed lefties last year.

With our current roster, against lefties you have Jose, Lindor, Santana, Guyer, Almonte, and Gomes batting from the right side of the plate. That doesn't even include whoever replaces Napoli on the roster. In all likelihood, we'll be throwing out 7 RH bats against left handed pitching.

Whatever time you're referring to of them not keeping guys around/signing extensions was a long time ago.

It depends on what shape Panda is in when he comes to spring training. If he comes in with some weight down and everything like that he could be back to being a solid hitter like he was in the past. I always felt he was overrrated when he was with San Fran, but if you can get Hanley to be the former Hanley and Panda to be San Fran Panda, the lineup maybe solid. On both teams right now are about equal, with Vegas siding with Boston.

Also Boston will make another move and its likely for a veteran Catcher either through free agency or via trade. I am thinking their offense may not fall off far from last year but their pitching will be overall better than last year to make up for it. Now that is how I feel about them.

I dont like not having a good RH bat only bat in the middle of the lineup. I dont think we have to have the 30+ HR guy if we had the .290 hitter there, I just feel like we need something there. I guess that is the way i like to personally construct a lineup. We all have our opinions about that. I know people who say you can never have too many bats, and personally i feel we need to have someone else in that lineup.

To me it wasn't more of the extensions that I had an issue with it was more of the in-season making moves. Like the second year we had Acta, we were close to the wild card/playoff at the trade deadline and we don't trade for any player. It felt like when Acta was our coach we didn't go out and get players for him when we should have. Now what is nice right now Francona is friends with the current FO so they feel like they are on the same page so everything has been a lot better lately. So lately has been good, but that 2012 season it felt like they didn't do enough for Acta.

ps. If you haven't figure I havent had people to talk about the team with so don't mind me. I am just talking and stating my opinions to go forward with lol