2020-21 Offseason Discussion

[macbdog]

He should tell his boss how he can sell the team and become a billionaire.

Did they ever find someone to buy John Sherman's stake or did the Dolan's have to find the cast to buy his stake?

 

[xmasbuck]

Did they ever find someone to buy John Sherman's stake or did the Dolan's have to find the cast to buy his stake?

theyre being held in a trust - iirc it's for sherman to move them - tho i would suspect the buyer (if there ever is one) would be a candidate to become a minority owner (w/an option to to buy the indians at some point?)

 

[Andrew Scheid]

Daniel Johnson is not a CF, and won't be a CF at the ML level, so I don't have a clue what Delino DeShields has to do with Daniel Johnson not playing. They don't play the same position.

Nolan Jones has 49 games and 211 PA's in the upper minors and the Indians have an MVP candidate at his position-- Jones has ZERO professional experience playing any other position.

Mike Freeman played 26 innings at 3B this season. You really think we're going to know what Nolan Jones can do against MLB pitching in 26 innings? 26 innings vs. consistent playing time in Lake County. Hmmm tough call....

I get being frustrated with this team but let's at least be fair and accurate in our gripes.

Delino had a -1.4 UZR playing CF, while also providing a negative offensive fWAR.
Could Johnson have been any worse defensively in CF and at the plate than Delino?

I just don't get the logic in playing a low-ceiling veteran over a younger player with a much better offensive profile.

 

[sportscoach]

Delino had a -1.4 UZR playing CF, while also providing a negative offensive fWAR.
Could Johnson have been any worse defensively in CF and at the plate than Delino?

I just don't get the logic in playing a low-ceiling veteran over a younger player with a much better offensive profile.

DeShields career wise has always had a positive rating, so his defense this season actually was an outlier when it comes to his career numbers.

 

[Criznit]

Delino had a -1.4 UZR playing CF, while also providing a negative offensive fWAR.
Could Johnson have been any worse defensively in CF and at the plate than Delino?

I just don't get the logic in playing a low-ceiling veteran over a younger player with a much better offensive profile.

We have been rather hard on DeShields... He certainly wasn't a problem this year, though he had almost NO pop in 2020. Johnson flailed in a short trial this year and obviously didn't show enough in Eastlake to reemerge even though we had a horrific OF accross all positions.

Hot take - we will have 1 if not 2 brand new regulars in the outfield in 2021.

 

[daddywags]

Did they really want to start Johnson's arby clock on the off chance he "might" be marginally better than Deshields' .250ish BA this short season?

 

[Huber.]

Did they really want to start Johnson's arby clock on the off chance he "might" be marginally better than Deshields' .250ish BA this short season?

Is Johnson worth worrying about starting his arbitration clock too soon?

 

[daddywags]

Is Johnson worth worrying about starting his arbitration clock too soon?

Not sure. A full season in Columbus could help answer that.

 

[Kevalier]

Daniel Johnson is 25 years old, so there should be absolutely no regard given to service time at this point. He needs to be in the outfield rotation next season, which is why I would have expect Naquin to be non-tendered. In addition to DeShields to be non-tendered which enables Mercado and Zimmer to split the CF duties next season.

 

[Criznit]

Bobby Bradley could have put up better number than Carlos this season IMO.

Johnson should make the opening day roster in 2021 - or close to it depending on our acquisitions.

Next years centerfielder will likely be a new guy, with Mercado acting as a 4th. If not, a platoon/competition between Zimmer/Mercado may make some of us wish for DeShields. .

Naquin will probably be tendered, not sure what his arby estimation is though so I will declare a proper opinion at that time.

Super hot take - Ka'ai Tom forces his way into regular playing time.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Daniel Johnson is 25 years old, so there should be absolutely no regard given to service time at this point. He needs to be in the outfield rotation next season, which is why I would have expect Naquin to be non-tendered. In addition to DeShields to be non-tendered which enables Mercado and Zimmer to split the CF duties next season.

Mercado/Johnson platoon in center until one of them either proves he can't hit or the other one blows up (meaning a .250/.720 line).

Luplow in left every day, Naylor in right (or vice versa), Bauers at first base. They sign two marginal starters in a depressed market to play short and second unless they get a young guy in the Lindor trade who is ready for the majors.

Cesar Hernandez finished third among all second basemen in WAR behind LeMahieu and Brandon Lowe. I doubt we'll be the high bidder. We'll probably sign somebody like Brad Miller and Freddy Galvis to play second and short for a year as a bridge to the future.

If they don't pick up Berto's option they save $5 million but they would have to pay Leon (or somebody like him) about $1 million to be the backup to Hedges, so the savings would be about $4 million. I have to believe the difference between Leon and the best defensive catcher in baseball who will hit 20+ home runs when healthy is worth $4 million, even to this franchise.

I'm not crazy about it but this is what I expect, or something similar. I'm bracing myself for the worst.

 

[Criznit]

Mercado/Johnson platoon in center until one of them either proves he can't hit or the other one blows up (meaning a .250/.720 line).

Luplow in left every day, Naylor in right (or vice versa), Bauers at first base. They sign two marginal starters in a depressed market to play short and second unless they get a young guy in the Lindor trade who is ready for the majors.

Cesar Hernandez finished third among all second basemen in WAR behind LeMahieu and Brandon Lowe. I doubt we'll be the high bidder. We'll probably sign somebody like Brad Miller and Freddy Galvis to play second and short for a year as a bridge to the future.

If they don't pick up Berto's option they save $5 million but they would have to pay Leon (or somebody like him) about $1 million to be the backup to Hedges, so the savings would be about $4 million. I have to believe the difference between Leon and the best defensive catcher in baseball who will hit 20+ home runs when healthy is worth $4 million, even to this franchise.

I'm not crazy about it but this is what I expect, or something similar. I'm bracing myself for the worst.

I like your assessment, but I think Bauers is as good as done and will have to fight his way back onto the team.

Depending on who we sign - Naylor ends up at 1B or in the OF. 2nd base is a ??? They will pick up Bertos option. If they don't want to pay him, he should net a couple "quality" lotto tickets. Just too valuable to let walk I think.

Next year could be rough. Temper expectations as the ChiSox are a team to beat, the Twins will be going for their 3rd division title in a row and the Tiger have sucked long enough to field a team that could win 80+ or lose a 100+..

Window has closed. It's not locked though and savvy moves and some luck keep us in the hunt

 

[TxBuckeye]

Super hot take - Ka'ai Tom forces his way into regular playing time.

Reno?

 

[Criznit]

Reno?

Come on now lol

 

[EdMonix11]

Daniel Johnson's scouting report says that he can be an "average" defensive centerfielder. If this is the case, then he needs a good look and a chance to crack all of the outfield positions. You aren't going to fix this mess of an offense especially in the outfield by trying to have the perfect defensive player at every spot. Something has to give at some point.

Do you honestly think the Indians FO haven't evaluated him to see if he can be at least an average defensive CF? If the Indians thought he could play CF, they'd have given him a shot there. They literally moved him off the position full-time last year. Can he play a few innings there when the everyday CF needs a day off? Sure. But he's not an everyday guy at the position and the Indians handling of him clearly bears that out. I mean, the value of Johnson in CF is WAY higher than in RF so there's no reason to move him off unless he can't play it.

Further, not all OF positions are created equal. CF is the most important position in the OF and probably the 2nd most important defensive position in baseball behind C. Defense really matters there....

Delino had a -1.4 UZR playing CF, while also providing a negative offensive fWAR.
Could Johnson have been any worse defensively in CF and at the plate than Delino?

I just don't get the logic in playing a low-ceiling veteran over a younger player with a much better offensive profile.

Well, considering Daniel Johnson had -19.8 UZR/150 in 33 Corner OF innings this year to DeShields' -5.6 in CF.... umm yeah, he could've been, and would've been, much worse defensively in CF.

And who's to say Johnson would've even been better offensively? I like him enough as a prospect but you're acting like he's some can't miss top 20 prospect and he's not. There's some real concern about his pitch recognition and making enough contact to access his plus raw power. There's a very good chance he's a platoon corner OF if he ever sticks in the MLB.

Mercado/Johnson platoon in center until one of them either proves he can't hit or the other one blows up (meaning a .250/.720 line).

Not even the most analytically inclined and progressive organizations would do a CF platoon. Not sure why the Indians would..... The only way it would ever work is if both guys are both plus defenders.