2020 Off-Season Rumors/News

[The Oi]

I secretly hope @The Oi looks exactly like his profile picture

I can confirm that is the case although he’s slightly more jacked than Desmond Bryant.

But only my lats and neck. Everything else is super atrophied.

I take great portraits. Anything else and I literally look like a stick figure.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

.

Considering the source, that's a 10/10.

 

[bob2the2nd]

This is a pretty accurate depiction of what happened.

What’s weird is how, in spite of media talking with fans about the incident, they chose to cover Frankie’s “real ness” about wanting to stay in Cleveland.

I’ve heard $35M/per year over 10 years is the ask, FWIW.

if that is the ask, that is damn tempting to make happen.

the 3 big questions are as follows:
What is the actual team salary that Dolan is willing to consistently go up to (plus inflation). There is a huge difference between Dolan is willing to go to 125 + inflation, versus he would prefer to remain at 110 + inflation. I know its obvious, but its a lot easier to fit a contract of 35/million a year in a 125 million budget, versus 110 million.

The second question is can Dolan find another partner/increase in revenue. Obviously there will be some increase in revenue from the new TV deal in 2 years (or is it 3?), the big question is how much of in increase.

Third-How could the indians balance the contract as to allow the best flexibility. Last offseason I had a suggestion that if the Indians could find a way to put aside/reduce salary for the year leading up to Frankie's first and second year on the new contract they could front load it a little bit, as to reduce some of the risk later on. Perhaps they could combine it with an 11th year on the contract which is just payment, as a couple of other teams have done.

Quite frankly I think he is worth keeping, for several different reasons. But I would understand if the Dolans ultimately decided they needed greater flexibility

 

[The Oi]

Considering the source, that's a 10/10.

 

[bigfoot5415]

Couldn't we front load the shit out of a deal? Convince him more money now allows him to invest and potentially make even more over the course of 10 years.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Maybe because one third of the fans at Prog. Field were Cubs fans who bought tickets from Tribe fans cashing in on the opportunity.

This is indeed the case.

Although, being able to sell tickets for game 7 at 2 grand a pop isn't exactly something to turn down--especially if you have enough tickets to bring you and your Dad, and sell the spares.

 

[daddywags]

10/350 is very reasonable for Frankie and less than I thought his ask would be. Can't bring myself to believe the Tribe will seriously entertain it though. Heck, he might be more valuable on the trade market right now if he was signed to that deal rather than two arby years followed by free agency.

 

[Lee]

Bleached is the asshole.

*fixed

 

[Steve_424]

We like to complain about market size, unwillingness to spend money by owner, but how the hell do we not factor in the fact that there is no salary cap within baseball?

The system is designed to funnel big names into bigger markets. Until that is changed it won't matter who the player is or who the owner is we will continue to be at a disadvantage. We also know it's unlikely to change unless all the small markets band together, but that still might not be enough.

Just wanted to throw in something else other than shitting on the dolans or the players, who if in their shoes we'd take the money to.

Just see it all as we need to break the cycle, just like many things in this country.

The players will probably never agree with a salary cap, and why should they? There's plenty of $ out there.

The real problem is that owners have figured out that giving a guy a huge, long-term contract doesn't necessarily make you a winner. Mike Trout is the best baseball player I've ever seen and he's made the playoffs once. This isn't the NBA where one guy can take you there, or the NFL where a top QB can take you there. Maybe an owner does it if they think it would boost attendance, but do we really think it will? People don't come watch Frankie play now, why would that change?

My only beef with the Tribe is not doing more to go for it now. Cut the payroll after Frankie leaves, not now. If I were them I'd be loading up on players on 1-2 year contracts that can help you get a title. Ozuna could have fit, Dickerson would have helped...hell, Edwin could've fit. Or you could figure out a 1-2 year deal with Puig now. Maybe they have something in the works before camp breaks, but if you go into 2019 with the outfield as is it will be a major disappointment.

 

[Huber.]

Couldn't we front load the shit out of a deal? Convince him more money now allows him to invest and potentially make even more over the course of 10 years.

Could and willing to are two different things

 

[bigfoot5415]

Could and willing to are two different things

You would think with the salaries where you are... even with arbitration; we would entertain it.

 

[dkbldev]

A sports book I use has the Indians total wins at o/u 85.5. I feel like the over is a no brainer?

They must think that we are going to really struggle in division. Maybe the assumption is we dont go 18-1 against Detroit and Chicago is better but we had a losing record against them last year and also had a bunch of injuries. 85.5 seems really low.

 

[MadThinker88]

The players will probably never agree with a salary cap, and why should they? There's plenty of $ out there.
....

But the players/ agents continue to complain about other teams (especially those receiving $$) NOT spending.
Like it or not, to get a salary floor/ basement, there will be some sort of cap (even a more defined soft cap with increased penalties for going over & staying over)..

 

[Steve_424]

But the players/ agents continue to complain about other teams (especially those receiving $$) NOT spending.
Like it or not, to get a salary floor/ basement, there will be some sort of cap (even a more defined soft cap with increased penalties for going over & staying over)..

Haven't heard that as much this winter. I don't think you'll ever see anything close to a cap in MLB. I think the league - if it wants to - has other avenues to even the playing field though.

 

[MadThinker88]

Haven't heard that as much this winter. I don't think you'll ever see anything close to a cap in MLB. I think the league - if it wants to - has other avenues to even the playing field though.

While "quiet" this off-season, the impacts of the last 2 offseasons is not forgotten.
Remember - baseball made a proposal (that was rejected by the players in the last 6 months) that all multi-year contracts had to be signed BEFORE the end of the winter meetings. Baseball has also made noises about greatly changing the face of minor league ball.

I really hope the next CBA with the players (& a PDA with MiLB) can be reached without a work stoppage but I am bracing myself not only for a stoppage, but a lengthy stoppage. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.