2020 Off-Season Rumors/News

[Kevalier]

Sandy Alderson naming himself President of Baseball Operations

Not saying he's bad, far from it, but it's always LOL funny to see someone hire himself after interviewing a bunch of candidates

Yeah, ultimately, I think the most coveted front office executives in the sport like Chernoff weren't all too eager to be not only second in command to Alderson, but hitch their wagon to an owner who proclaimed his 3-5 year World Series or Bust plan and tweets every 20 minutes with the Mets fanbase.

 

[jup]

Yeah, ultimately, I think the most coveted front office executives in the sport like Chernoff weren't all too eager to be not only second in command to Alderson, but hitch their wagon to an owner who proclaimed his 3-5 year World Series or Bust plan and tweets every 20 minutes with the Mets fanbase.

So tweeting with fans is now a _________________ (fill in the blank)

I am not sure exactly why you would include that as a comment, but it sounds awful prejudicial. Are owners suppose to be some how above engaging with fans ? Is it some how below their dignity ? Maybe I am way off base, but just strikes me as a very odd comment

 

[Kevalier]

So tweeting with fans is now a _________________ (fill in the blank)

I am not sure exactly why you would include that as a comment, but it sounds awful prejudicial. Are owners suppose to be some how above engaging with fans ? Is it some how below their dignity ? Maybe I am way off base, but just strikes me as a very odd comment

It just screams to me of someone who is way too invested in what the social media chatter is, which could potentially influence decisions made. Very reminiscent of Dan Gilbert

 

[Steve_424]

Yeah, ultimately, I think the most coveted front office executives in the sport like Chernoff weren't all too eager to be not only second in command to Alderson, but hitch their wagon to an owner who proclaimed his 3-5 year World Series or Bust plan and tweets every 20 minutes with the Mets fanbase.

Interesting...I've followed his engagement with fans and think it's great. He's listening and responding to fans thoughts/opinions on the gameday experience, among other things. Must be nice - the Indians haven't listened to fans in years.

 

[jup]

It just screams to me of someone who is way too invested in what the social media chatter is, which could potentially influence decisions made. Very reminiscent of Dan Gilbert

I am old, 60 plus, so I am no fan of social media. But it is clear where the entertainment market has gone and will be going for years. And anyone in baseball who does not embrace that will be out of touch with how their product is received and consumed. As much as I hate to say it, that train has left the station and it isn't the one you want to miss.

 

[MadThinker88]

ICYMI.. Some of the Tribe bullpen depth has departed..
via Indians Prospective twitter account

Indians Prospective
@indiansPro

Mets have signed former #Indians 26yr old RHP Jared Robinson to a minor league contract w/ an invite to spring training. Robinson was drafted by Cleveland as a 11th Round Pick in 2014 out of Cerritos College. MiLB career: - 383.2(IP) 379(H) 165(ER) 146(BB) 325(SO) 3.87 ERA

 

[MadThinker88]

Word coming out that Rangers have dealt Lance Lynn to the White Sox.

Dane Dunning plus head back to the Rangers...

White Sox Acquire Lance Lynn

TODAY: The White Sox and Rangers have officially announced the trade. DECMEBER 7, 11:57pm: The Rangers will also acquire lefty …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[jup]

Word coming out that Rangers have dealt Lance Lynn to the White Sox.

Dane Dunning plus head back to the Rangers...

White Sox Acquire Lance Lynn

TODAY: The White Sox and Rangers have officially announced the trade. DECMEBER 7, 11:57pm: The Rangers will also acquire lefty …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

So I saw that a few minutes ago on trade rumors and thought about the Indians/Twins.

First, if you are a Twin, seems like that trade forces you to upgrade somewhere to offset the challenge that the WS are now putting in front of you if you want to win the division. So they clearly need to add an arm, and probably will.

If you are looking from the Indians side, as they are busy trying to cut costs therefore selling off assets, it should look like you have just been pushed further away from relevancy in the division.

So the relevant question seems to be - at what point does the Indians FO put on reality glasses and say - it is time to blow it up - knowing you have to sink in order to swim another day.

 

[sportscoach]

So I saw that a few minutes ago on trade rumors and thought about the Indians/Twins.

First, if you are a Twin, seems like that trade forces you to upgrade somewhere to offset the challenge that the WS are now putting in front of you if you want to win the division. So they clearly need to add an arm, and probably will.

If you are looking from the Indians side, as they are busy trying to cut costs therefore selling off assets, it should look like you have just been pushed further away from relevancy in the division.

So the relevant question seems to be - at what point does the Indians FO put on reality glasses and say - it is time to blow it up - knowing you have to sink in order to swim another day.

If anything this actually goes in the Indians favor on paper if they are looking to trade Carrasco. We have a ton of starting pitching talent and Rangers got a good looking pitching prospect back for a one year rental.

With the tweet yesterday that pretty much said, rumors are teams are trying to trade for Carrasco and the Indians should, I personally think Carrasco should go to the Rays, so my little trade since I have nothing to do at the moment...

Carrasco plus (I am thinking) Vargas maybe a PTBNL for 2B/SS Xavier Edwards, LHP McClanahan, RHP JJ Goss, OF Arozarena, and LHP Fleming.

McClanahan isn't the norm the Indians go for and is a bit of a wild card, Fleming is the opposite, closer to a Civale from the left side. Edwards to me looks as sure of a leadoff candidate as you could find, Arozarena is at the bigs and had a good 20, Goss is that wild card 19 year old, you always gotta take a chance on. Rays losing Morton, and with Carrasco well known in the Tampa area, should be a win-win trade for both teams on paper.

 

[Gson]

If anything this actually goes in the Indians favor on paper if they are looking to trade Carrasco. We have a ton of starting pitching talent and Rangers got a good looking pitching prospect back for a one year rental.

With the tweet yesterday that pretty much said, rumors are teams are trying to trade for Carrasco and the Indians should, I personally think Carrasco should go to the Rays, so my little trade since I have nothing to do at the moment...

Carrasco plus (I am thinking) Vargas maybe a PTBNL for 2B/SS Xavier Edwards, LHP McClanahan, RHP JJ Goss, OF Arozarena, and LHP Fleming.

McClanahan isn't the norm the Indians go for and is a bit of a wild card, Fleming is the opposite, closer to a Civale from the left side. Edwards to me looks as sure of a leadoff candidate as you could find, Arozarena is at the bigs and had a good 20, Goss is that wild card 19 year old, you always gotta take a chance on. Rays losing Morton, and with Carrasco well known in the Tampa area, should be a win-win trade for both teams on paper.

The Carrasco Tampa tie in could be what sways the Indians/Rays deal & pushes the Rays business part of their franchise to their next level.. That is.. the Rays finally get out of that dungeon (it's way better over the last few years..but before..was dreadful.. especially with those stupid cow bells).. and build a truly magnificent stadium the Rays can be proud of.. With the size of the Rays market.. they shouldn't be a Shoestring Budget team..

Good posting..

 

[DCTribefan]

The Carrasco Tampa tie in could be what sways the Indians/Rays deal & pushes the Rays business part of their franchise to their next level.. That is.. the Rays finally get out of that dungeon (it's way better over the last few years..but before..was dreadful.. especially with those stupid cow bells).. and build a truly magnificent stadium the Rays can be proud of.. With the size of the Rays market.. they shouldn't be a Shoestring Budget team..

Good posting..

It’s not the market size but rather awful attendance due to horrible venue for baseball.

 

[Gson]

The Rays Stadium commission have a site (where ever Ybor City is)and preliminary plans for the magnificent NEW stadium.. I'm not sure if it's in Pasco or Pinellas.. but it's coming..

Here are the preliminary renderings: https://www.draysbay.com/2018/7/10/17556214/tampa-bay-rays-ybor-city-stadium-design-images

btw..the dungeon (the trop) is the current venue..

Edit: It's Hillsborough County..

 

[CATS44]

I'm with jup in re social media. Its the new messaging system.

There used to be a Tribe beat reporter for the Canton Repository by the name of Andy Call. When Tribe management wanted to publicly float an idea, they did it thru Call. The days of using common media to advance ideas is over, because news travels much faster than it did twenty years ago. Management can now totally bypass media today to connect with fans. The days when you looked to a Hal Lebowitz to get your answers are over....which is why the old style journalists who could actually construct a paragraph are over.

************

Population is not always the best indicator of market size. It is only one factor in demographics. I spend a lot of time in the Tampa-St Pete area. Those folks don't care about baseball. Many of the people are transplants, and if they are baseball fans, their loyalties don't lie with the Rays...and they are too old to change.

If I move my family to Atlanta, I may retain my Tribe interest, but my kids will likely follow the Braves. But transplants to Tampa don't bring their kids along.

************

The addition of Lynn undoubtedly makes the Chisox better, but is hardly a signal for the Tribe to blow things up. Lynn gives Chicago three very good SPs. But a team needs seven or eight...and thats a problem on the South Side. Plus, Lynn is a one year deal.

**********

The White Sox are bucking the trend, by adding salary. Interesting, but a one year commitment is viewed as a financially safe move. But six years of Dunning may be a very steep price in terms of talent.

If you look at the Lynn acquisition from an Indians long term point if view, it can only be viewed as a positive.

 

[Peachtree]

A Ybor City stadium would be awesome, but Tampa and the Rays have been down this road before.

Also not sure about the dome. What was the last domed stadium (not retractable) built in MLB? Even ugly ass Globe Life is retractable.

 

[CATS44]

As for any new stadium for the Rays, nobody should hold their breath. Acrimonious would be a kind description of the situation.

Preliminary development plans call for a stadium in the Ybor area of Tampa in Hillsborough County, which is a large entertainment district across the bay from Tropicana Field....except for a few minor details, including the facts that St Pete has little interest in ending the lease that extends thru 2027, Tampa officials are hardly rolling out a red carpet for the Rays, and the owner of the Rays is doing everything he can to piss both towns off.

The historical Ybor entertainment district gets public funding for improvements and transportation, but Tampa officials not only have no interest in offering financial aid towards a new stadium, they are debating ending all the subsidies to the district itself.