2022 American League Central Division Champions

[BimboColesHair]

Where do you think Nolan Jones, George Valera, and Brayan Rocchio fit into the picture in 2023?

I think Nolan Jones gets reps in at 1B this spring (on top of corner OF reps) and if they want his bat in the lineup will find a way to get it in there.

Him, Miller, Benson, Curry, Pilkington, and Gaddis are prime trade candidates for your guys occupying 40 spots but too young and/or unproven to just DFA outright though. They won’t move all of them, that may not even move a single one, but if they are looking to add someone from a team looking for MLB ready talent that’s who they’d move first.

Valera and Rocchio need some more seasoning, but there’s been a lot of talk of getting Valera some run in CF. Both wouldn’t be in a position for a call up until the summer.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Darin Ruf could potentially be an option to platoon at 1B with Naylor. Played really poorly for the Mets but might be someone you could acquire for nothing. But not sure if it makes sense to waste a roster space on a guy who can only play 1B/DH and would likely only play vs LHP.

Everyone’s going to be wanting them to trade for Christian Walker. Especially with some people here already wanting him at the deadline.

A move like that creates the problem of what do you do with the trio of Naylor/Gonzalez/Brennan. A good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless.

Ruf at least doesn’t create that problem.

 

[sportscoach]

Everyone’s going to be wanting them to trade for Christian Walker. Especially with some people here already wanting him at the deadline.

A move like that creates the problem of what do you do with the trio of Naylor/Gonzalez/Brennan.

Ruf at least doesn’t create that problem.

I actually see them going for a guy who can play multiple positions, and being the backup 1B and hits from the right side...

Ruf to me, just doesn't fit the type of bat I want... we lack power, I'd personally like a guy with true 30+ power who can be mixed in... Otherwise someone like Vargas from the Dodgers, who doesn't have 30 HR power, but has a ton of contact skill with some power. He has played 1B, 2B, 3B, and LF in 23... Fits the timeline and (though he stinks at 3B) having a guy who can rotate between positions and has solid everyday potential, would be my target and he has been since I saw him... In simulation, I would have already moved, Jones, Palacios etc for him without hesitation but that's not real life...

 

[BimboColesHair]

I actually see them going for a guy who can play multiple positions, and being the backup 1B and hits from the right side...

Ruf to me, just doesn't fit the type of bat I want... we lack power, I'd personally like a guy with true 30+ power who can be mixed in... Otherwise someone like Vargas from the Dodgers, who doesn't have 30 HR power, but has a ton of contact skill with some power. He has played 1B, 2B, 3B, and LF in 23... Fits the timeline and (though he stinks at 3B) having a guy who can rotate between positions and has solid everyday potential, would be my target and he has been since I saw him... In simulation, I would have already moved, Jones, Palacios etc for him without hesitation but that's not real life...

I don’t like Ruf either.

Just saying, should they move Rosario, that kind of player can fit on the roster. A 1B/DH who only plays vs LHP.

If they keep Rosario they already have a guy who can play 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, and potentially LF on the roster who swings from the right side and has big power potential in Arias.

 

[Anglefan]

Some projections from MLB Tr on arbitration eligible Guardians:

Guardians (9)

• Luke Maile (5.148): $1.3MM
• Amed Rosario (5.062): $9MM
• Shane Bieber (4.097): $10.7MM
• Anthony Gose (3.139): $800K
• Cal Quantrill (3.132): $6MM
• Josh Naylor (3.1287): $3.5MM
• Zach Plesac (3.086): $2.9MM
• Aaron Civale (3.058): $2.2MM
• James Karinchak (2.169): $1.4MM

Bye Amed. Thank you for your service, but fuck your service time. Hope we get something good

 

[sportscoach]

I don’t like Ruf either.

Just saying, should they move Rosario, that kind of player can fit on the roster. A 1B/DH who only plays vs LHP.

If they keep Rosario they already have a guy who can play 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, and potentially LF on the roster who swings from the right side and has big power potential in Arias.

I feel like we should move on from Rosario next season...

At the moment though from the current crew, if we move on from Rosario, is Arias an utility guy or starting? Is Freeman starting at 2B while moving Gimenez to SS?

I feel like on paper both Naylors, Gimenez, JRam, Brennan, Kwan, Straw, OGonz, have a spot... If we don't keep Rosario, then we have Arias, Freeman, Miller, plus backup C, then we still have one more spot... Likely another OF so Benson? I feel like we need more power out of that crew...

I am a contact over power type, but outside of Noel, Jones and an off chance of Arias and Benson, how many guys do we have that can hit 20 or more HRs? Why I was looking at Toglia of the Rockies and Vargas of the Dodgers... I want to mix in a guy who can add more power to this lineup...

 

[cliffdawg]

Everyone’s going to be wanting them to trade for Christian Walker. Especially with some people here already wanting him at the deadline.

That would be me, I want that RHH power bat in our lineup BADLY……

 

[Real Deal]

I feel like we should move on from Rosario next season...

At the moment though from the current crew, if we move on from Rosario, is Arias an utility guy or starting? Is Freeman starting at 2B while moving Gimenez to SS?

I feel like on paper both Naylors, Gimenez, JRam, Brennan, Kwan, Straw, OGonz, have a spot... If we don't keep Rosario, then we have Arias, Freeman, Miller, plus backup C, then we still have one more spot... Likely another OF so Benson? I feel like we need more power out of that crew...

I am a contact over power type, but outside of Noel, Jones and an off chance of Arias and Benson, how many guys do we have that can hit 20 or more HRs? Why I was looking at Toglia of the Rockies and Vargas of the Dodgers... I want to mix in a guy who can add more power to this lineup...

Jose is going to be crying while driving him to the airport

 

[BimboColesHair]

That would be me, I want that RHH power bat in our lineup BADLY……

He'd be a perfect fit on the roster for that purpose alone.

But he is in another world defensively at 1B and would have to play every day for that value alone, especially for a team that values defense as much as Cleveland does.

That leads to the issue of how do you get Naylor, Gonzalez, and Brennan in the lineup with a guy like that. You DH Naylor and play Gonzalez in RF vs RHP, now Brennan isn't getting ABs. You play Brennan and now Gonzalez isn't getting ABs.

They have to clean up their roster with regards to that. Need to plug a needed hole (and they know they have to improve vs LHP this winter), but need the player to make sense for the makeup of the current roster.

Cause heading into next season Kwan, Gimenez, Brennan, Gonzalez, and both Naylors need as many ABs as they can possibly get. Depending on what happens with Rosario you can toss Arias or Freeman into that group as well.

 

[Tondo]

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.

 

[CDAV45]

I don't mind the idea of not adding a single ML player this offseason. I liked and still do like the idea of Jansen, but only if he can play 1B too. As Bimbo has mentioned we don't need another DH as it would only complicate things further. The only way that isn't true is if they move on from Straw and we all know that's not likely to happen. I fear that they will deal Brennan and they will surely receive an assload of calls for him.

I stated it earlier in the season or even before it started and it still holds true. I don't know how all these pieces are going to fit together. They literally have to sort through 8 OFers and 8 MIFers.

 

[CDAV45]

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.

I wonder what folks would think if Miller didn't have to play out of position? He's a good hitter and pretty much always has been. He's had some ups and downs in his first ML season, but his ups have been pretty damn good. Remember when we were pining for him to get some reps in the OF? That doesn't look like a good idea now does it? lol

No thanks on Los, but count me in on Cookie.

 

[Tondo]

Los had a 134 wRc+ and 387 OBP vs LHP this season (on a 280 BABIP). Career better vs LHP too.

Great clubhouse guy and true pro. Perfect fit for 1B/DH to complement Naylor.

Miller is only 25, so he might still break out, but not sure it'll be be with Cleveland. Good chance he gets another shot, April/May trial like Mercado did this year. Freeman can get some more reps in Columbus in the meantime. I doubt they just dump Miller and think they believe in his bat, but he needs to show more consistency

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I wonder what folks would think if Miller didn't have to play out of position?

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.

 

[Tondo]

Miller and Palacios are mirror images of one another. Both good hitters, but positionless bats with little power. Just not a good fit, bad timing