2023 Guardians Offseason Thread!

[AZ_]

Does it really matter to Judge though once he lands his 18 year contract?

I mean I don't disagree with you at all, but ultimately this is gonna be Judge's last major contract so will he really care if his offense is subdued a little bit by his home park?

He's getting every cent of his 8 year, 320M (or whatever he's about to get) deal no matter what his stats are.

Helllllllll no it doesn’t matter.

Will take the cash.


Just think we’ve seen how this movie ends, knowing I’ll watch it for the 1,000th time.

 

[Lee]

I don’t think the ask is too high. I think Arizona just doesn’t have an idea of what they want to do in 2023 just yet, compete or get younger.

Cleveland is monitoring the availability of him and CJ Cron.

Everyone in the league likes Jose, so yes he is a fan. But Cleveland is and always has been a tough sell on higher profile Cuban players.

Do the higher profile Cuban players like Tampa or Miami because of the culture? Or when they come here, they look more for the typical like a LA or NY?

 

[bob2the2nd]

@BimboColesHair just curious about the idea that Judge had a huge year that was helped by hom getting an abnormal number of home run pitches as has been reported.

Not saying that judge isn't worth a big contract but he seems due for a big regression back down to his mean as far as home runs go

 

[sportscoach]

@BimboColesHair just curious about the idea that Judge had a huge year that was helped by hom getting an abnormal number of home run pitches as has been reported.

Not saying that judge isn't worth a big contract but he seems due for a big regression back down to his mean as far as home runs go

Judge is due for a regression in HRs, but he also does hit for contact though, so its not like he won't be a productive hitter. It's more of a question of, what level of production will he produce going forward...

Also a random side note...

We should just sign him... He will be a great help lol

 

[KluberSociety]

Interesting discussion bout Cuban players - it's gotta be a win-win in Tampa and Miami because it helps drive fan engagement too. Which is also also why you'll see more Asian players in cities with high Asian populations (mainly West Coast but NYC to some degree as well). Cleveland has typically focused on guys who are good at baseball and in the clubhouse for a cheap price, than trying to play the marketing game by making splashy signings and the like, whoever they may be. I guess they thought they may have been doing that with Swisher (playing to the local demographics) and we see how that one worked out...

 

[BimboColesHair]

Do the higher profile Cuban players like Tampa or Miami because of the culture? Or when they come here, they look more for the typical like a LA or NY?

They like the Florida in general. Most of them have offseason homes in Miami. That's where Chapman was when he was missing from pre-ALDS workouts.

 

[BimboColesHair]

@BimboColesHair just curious about the idea that Judge had a huge year that was helped by hom getting an abnormal number of home run pitches as has been reported.

Not saying that judge isn't worth a big contract but he seems due for a big regression back down to his mean as far as home runs go

Whoever is reporting that is just being lazy and didn't take 2 seconds to look up easily verifiable numbers to backup that claim.

This is a breakdown of pitch % and total pitches by zone Judge saw in 2021 when he hit 39 HRs.

This is a breakdown of pitch % and total pitches by zone Judge saw in 2022 when he hit 62 HRs.

Pretty much the same by %, just pitchers tried to pitch down on him more in 22, which makes complete sense considering the guy is 6'7 and was murdering everything he got up and over the plate all season. He just had a historic year punishing mistake pitches and had easily the best season anyone has ever had against sliders in the StatCast era. Guy slugged .763 on sliders this year. For reference on how crazy that is, the next closest qualified hitter vs sliders this past season was Yordan Alvarez, who slugged nearly 100 points lower than Judge at .678.

And on top of that, he had maybe his best season ever slugging against low pitches.

He is absolutely in for regression, anyone who comes in off a historic season always is. But he definitely wasn't fed an abnormal amount of home run pitches or meatballs up and out over the plate. He just was seeing the ball and killing it at historic levels when pitchers made mistakes and when pitchers adjusted to him and pitched him low he had a career year in production. Was a perfect storm season for the guy.

 

[CATS44]

It would be interesting to know what Antonetti/Chernoff offered Rodon in terms of money and years.

Obviously not what he's gonna get now, but it still had to be a significant (for Cleveland) offer.

Seems counter intuitive to the idea that we must trade Bieber before he runs out of control.

********

Also interesting that the FO is not that interested in Yepez, since he's not 'established' Heck, half our roster last season wasn't established, and a lot of kids that are set to get looks next year aren't established.

If thats true about the FOs view of Yepez, it also applies to kids like Arias, Freeman, Brennan, Bo, Oscar, and a bunch of our young, soon-to-be MLB pitchers. It also kinda hints at the direction the FO is heading with Amed, and how it views the upcoming season.

********

Hint one:

Looking to add an established MLB SP.

Hint two:

Not looking at another youngster to fill a position of need.

If those two ARE true, it means that the FO is gonna make a big push to significantly improve this team for THIS coming year, and not by another influx of kids from within the org. The emphasis is shifting from potential to actual MLB proven production.

And that indicates trading young potential for that production.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Also interesting that the FO is not that interested in Yepez, since he's not 'established' Heck, half our roster last season wasn't established, and a lot of kids that are set to get looks next year aren't established.

If thats true about the FOs view of Yepez, it also applies to kids like Arias, Freeman, Brennan, Bo, Oscar, and a bunch of our young, soon-to-be MLB pitchers. It also kinda hints at the direction the FO is heading with Amed, and how it views the upcoming season.

No, it doesn't. It says nothing about anything other than they have enough unproven position players on the 40 man already.

They would rather sort out their own than add another one into the mix.

They are threading a needle between giving young, unproven guys reps and adding in MLB ready help to a team coming off a near ALCS appearance.

Has nothing to do with how they view their own and their willingness to go into the season with them having opportunities for playing time.

 

[CDAV45]

Absolutely. I apologize too, just was having some fun during a boring week.

I get the frustration of wanting one of these rumored deals to finally go through. I do. Especially with how close they’ve been to swinging a few of these deals lately. Hard to hold on to something that isn’t happening and be satisfied as a fan. I get it.

But it isn’t for lack of legit trying. That should make fans hopeful, not disenfranchised that they’re being lied to by the FO. They’re going to land one of these deals here soon.

I love the fact that they have a disciplined approach to FA contracts instead of backing themselves into a corner with a gargantuan contract or 2 that create negative value in a short period of time along with hamstringing them should they look to improve the team later.

I have too much confidence in CA and MC's character to believe they deliberately low ball any player in contract talks. I'd guess they place what they see as a fair offer with the understanding that player is likely to get more money elsewhere. Should that player like the offer or not receive a better one then he'll be the one to agree to terms with Cleveland. We're either damn near or at the point where some of these FA are realizing how young and good this team is and is going to be. That has to be a big selling point along with the excellent clubhouse culture.

 

[CATS44]

Lets put it this way...

If the FO is looking for a productive RH bat capable of playing both 1B and corner outfield to improve the team...an obvious need....but is not interested in Yepez, a monster MiLB bat with some MLB experience...they are not giving much consideration to Arias and Miller, neither of whom can compare to Yepez as a power bat that doesn't whiff at a tremendous rate. Power as in nearly 100 XBH over his last 800 ABs.

If it is true that the FO has recently pursued that names reported, they have at least partially flipped the switch to win now mode. Tryouts may not be over...they never are completely...but the emphasis on tryouts is over. As for giving our prospects playing time while building on 2022, their isn't much playing time left. The lineup is far more complete than at this point a year ago.

On the surface, Yepez looks to be the poster boy for what the FO would look for in a RH bat....long term control at minimum cost.

Having said that, St Louis probably has Yepez penciled in as their DH, so would be reluctant to deal him. But if he is not, he is excess that can be had.

 

[Steve_424]

No, it doesn't. It says nothing about anything other than they have enough unproven position players on the 40 man already.

They would rather sort out their own than add another one into the mix.

They are threading a needle between giving young, unproven guys reps and adding in MLB ready help to a team coming off a near ALCS appearance.

Has nothing to do with how they view their own and their willingness to go into the season with them having opportunities for playing time.

Has Milwaukee been listening on their SP? Haven't heard much reported in them so far.

 

[CDAV45]

Lets put it this way...

If the FO is looking for a productive RH bat capable of playing both 1B and corner outfield to improve the team...an obvious need....but is not interested in Yepez, a monster MiLB bat with some MLB experience...they are not giving much consideration to Arias and Miller, neither of whom can compare to Yepez as a power bat that doesn't whiff at a tremendous rate. Power as in nearly 100 XBH over his last 800 ABs.

If it is true that the FO has recently pursued that names reported, they have at least partially flipped the switch to win now mode. Tryouts may not be over...they never are completely...but the emphasis on tryouts is over. As for giving our prospects playing time while building on 2022, their isn't much playing time left. The lineup is far more complete than at this point a year ago.

On the surface, Yepez looks to be the poster boy for what the FO would look for in a RH bat....long term control at minimum cost.

Having said that, St Louis probably has Yepez penciled in as their DH, so would be reluctant to deal him. But if he is not, he is excess that can be had.

You brought Yepez to my attention CATS and I've been a fan since. If he is available, but Cleveland has no interest then it makes you wonder what/who they prefer. Who is a more established 1B/DH that is available, isn't on the downside of their career(likely to regress), and is affordable? I wouldn't even begin to know who fits that mold. You got any ideas?

 

[Gson]

You brought Yepez to my attention CATS and I've been a fan since. If he is available, but Cleveland has no interest then it makes you wonder what/who they prefer. Who is a more established 1B/DH that is available, isn't on the downside of their career(likely to regress), and is affordable? I wouldn't even begin to know who fits that mold. You got any ideas?

Gabriel Arias?

Josh Naylor?

Jhonkensy Noel? If half the season shows results/performance that is unacceptable?

then.. after the above is given appropriate consideration (3 guys play, don't play, are deemed not ready for prime time).. then, and only then.. will resources be expended to fill the perceived or real hole..

If Jose Abreu says I'll take a 3 year Jose Contract.. he might alter this thinking?.. There are other 1B's who could be in similar circumstances that CleFO can exploit..

 

[petes999]

You brought Yepez to my attention CATS and I've been a fan since. If he is available, but Cleveland has no interest then it makes you wonder what/who they prefer. Who is a more established 1B/DH that is available, isn't on the downside of their career(likely to regress), and is affordable? I wouldn't even begin to know who fits that mold. You got any ideas?

Another way to read the tea leaves is they may just think highly of Noel but want to give him a 1-2 years to finalize his development. Thus, just like pitching, a Walker on 2 year remaining contract works, but a Yepez or other with 4+ years may just be blocking the prospects that they are really interested in. They are not going after a 4+ yr vs 2 yr pitcher due to costs ... maybe the same is here.