Moves the Indians should make for the 2nd half

[Gson]

I assume he was referring to Nolan Jones, a left-handed hitter who can play RF and 1B and whose ass can be gotten up here by Friday.

If the Indians think Jones is ready I could see them sending Zimmer down and turning CF over to Mercado, who's been hot lately. The thing is Luplow is playing rehab games in Arizona so he should be ready soon. Rosario is resting his oblique strain but he should be back at some point. I think the outfield will eventually be Rosario, Mercado, and Harold Ramirez with Luplow as the fourth outfielder since he can also play center without embarassing himself.

That still leaves us without a backup first baseman except for Clement or Chang, whichever is up this week. But I think they want Jones playing every day, so they'll keep him in Columbus.

If Rosario gets traded they could go with Harold in left, Oscar in center, and a Jones/Luplow platoon in right. They would still have Zmmer, Daniel Johnson, and Oscar Gonzalez in Columbus. Jones is hitting .225 in July and the Indians like to bring guys up when they're hot (like Owen Miller) so I don't see Jones up here at all this year unless Rosario gets traded and somebody gets hurt.

The Indians have 10 games that will have an imbalanced influence on the plans for the club going forward into the 2021 season.. If the Indians finish off the schedule before the trading deadline and remain a game or two above the break even.. then look for a "ready now" kind of second tier deal.. If, on the other hand, the Tribe finds the sledding too tough, then look for a more future dependent trade with one of the clubs that have a much more realistic shot at making the playoffs.. (Fangraphs has a story defining the "odds" of making the playoffs.. for whatever trivial value that holds)..

A team most likely to hold the CLEFO interest could be someone like the Reds.. who could want a pairing of Amed Rosario & Nick Wittgren to bolster their pen and infield/CF.. A deal like this won't be terribly costly for either team which is right in the wheelhouse of both clubs.. Names to consider coming back from the Reds in the latter scenario might include, but, are not limited to Hendrick, Miller, Senzel and Siani.. with some combination of the above. Hendrick & Miller would be particularly interesting as they both would not require 40 man roster spots.. The focus on the 40 man will matter more if the Indians are put into a position of not contending in 2021... a scenario that is currently very likely.. The only reason Senzel is included is the interest shown by the Indians and the utter frustration of the Cincinnati FO to find a way to keep him on the field..

Thoughts?..

 

[ZinAZ]

The Indians have 10 games that will have an imbalanced influence on the plans for the club going forward into the 2021 season.. If the Indians finish off the schedule before the trading deadline and remain a game or two above the break even.. then look for a "ready now" kind of second tier deal.. If, on the other hand, the Tribe finds the sledding too tough, then look for a more future dependent trade with one of the clubs that have a much more realistic shot at making the playoffs.. (Fangraphs has a story defining the "odds" of making the playoffs.. for whatever trivial value that holds)..

A team most likely to hold the CLEFO interest could be someone like the Reds.. who could want a pairing of Amed Rosario & Nick Wittgren to bolster their pen and infield/CF.. A deal like this won't be terribly costly for either team which is right in the wheelhouse of both clubs.. Names to consider coming back from the Reds in the latter scenario might include, but, are not limited to Hendrick, Miller, Senzel and Siani.. with some combination of the above. Hendrick & Miller would be particularly interesting as they both would not require 40 man roster spots.. The focus on the 40 man will matter more if the Indians are put into a position of not contending in 2021... a scenario that is currently very likely.. The only reason Senzel is included is the interest shown by the Indians and the utter frustration of the Cincinnati FO to find a way to keep him on the field..

Thoughts?..

Oh ok forgot about Jones, who I believe is currently leading the org in doubles

 

[sportscoach]

The Indians have 10 games that will have an imbalanced influence on the plans for the club going forward into the 2021 season.. If the Indians finish off the schedule before the trading deadline and remain a game or two above the break even.. then look for a "ready now" kind of second tier deal.. If, on the other hand, the Tribe finds the sledding too tough, then look for a more future dependent trade with one of the clubs that have a much more realistic shot at making the playoffs.. (Fangraphs has a story defining the "odds" of making the playoffs.. for whatever trivial value that holds)..

A team most likely to hold the CLEFO interest could be someone like the Reds.. who could want a pairing of Amed Rosario & Nick Wittgren to bolster their pen and infield/CF.. A deal like this won't be terribly costly for either team which is right in the wheelhouse of both clubs.. Names to consider coming back from the Reds in the latter scenario might include, but, are not limited to Hendrick, Miller, Senzel and Siani.. with some combination of the above. Hendrick & Miller would be particularly interesting as they both would not require 40 man roster spots.. The focus on the 40 man will matter more if the Indians are put into a position of not contending in 2021... a scenario that is currently very likely.. The only reason Senzel is included is the interest shown by the Indians and the utter frustration of the Cincinnati FO to find a way to keep him on the field..

Thoughts?..

I am thinking with that trade, I would go for C Jackson Miller, OF TJ Friedl then another prospect or two... I don't think Senzel would be a target now.

 

[Gson]

I am thinking with that trade, I would go for C Jackson Miller, OF TJ Friedl then another prospect or two... I don't think Senzel would be a target now.

Couldn't agree more about Senzel.. he would be the guy the Reds "dumped" into the deal for an secondary purpose: $$ equalizing or roster spot opening to permit both Amed Rosario and Nick Wittgren to be added.. Otherwise..you are correct.. Senzel's health issues have become more than a little troublesome..

 

[sportscoach]

Couldn't agree more about Senzel.. he would be the guy the Reds "dumped" into the deal for an secondary purpose: $$ equalizing or roster spot opening to permit both Amed Rosario and Nick Wittgren to be added.. Otherwise..you are correct.. Senzel's health issues have become more than a little troublesome..

I mean if we got Senzel for cheap, it's hard to skip on that, but he isn't what we would want back in the Amed+Wittgren type of deal. I would non-arbitration types/ones we don't need to protect via rule 5. So my package I would want would start with Miller...

 

[CATS44]

If we are gonna trade assets that would help us next year, we are gonna get assets that will help next year in the package.

Trading Amed and Wittgren for prospects that are at least three years away would be a big step backwards.

I dont see the Reds as a fit, unless Stephenson is involved, and thats unlikely.

 

[Gson]

I mean if we got Senzel for cheap, it's hard to skip on that, but he isn't what we would want back in the Amed+Wittgren type of deal. I would non-arbitration types/ones we don't need to protect via rule 5. So my package I would want would start with Miller...

Yeah.. Senzel's value is higher right now than he deservers due primarily to the health issues he seems to always be dealing with.. Senzel for cheap is the only way.. any deal happens and, hopefully, the only guy in the deal that will require 40 man roster protection. The other guys coming with him, like Siani, a terrific defensive CF'er w/ speed and a profile that screams "lead off hitter" would be ready for ML action at the outset of the 2022 season.. As a 22 year old at High A this year.. that's about the right step / progression for his kind of talent.. Miller may not be ready until the 2023/4 season.. The Reds know this kid is blocked by Stephenson.. so they should be a wee bit more willing to deal..

We'll see.. most deal discussions are unlikely to happen.. but, with the potential for making the playoffs in the NL Central.. and at such a low cost.. this could evolve into a real chance..

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Looking at Senzel's splits for 2019 and 2021 he looks like a Jordan Luplow clone; .316 and .333 against lefties, low .200s against right-handers. If we're giving up Amed we need to do better than that.

I don't know anything about Siani other than he's hitting .212 at high A at age 22. I'm not sure that puts him in a position to be "ready for ML action" next April.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

From Zack Meisel this morning (as @BimboColesHair has been saying for months):

Their preference is to keep (Jose) Ramírez, perhaps even extend him. Payroll shouldn’t inhibit that; there’s not a single player on the roster owed a nickel beyond this season, and a new minority investor should eventually pump some more cash into the operation. Ramírez would welcome the chance to negotiate a long-term deal, according to sources, and it seems like something the two sides could explore during the offseason or spring training.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Just my personal opinion.

An extension gets done this spring/winter.

 

[CATS44]

Rafael Nieves is JRams agent, and has been forever.

His specialty is Latin players, and he leans more towards extensions than free agency.

He is the anti Boras.

In addition to JRams original extension, he has also negotiated extensions for...

Salvador Perez
Francisco Cervelli
Roughed Odor
Gregory Polanco

 

[CDAV45]

Any agent that is the opposite of Boras has me as a fan, as does any player that does not have Boras as an agent.

 

[petes999]

I wouldn't trade Rosario unless we can fill an immediate need in CF. The key for 2nd half is to identify who you can count on in CF/SS and Rosario could be that guy in CF (with Arias and Gimenez at SS) especially if Mercado doesn't continue his mini-hot streak. If Sept comes and Mercado has had continued success to pencil him in CF, then feel free to trade Rosario for non-Rule 5 prospects as long-term we have our 2nd/SS combo somewhere in Arias/Gimenez/Freeman/ ..... and thus Rosario's value is at SS for short-term place holder and trade value purposes only.

This offseason, Indians will not have the luxury to have roster 3-4 people to see who can fill a position as in years past. They will be cutting (who ... who knows) but you do not trade your 2nd best option for CF next year unless you know
1) he can not or is not willing to do it
2) you get a better option for CF in return or
3) know your 1st option (i.e., Mercado) is a lock (baring injury in spring).

A trade with Reds doesn't do accomplish your goals to make the team a winner unless you loop a 3rd team in like the Angels for one of their ready CF prospects (with Cinci and/or giving Angels pitching).

And, I was glad Akron finally played Palacios in CF last night after 16 straight games at 2nd. A relatively consistent .291 hitter all 3 months (.290/.271/.333). His only flaw this year is a question if he is another platoon guy as he has only hit .194 against lefty (but limited sample size - 44 plate appearances in 28 games). But, he hit .395 against lefties in 41 plate appearances as a rookie. I would like to see him try to transition to CF and see if he can be a full-time guy or would project as just another one of our platoon OFs if he makes the transition.

 

[Criznit]

Amed Rosario's offensive performance is enough to consider different options. He had a moment but otherwise, he has been been poor. Replacing him shouldn't cause us much issue.

If anyone wants Rosario and willing to give up something of "value" in return.... Pull that trigger.

I rather let Palacios or Benson or ??? get a crack over Rosario in 2022.

 

[Steve_424]

Just my personal opinion.

An extension gets done this spring/winter.

Do you expect tacking on 1-2 years to the current deal or a Jose retires here type of extension?