The 2020 Cleveland Indians

[sportscoach]

Wish I could agree with any thing you said. I think you're being incredibly naive.

@Derek is not often wrong about his opinions and the times he has been wrong its always been in the teams favor. I mean we don't always get along since I am an opinionated and stubborn person, but I sincerely respect his opinion at the end of the day. I don't think his statements are naive at all.

Now I disagree with the statement about the pitching staff in some ways. We have at least 10 guys trying to get the 5 spots out of camp. Most are young and unproven in some ways, but I feel with that type of competition it should create a pretty good dang rotation and depth if guys go down. I mean heck, our AA roster will have guys that would be pitching right now on bottom dwelling teams. I like who we have overall.

 

[Urban]

Actually I feel the opposite way about Kluber. Kluber is a slow starter, and he has logged a lot of innings. The guy knows how to pitch and his velocity hasn't dropped yet. I think he will be fine for next season and if anything may actually be rested. When has he had a full off season to actually prepare his mind and body? I think with both Carrasco (as long as his blood work comes clean) and Kluber, should actually be in better shape than they have been for awhile. If Carrasco cannot start, I am positive he will be a solid reliever. I am way more worried about Carrasco than I am about Kluber.

His velocity has been on a bit of a steady decline. I don't think it's anything to get alarmed about, but worth noting

I agree that it could end up being a positive thing for next year that he was able to rest his arm and knee for so long. Lotta mileage racked up on that arm in the past several seasons.

 

[Kevalier]

Hoynes:

*The Indians will not exercise the 2020 options on second baseman Jason Kipnis and right-hander Dan Otero. The Indians have not closed the door on bringing back either played.

*Bullpen coach Scott Atchison was fired after two years on the job. The search has begun for his replacement. Atchison replaced bullpen Jason Bere, who was fired following the 2017 season.

*All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez told the Indians he would move to second base if they want him to next year. He just doesn’t want to bounce between second and third. So he’ll either play second or third next year depending on what kind of upgrade they can find in an infielders.

*Antonetti said Francisco Lindor will not be traded and will play for the Tribe next year. He said they would continue to try and find common ground on a multiyear contract. Lindor can be a free agent after the 2021 season.

*Catcher Roberto Perez could undergo surgery on his right ankle. He is being examined by a specialist this week.

*The Indians anticipate Carlos Carrasco, diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia during the season, to come to spring training as a starting pitcher. He rejoined the Indians this year as a reliever.

*Tyler Naquin, who underwent surgery for a torn ACL, is rehabbing in Texas. GM Mike Chernoff says the normal rehab time for that injury is seven to nine months. Naquin was injured on Aug. 30 when he hit the left field fence at Tropicana Field.

*Francona said they’ll slow-play right-hander Shane Bieber in spring training to keep him fresh for next season. Bieber was pitching on fumes at the end of this year.

I listened to the entire press conference on my lunch break, and at no point did Antonetti say that Lindor will not be traded this offseason. Not that I expect it to happen though.

 

[sportscoach]

Declining Otero? Well crap, there goes the season.

I have a hunch both Otero and Kipnis will get offers to rejoin the club. More than likely Otero will have a minor league option, with incentives to reach 1.5 to 2 mil. So he could be back, just no longer has the guaranteed money. Kipnis likely could get an offer around the 6-7 mil range on a one year deal. Not sure they will take it, but Cleveland will offer them a deal to come back. Clippard probably will get a deal to be brought back as well, but I just don't see a big league one, so similar to what Otero is probably offered.

His velocity has been on a bit of a steady decline. I don't think it's anything to get alarmed about, but worth noting

I agree that it could end up being a positive thing for next year that he was able to rest his arm and knee for so long. Lotta mileage racked up on that arm in the past several seasons.

It's not really a decline in my mind that is anything out of the ordinary for his age and mileage. I mean he was a late bloomer and with us getting him for Westbrook, that was a brilliant trade in the end since we traded a number 4/5 starter for a future ace. I wonder if a full off season rest almost will stop that velocity decline? The dude knows how to pitch and knows what he needs to do out their and we have a very good catching crew. I mean I know Gomes was his preferred battery, but I don't doubt he will see eye to eye with one of the guys we have since both handle the pitching staff well.

As a catching staff we had 5 errors and 2 PB the entire season and we had at least 26 different pitchers get on the mound for us this season? Perez should get a gold glove to be honest.

 

[Steve_424]

I listened to the entire press conference on my lunch break, and at no point did Antonetti say that Lindor will not be traded this offseason. Not that I expect it to happen though.

Yikes...I mean, it wouldn't surprise me to see Hoynes be wrong...

 

[Urban]

Meisel's tweet on Antonetti. In line with what @Kevalier said above

 

[Derek]

Initially, I figured it was a no-brainer to pick up Kluber's option until I saw it was 17.5 million. What the Tribe has to weigh is whether or not they can get comparable production for that 17.5 million in FA. The odds are 'no', so just like with Danny Salazar, they kind of have to take the chance and pick it up. Im not sure it does anything for them trade-wise; he's coming off a season lost to injury, only has the one season left, and is an obvious regression candidate at age 34, coming off a season lost to injuries and being an workhorse for 5 straight years. If he does well, the Tribe should be in contention and they don't trade him at the deadline. Hopefully Kluber can overcome the obvious obstacles, put aside whatever the setback was at the end of the season, find his mojo again after the slow start and the Tribe has something really cooking for next year.

It might be a lot of money, but even if Kluber doesn't totally return to FOR form, there is value of taking care of the guy financially.

One of the reasons we have had so much success recently in retaining players through their primes is that we have bought out arbitration years in order to extend years of team control. However, if we start to be known as the team who does that, but then opts out of the bigger money options at the end of the deal, our credibility takes a hit. Agents don't forget.

 

[Kevalier]

Here is what Hoynes was referring to regarding his claim that Antonetti will not trade Lindor this offseason. Either I missed this remark during the press conference, or Hoynes caught up with him afterwards.

 

[Steve_424]

Hoynes probably jumped the gun. But it doesn't sound like Lindor is going anywhere, at least this winter.

 

[Stark]

You definitely, 100%, no doubt about it pick up Kluber's option.

I don't care about his age. 34 is not that old for a guy that didn't pitch his first 150+ inning season until he was 28. He pretty much had another year of wear and tear removed from his arm this season, won't pitch in the postseason for the first time in a while, and is going to get a full offseason of rehab to be on track for 2020.

Charlie Morton (35), Max Scherzer (35), Zack Greinke (35), and Justin Verlander (36) all had great seasons this year. Kluber doesn't rely on velocity really at all and was third in the Cy Young voting in 2018. He's a notoriously slow starter, like a lot of veterans, so of course his numbers look like trash this year before he got hurt.

If healthy, I'm not really concerned about Kluber much at all next year. He might have a negligible decline (maybe falls to around a 3.30 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 8.5 K/9), but even that would be worth the money. I'm more concerned about Carrasco getting healthy and Plesac/Civale either getting better or staying lucky, because both of their FIPs were at least a full run worse than their ERA.

 

[chuck0609]

With Kipnis off the books, is there an opportunity to add someone or will they possible look at extending Los beyond next year and bringing back Kip on a much friendlier team deal 1 yr 4-5 M? I’ve seen some put 6M and the going rate for a starting 2nd baseman is higher, but frankly he owes the Indians for they they’re done for him financially. He did not earn that past K.

 

[Andrew Scheid]

With Kipnis off the books, is there an opportunity to add someone or will they possible look at extending Los beyond next year and bringing back Kip on a much friendlier team deal 1 yr 4-5 M? I’ve seen some put 6M and the going rate for a starting 2nd baseman is higher, but frankly he owes the Indians for they they’re done for him financially. He did not earn that past K.

Brian Dozier would be a nice fit for that price.

 

[Stark]

Dozier has been pretty bad the past two seasons (moreso in 2018 than 2019) and will be 33 in May. I'd give him a look for the right price because he's still a nice power bat, but he's definitely not Minnesota all-star Dozier anymore.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Bring Mickey home.

 

[Derek]

@Andrew Scheid @Stark
Dozier was slightly better than Kip this year, and worse the year before. If that's what we're going after, couldn't we just bring Kip back?

A year of Todd Frazier is something I'd be interested in. Brock Holt is another guy I like because he'd have value as a utility guy if Chang or someone else steps up. As an everyday 2B option, I like Howie Kendrick.