The 2020 Cleveland Indians

[MirORich]

I think this is so they can get some work in until there next starts while the Indians can continue to use their roster spots on other players until Plesac and Clev’s next turn on the rotation comes up.

 

[LL3]

I think this is so they can get some work in until there next starts while the Indians can continue to use their roster spots on other players until Plesac and Clev’s next turn on the rotation comes up.

I believe it is far more than that...they are not rehabbing an injury, these guys are getting booted off the major league roster, and optioned to minor league camp. That is a big hit to egos.
They let their team down and hurt the efforts for a safe, successful season...then made it worse by lying....compounded more by what seems to be a complete failure of acknowledging the hurt their actions caused. The team is pissed and obviously somewhat distracted. These men need to grow up. Seems to me the organization is trying to help them see this.

 

[CATS44]

In the end, it looks like both guys will miss two starts, if the team sticks strictly to the ten days.

Both were required to drive themselves to Detroit with all their gear...then face the music in a team meeting. Whatever was said in the meeting, the result is that they are no longer with the team.

In any case, its not the slap on the wrist and a quick return that some predicted.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

 

[Coyote850]

If the Indians keep them in the minors the rest of the year it means we get them another year. No major league service time for this year.

 

[MadThinker88]

In the end, it looks like both guys will miss two starts, if the team sticks strictly to the ten days.

Both were required to drive themselves to Detroit with all their gear...then face the music in a team meeting. Whatever was said in the meeting, the result is that they are no longer with the team.

In any case, its not the slap on the wrist and a quick return that some predicted.

Its also a possible hit to the wallet for each of them.

Plesac misses enough time with the MLB club & he could miss getting Super 2. Clevinger is normally getting a fair payment but sitting at the alternative site likely cuts into that money.

On top of that, neither can cry to the MLBPA about loss of pay or service time manipulation. If the MLBPA submits the grievance, Manfred/ MLB can say a harsher punishment was possible & both were lucky to only be penalized with what they got. Additionally the MLBPA will look so 2 faced lobbying for guys that clearly violated the safety protocols & jeopardized other MLBPA members, at risk individuals & the season as a whole...

One other aspect here: I highly doubt the Tribe pursues an extension with Clev.
We will see how things progress with Plesac, but this type of hit to his earning potential likely sours him on signing an extension to stick around..

 

[Obscured By Clouds]

If the Indians keep them in the minors the rest of the year it means we get them another year. No major league service time for this year.

Is that really a thing?

 

[Coyote850]

I look for the Indians to trade one of them in the off season. Maybe a package deal with Lindor to bring back a major haul.

 

[Kiddo]

Rules are rules and These 2 idiots broke them. They lost the trust of their teammates and coaches and whatever punishment is decided is warranted. Even if you don’t agree with the rules you still have to abide by then. Hoping Clevinger is traded for a starting OF at some point this season or offseason.

 

[Otsego Mar]

Rules are rules and These 2 idiots broke them. They lost the trust of their teammates and coaches and whatever punishment is decided is warranted. Even if you don’t agree with the rules you still have to abide by then. Hoping Clevinger is traded for a starting OF at some point this season or offseason.

I hope we keep them both.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Rules are rules and These 2 idiots broke them. They lost the trust of their teammates and coaches and whatever punishment is decided is warranted. Even if you don’t agree with the rules you still have to abide by then. Hoping Clevinger is traded for a starting OF at some point this season or offseason.

Even if they believed the Covid precautions to be overblown, they had to know that the team would be forced to suspend them if caught. On a team that had serious playoff aspirations in a very shortened season, their selfishness could ruin the season for their teammates.

They'd better pray we don't miss the playoffs because of their poor judgement.

 

[CATS44]

A few thoughts..

1) The two knuckleheads didn't just break team and MLB protocols (another name for rules), they broke protocols agreed to by the MLBPA. They have almost no recourse.

2) IMO anybody who doesn't think that Clevinger won't be traded hasn't paid much attention to how this org has been run since the Dolans took over. The money situation made it a possibility. Clevs actions make it a probability. Perhaps, even the timeline has been moved up.

3) Plesac may be in the same boat.

4) Clevinger will bring a lot more than a MLB bat in return. He is a Frontline pitcher at well under market cost.

5) Any trade of either of them will likely bring a package that includes at least one young SP in return.

6) We would get more in return by trading Lindor and Clevinger separately than as a package. In today's baseball world, young talent is valued so highly that no org could afford to to give up the talent it would take to acquire both. We are talking about eight to ten players.

We got four each for CC, Colon, and Lee. We got five for Bauer.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

At $4.1 million this year (before being prorated) Clevinger is a huge bargain. The guy was 13-4 last year with a 2.71 ERA. To have a pitcher of that quality at $4.1 million is an insane value.

Next year is his second year of arbitration. Between the 60-game season and missing at least two starts (out of only 12 scheduled) he's not going to get a huge increase next year, which will mean he'll again be a tremendous asset, especially for a small market franchise. The lifeblood of the Indians is quality starting pitchers making far less than market value. Bieber, Plesac, and Civale are the next in that line.

I expect Clevinger will be back in the rotation in 10 days. I expect him to shut up and pitch. He should have a great season next year and then be traded after the 2021 season. The only thing I see that would speed up the timeline is if somebody like McKenzie or Logan Allen makes a huge leap like Plesac and Civale did last year and Bieber the year before. If the Indians are sure that Clevinger could be adequately replaced by one of those guys then I could see trading him with two years left and getting a bigger haul.

 

[TFIR]

At $4.1 million this year (before being prorated) Clevinger is a huge bargain. The guy was 13-4 last year with a 2.71 ERA. To have a pitcher of that quality at $4.1 million is an insane value.

Next year is his second year of arbitration. Between the 60-game season and missing at least two starts (out of only 12 scheduled) he's not going to get a huge increase next year, which will mean he'll again be a tremendous asset, especially for a small market franchise. The lifeblood of the Indians is quality starting pitchers making far less than market value. Bieber, Plesac, and Civale are the next in that line.

I expect Clevinger will be back in the rotation in 10 days. I expect him to shut up and pitch. He should have a great season next year and then be traded after the 2021 season. The only thing I see that would speed up the timeline is if somebody like McKenzie or Logan Allen makes a huge leap like Plesac and Civale did last year and Bieber the year before. If the Indians are sure that Clevinger could be adequately replaced by one of those guys then I could see trading him with two years left and getting a bigger haul.

Really nice post. In addition, and I haven't seen this mentioned, major league STARTING PITCHERS have a long history of being off the beaten track. Think back - a long laundry list of starting pitchers who were absolutely insane. Randy Johnson leads that list.

Also remember that Trevor Bauer pitched in Cleveland a very, very long time after being traded here - partly for his rebellious behavior. He ended up being traded 1.5 years before he became a free agent (for a stud package). Not a coincidence. Oh, and as crazy as Bauer was the Reds stepped right up - even off a down Bauer season.

So I agree as long as guys like Clevinger and Plesac are bargains, and they are, they will stay with this team (unless offered an insane package...unlikely). And Tito will handle it just like he handled Bauer year after year after year.

 

[jup]

Really nice post. In addition, and I haven't seen this mentioned, major league STARTING PITCHERS have a long history of being off the beaten track. Think back - a long laundry list of starting pitchers who were absolutely insane. Randy Johnson leads that list.

Also remember that Trevor Bauer pitched in Cleveland a very, very long time after being traded here - partly for his rebellious behavior. He ended up being traded 1.5 years before he became a free agent (for a stud package). Not a coincidence. Oh, and as crazy as Bauer was the Reds stepped right up - even off a down Bauer season.

So I agree as long as guys like Clevinger and Plesac are bargains, and they are, they will stay with this team (unless offered an insane package...unlikely). And Tito will handle it just like he handled Bauer year after year after year.

Heaven forbid if they get handled like Bauer by Tito.

One season, and I mean a COMPLETE SEASON, those two never said a word to each other unless it was absolutely necessary. Avoided each other in the post game handshake line, used opposite ends of the dugout for ingress and egress, used different routes for movement between weight room clubhouse and the like, etc. etc. etc. Avoid contact was the normal operating procedure, because neither wanted to even exchange pleasantries (if they could be called that in this case, maybe "obligatories" would be more accurate).