The 2020 Cleveland Indians

[AZ_]

Which is why the Dodgers won’t trade Lux, especially since they are one of the few teams that can just sign Lindor outright in two years.

That’s their choice.

But it would be patently stupid to trade Lindor for anything less.

 

[Kevalier]

That’s their choice.

But it would be patently stupid to trade Lindor for anything less.

I don’t disagree with you, but to play devil’s advocate, you wouldn’t accept an offer of May, Verdugo, Ruiz and Downs?

 

[MadThinker88]

Which is why the Dodgers won’t trade Lux, especially since they are one of the few teams that can just sign Lindor outright in two years.

Then the Dodgers can make their pitch to Lindor & his agent in 2 years (along with the Yankees and other teams).
If the Dodgers want an earlier opportunity to pitch a contract to Lindor they have to pay the price set by Cleveland..

 

[AZ_]

I don’t disagree with you, but to play devil’s advocate, you wouldn’t accept an offer of May, Verdugo, Ruiz and Downs?

No

I’m in no position to be settling for less than I want.

 

[Steve_424]

I don’t disagree with you, but to play devil’s advocate, you wouldn’t accept an offer of May, Verdugo, Ruiz and Downs?

I wouldn't. With 2 years left on his deal, the Indians should name their price and it should be astronomical. I'm perfectly fine with Lindor playing his last two seasons here if no team steps up with a huge deal.

 

[Kevalier]

Just to be clear, trading Lindor for anything less than the haul of the century would be absolutely disastrous. I’m not advocating selling him off for pennies on the dollar by any means, but just getting an idea of how everyone else hear values certain Dodgers prospects. If the Tribe doesn’t get an offer that simply blows them away, then they should keep Frankie for the next two seasons and do their damnest to win a World Series with him.

 

[hockeyjohn]

I don’t disagree with you, but to play devil’s advocate, you wouldn’t accept an offer of May, Verdugo, Ruiz and Downs?

Lux has to be in the deal or no trade. We need a hitter and an infielder is our biggest need as we will need two if we trade Lindor. We do not need May to be the centerpiece as starting pitching is our strength.

 

[bigfoot5415]

That’s their choice.

But it would be patently stupid to trade Lindor for anything less.

I agree 100%. People dont understand the concept of leverage. We dont have to give up Lindor. If someone wants him bad enough; theyll have to meet our demands.

If they dont, we will happily trot him out.

 

[NMCav]

Serious question. Does anyone even believe the rumors when it says the Dodgers are eyeing *insert big name player*. In this case Fransico Lindor. Yes he's an upgrade at SS for the Dodgers. But the problem LA has isn't with offense. They have Seager (Not as good as Lindor), Lux among other options to fill in at SS.

They need pitching not offense. Lindor is a luxury for the Dodgers not a necessity. Teams use Dodgers as leverage to get bigger packages from other teams. Much like how Marlins were demanding Bellinger for Realmuto to get Phillies to include Sixto Sanchez in the trade package. It makes zero sense for LA to cash top specs in on a luxury. They need Bullpen help and SP depth way more then a upgrade at SS. Even in a down year and in only 133 games Seager had 44 doubles and 19 homers. Lindor is better yes but hes not a substantial enough upgrade when the team has other needs. This is clearly the yearly Dodgers want said player to up the trade package from another team.

 

[Urban]

They need pitching not offense. Lindor is a luxury for the Dodgers not a necessity. Teams use Dodgers as leverage to get bigger packages from other teams. Much like how Marlins were demanding Bellinger for Realmuto to get Phillies to include Sixto Sanchez in the trade package. It makes zero sense for LA to cash top specs in on a luxury. They need Bullpen help and SP depth way more then a upgrade at SS. Even in a down year and in only 133 games Seager had 44 doubles and 19 homers. Lindor is better yes but hes not a substantial enough upgrade when the team has other needs. This is clearly the yearly Dodgers want said player to up the trade package from another team.

Do they need SP depth? They probably have the most SP depth in baseball

Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Kenta Maeda, Ross Stripling, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Julio Urias. And I would assume there is mutual interest to bring back Ryu as well

Every team could use help in the bullpen, but the Dodgers are pretty good there as well

 

[Urban]

Brian Sweeney, entering his third year with the team, has been promoted to bullpen coach.

Sweeney, 45, pitched professionally for 19 seasons. He made it to the big leagues with Seattle and San Diego before retiring after the 2013 season. His resume includes three years pitching in Japan. He spent three years in the Phillies minor league system before joining the Indians after the 2017 season


Ruben Niebla, the Indians long-time minor league pitching coordinator, will join the big league staff in a newly created role. Carl Willis remains as the pitching coach.

Niebla, 47, just finished his 19th season with the Indians, the last seven as their minor league pitching coordinator. He served as the Indians interim pitching coach in 2012 following the firing of Scott Radinsky. Niebla has been the pitching coach at just about every left of the Tribe’s minor league system.The job description of Niebla’s new role is not known. But big league organizations such as the Indians are putting more and more emphasis on not only the development of pitchers, but the science and analytics behind it.

Cleveland Indians name Brian Sweeney bullpen coach, promote Ruben Niebla to big-league staff

Indians look to bolster pitching staff with coaching additions.

www.cleveland.com

Sounds like Sweeney was basically "the #3 guy" in the pitching hierarchy behind Willis and Atchison last year

 

[Kevalier]

Brian Sweeney, entering his third year with the team, has been promoted to bullpen coach.

Sweeney, 45, pitched professionally for 19 seasons. He made it to the big leagues with Seattle and San Diego before retiring after the 2013 season. His resume includes three years pitching in Japan. He spent three years in the Phillies minor league system before joining the Indians after the 2017 season


Ruben Niebla, the Indians long-time minor league pitching coordinator, will join the big league staff in a newly created role. Carl Willis remains as the pitching coach.

Niebla, 47, just finished his 19th season with the Indians, the last seven as their minor league pitching coordinator. He served as the Indians interim pitching coach in 2012 following the firing of Scott Radinsky. Niebla has been the pitching coach at just about every left of the Tribe’s minor league system.The job description of Niebla’s new role is not known. But big league organizations such as the Indians are putting more and more emphasis on not only the development of pitchers, but the science and analytics behind it.

Cleveland Indians name Brian Sweeney bullpen coach, promote Ruben Niebla to big-league staff

Indians look to bolster pitching staff with coaching additions.

www.cleveland.com

Sounds like Sweeney was basically "the #3 guy" in the pitching hierarchy behind Willis and Atchison last year

Promoting Niebla to the big league club is huge. He has been a rock star in the organization for years now, and the fact that they created a role for him up here shows how valuable he is and how coveted he is by other teams. Well deserved

 

[AZ_]

Promoting Niebla to the big league club is huge. He has been a rock star in the organization for years now, and the fact that they created a role for him up here shows how valuable he is and how coveted he is by other teams. Well deserved

Was about to post the same thing.

This is the type of new voice that the big league coaching staff has lacked.


Terry Francona
Brad Mills
Carl Willis
Sandy Alomar

Three baseball "dinosaurs" so to speak, with Sandy who is a former player.

How many new, fresh ideas do you really think are being talked about in that room?


From one of the end of year wrap pieces, on Niebla:

It was Niebla and his staff that sent right-handers Zach Plesac, Aaron Civale, Adam Plutko and Jefry Rodrigudez to the big leagues when the Indians lost Mike Clevinger and Corey Kluber to injuries and Carlos Carrasco to leukemia. The big-league staff knew Plutko, but Plesac, Civale and Rodriguez were new.

“We sat with Ruben the other day to make sure he understood, and I think he did, how much we value what he and his staff have done,” said Francona. "They saved our rear end.

“I think Carl (Willis, pitching coach), Atch (Scott Atchison, bullpen coach) and Brian Sweeney (major league coach) do a great job. But they didn’t see these guys before they got here. There were other people responsible for getting them ready to come here. I think Carl has done a great job since they’ve been here, taking care of something they don’t see in the minor leagues.”

 

[Urban]

Is there concern that his presence will be missed in that minor league development period?

Regardless, it seemed like if they didn't make a move to promote him to the majors that another team would've poached him away, sooner rather than later.

 

[BMAN]

Was about to post the same thing.

This is the type of new voice that the big league coaching staff has lacked.


Terry Francona
Brad Mills
Carl Willis
Sandy Alomar

Three baseball "dinosaurs" so to speak, with Sandy who is a former player.

How many new, fresh ideas do you really think are being talked about in that room?


From one of the end of year wrap pieces, on Niebla:

I’m actually glad to hear Francona and the rest are willing to listen to fresh ideas. You don’t see that a lot when you have older coaches like you mentioned. They seem like they are always stuck in their ways.