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The 2020 Cleveland Indians

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I'll be sad when Oliver Perez leaves. His El Tiante style fascinates me. That fat old man is nowhere near done.

I am with you I honestly believe that Perez is safe for next season - especially looking at the production of this season
 
I figured you weren't just nit-picking but having an honest discussion. This is a super early look so I'd rather have someone disagree to be honest.

I am personally leaning towards not keeping Otero, but I have a hunch the brass want to keep Otero and his price of 1.5 mil is better than the price of a reliever on the market. I just feel if they do pick up the option on him, he is a lock to start the season on the team because of the way he is in the club house as well. Sincerely I would rather go with Sandlin in his place in the bullpen, so I am going with Francona liking his veterans here.

Clippard on paper has earned a MLB contract, but at his age and the fact bullpen guys have not had a good time in free agency the last few years, he may not get a major league deal. His track record the last few seasons is a work horse of the pen with middle of the road ERA and FIP etc. Baseball logic says pay the man, but the market isn't in his favor, so the teams that would pay him probably aren't going to be contenders.

The reason why I stated McKenzie may start at A+ isnt because talent wise he shouldn't be at AA or higher, its because he has lost a full season. I am only looking at 2-3 starts area just like a rehab stint kind of thing, but if healthy, I plan on after that AA and if he is back to preforming well, getting to AAA by mid summer in a sense. Either way makes sense to me, so if he starts at AA then so be it, I don't mind being wrong here.

That OF honestly looks like a big open competition to me and that should be a good thing. We will have the best 4-5 OF guys coming out of spring training and talent that is badly itching to get on the team as well. It should be a very good mix of an OF, though Mercado I only like in CF, since he seems to do poorly still in the corners, but I am taking a guess at it to be honest. Any of the guys stated make sense.

@AZ_ I know its not a big deal, but I am pretty positive Plutko is out of options and with the other arms having I believe better talent than him overall, I don't see him making the roster next season. I personally feel Morgan can replace his production in a sense in the depth chart.

Other than the dream of somehow signing Lindnor why are we closing the book/door on Puig
 
Other than the dream of somehow signing Lindnor why are we closing the book/door on Puig

Just doesn't make any sense to bring him back at his projected price. The money is better spent by reinvesting in our younger talent via pre-arb extensions.
 
It is hard to see Daniel Johnson truly being in the mix without an injury or unforeseen roster moves. Both of which are certainly possible with Naquin & Zimmer and with the OF getting pretty crowded at this level.

Mercado had a really impressive Spring Training but wasn't really ever seriously in the running to make the Opening Day roster.

Since then, the OF has grown stronger/more established. Luplow and Naquin, based on their success this season, certainly appear to have a spot on the team. Mercado, while inconsistent lately, should have a relatively firm grasp on a spot as well. Zimmer IF healthy has the fast track for a spot because of his plus defense and speed. As a reserve OF, Greg Allen, a speedy switch hitter who can play all positions, would probably be seen as more valuable than Johnson who is probably going to be limited to a corner and looks on track to be a platoon hitter. And then there is Bauers.

It is certainly hard to disagree with your post … and I do like Zimmer -

that said we would again be in a scenario where other than Luplow we lack a right handed outfield power bat
 
It is certainly hard to disagree with your post … and I do like Zimmer -

that said we would again be in a scenario where other than Luplow we lack a right handed outfield power bat
If we're getting decent production out of them, what does it matter if they're a RH with power?

We have plenty of power on the team between Jose, Frankie, Franmil, and Carlos. Even if the OF is just league average producers at the plate, they'll be extremely valuable due to their defensive and baserunning abilities.
 
We're closing the door on Puig because the door has closed on just about every worthwhile, or once worthwhile, player of ours that we have convinced ourselves that we may be able to re-sign in the past few years. Bruce, Santana, Allen, Miller, Brantley, Donaldson, even Shaw. The Indians traditionally are not going to compete in unrestricted free agency.
 
We're closing the door on Puig because the door has closed on just about every worthwhile, or once worthwhile, player of ours that we have convinced ourselves that we may be able to re-sign in the past few years. Bruce, Santana, Allen, Miller, Brantley, Donaldson, even Shaw. The Indians traditionally are not going to compete in unrestricted free agency.

Also, in most of those cases, it would have been unwise to bring them back. Bruce, Allen, Miller, and Shaw have not lived up to their contract signed post-Indians, and I highly doubt Puig will either.
 
Other than the dream of somehow signing Lindnor why are we closing the book/door on Puig

Because he's going to get a huge contract beyond what his value over the next four years will likely be.
 
Other than the dream of somehow signing Lindnor why are we closing the book/door on Puig

Reason why to me is the fact we have a ton of young OFs with talent and potential. We need to develop who we have, extend who we have and maybe keep some roster flexibility salary wise in case we need to make an in-season trade. Why invest a fair amount of money 15+ mil for a position not in need? Also don't forget Reyes does play some OF, I'd rather him not, but progressive field has an easier OF situation than San Diego does. Don't get me wrong none of us would complain if we resigned Puig, at his price and our type of market, investing in him doesn't make a ton of sense.

Also if Chang replaces Kipnis, don't forget he is from the right side and has some pretty good pop in his bat. So our lineup that way will have a nice balance. He could get 20 HRs in the pros so he isn't exactly a push over either. If worse comes to worse, we move for a guy at the trade deadline next season if we need more production in the lineup. I am not worried honestly.
 
Reason why to me is the fact we have a ton of young OFs with talent and potential. We need to develop who we have, extend who we have and maybe keep some roster flexibility salary wise in case we need to make an in-season trade. Why invest a fair amount of money 15+ mil for a position not in need? Also don't forget Reyes does play some OF, I'd rather him not, but progressive field has an easier OF situation than San Diego does. Don't get me wrong none of us would complain if we resigned Puig, at his price and our type of market, investing in him doesn't make a ton of sense.

Also if Chang replaces Kipnis, don't forget he is from the right side and has some pretty good pop in his bat. So our lineup that way will have a nice balance. He could get 20 HRs in the pros so he isn't exactly a push over either. If worse comes to worse, we move for a guy at the trade deadline next season if we need more production in the lineup. I am not worried honestly.
I would complain if we re-signed Puig
 
I would complain if we re-signed Puig

Well then edit, most of the casual fans wouldn't*

If we re-sign him, we have to trust that the FO is making the right decision. Overall have they done anything to make you not trust them?
 
Well then edit, most of the casual fans wouldn't*

If we re-sign him, we have to trust that the FO is making the right decision. Overall have they done anything to make you not trust them?

No FO is perfect, and just because I'm generally happy with what they do, doesn't mean I need to be happy with everything they do. Signing Puig would go against their typical strategy (that I agree with), and would disappoint me greatly.
 
Well then edit, most of the casual fans wouldn't*

If we re-sign him, we have to trust that the FO is making the right decision. Overall have they done anything to make you not trust them?

If you think believe this front office is going to re-sign him, than you're probably a casual fan who doesn't understand the front office.

Kind of a double-edged sword.
 

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