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The 2020 Cleveland Indians

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sportscoach said:
You cannot say they are out of the equation though either. Naquin had a good year last season until he tore his ACL. Plus he had no spring training so i am not really counting this season towards him. Mercado had a very good season last year and had an off season this year. I dont know why we are throwing out a kid with less than one full season, out to the curb.

I dont know why they would right either guy off as part of the roster going forward. Get both guys healthy and a full spring training then evaluate them after that.

We gave up on Aguilar because he was blocked and he went and had 30 HRs. Its too soon to write off either guy. Now that being said, they need someone to step up, and if they don't then yeah, write them off, but you have to actually see how they respond from this season before you do so.
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Aguilar had serious regression the past two seasons so he’s not the best comp. Naquin hits high heat about as well as Zimmer and I don’t expect more seasoning will mitigate that shortcoming. Is it possible, yes. Is it probable, no.
 
Before we head into full playoff mode, I just wanted to say how happy this strange, funky, sawed-off little season has made me. I am really glad we had this opportunity for baseball. I love watching the Tribe play and am incredibly pleased we were able to get this in surrounded by initial and on going COVID threats, etc. It was a respite and a gift for me.
The Tribe is not a team without faults and follies, but as I watch a good bit from other teams, too, I feel good about saying there are no perfect teams...even the Dodgers are (again) beatable. The best of three is a crap shoot, so anything can happen...I am looking forward to the next part of the ride!
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
Yep, especially if they are very short on money and need to reduce payroll dramatically then they will just continue throwing mud on the wall and hope some combination of Naylor, Naquin, Mercado, Luplow, Johnson, Reyes, and Zimmer sticks. But there is a real possibility that we will lose Lindor, Hernandez, and Santana next year, which equates to a lot of offense in the infield. It won't be enough to have three outfielders who are just OK. We might have a lineup that has only two players capable of doing damage; Hosey and Franmil.
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Why is it that most folks claiming it a forgone conclusion that Hernandez is certainly gone next season?!?

He has balled out this year, solid defender and leading AL in doubles while batting .280+ all season. To my eyes he'd be a borderline All Star in a typical season with his consistency at 2B and in the batter's box.

Seems he's enjoyed his teammates and always has a calm demeanor. So could both sides find an agreeable 2-4 year deal that allows us some stability in the infield going forward?
 
Beanie4Heisman said:
Why is it that most folks claiming it a forgone conclusion that Hernandez is certainly gone next season?!?

He has balled out this year, solid defender and leading AL in doubles while batting .280+ all season. To my eyes he'd be a borderline All Star in a typical season with his consistency at 2B and in the batter's box.

Seems he's enjoyed his teammates and always has a calm demeanor. So could both sides find an agreeable 2-4 year deal that allows us some stability in the infield going forward?
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Noooooooo. He has been good, but unless he is good coming back on a very similar salary, he is good as gone. It's likely his last chance at a payday, hard to see the Indians opening up the pocket book for him with our glut of middle infielders already on the roster/minors. Should be quite a ride.
 
sportscoach said:
His career is .259/.336/.470

This season he is hitting .277/.352/.457

Not sure how he doesnt fit overall giving up on him too soon?
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Aguilar had all of 58 ABs before Cleveland let him go to Milwaukee so yes, it was too soon although I think it arguable how much of a contributor he would really be on the 2020 Tribe. In stark contrast, Naquin now has 939 ABs spread over 4 full seasons and one injury year. Hardly a small, insignificant sample. He currently has an OPS of .632 with a .218 BA. if the light hasn’t come on by now, it probably never will so I have zero issues with letting him go. I think you have a better argument by noting Urshela being let go too soon, not Aguilar.
 
Beanie4Heisman said:
Why is it that most folks claiming it a forgone conclusion that Hernandez is certainly gone next season?!?

He has balled out this year, solid defender and leading AL in doubles while batting .280+ all season. To my eyes he'd be a borderline All Star in a typical season with his consistency at 2B and in the batter's box.

Seems he's enjoyed his teammates and always has a calm demeanor. So could both sides find an agreeable 2-4 year deal that allows us some stability in the infield going forward?
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Hernandez has always been a high BABIP guy. He spreads the ball around well. I loved the signing last off-season and he delivered everything I wanted from him and more.

However, I wouldn't be to keen on giving out a multi-year contract to a guy in his 30's who needed a .364 BABIP this year just to be a slightly above-average offensive player this year.
 
Naquin has been a league-average bat across 1000+ plate appearances. He is who he is. He'll likely remain in the OF mix in some capacity when healthy until he reaches FA in 2023.
 
Derek said:
Naquin has been a league-average bat across 1000+ plate appearances. He is who he is. He'll likely remain in the OF mix in some capacity when healthy until he reaches FA in 2023.
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If so, the Indians outfield will continue to be among the league’s worst. Also, I’m not sure a -0.6 WAR is league average.
 
Criznit said:
Noooooooo. He has been good, but unless he is good coming back on a very similar salary, he is good as gone. It's likely his last chance at a payday, hard to see the Indians opening up the pocket book for him with our glut of middle infielders already on the roster/minors. Should be quite a ride.
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This was my main angle. If he were to do something like 3 years at 20 million I'd say that's a very agreeable number for both sides. I just don't see any of the youthful guys breaking into the infield and making a major impact next season. It certainly won't be M. Freeman or Yu Chang forcing the hand of Tito or Sandy for playing time....

All ears as you all know far more than I with regard to our prospects and pipeline.
 
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DCTribefan said:
If so, the Indians outfield will continue to be among the league’s worst. Also, I’m not sure a -0.6 WAR is league average.
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Naquin is returning from injury and has not been the sole cause of low outfield production. I think he'll make some noise in the postseason, and will really perform well next season when he truly trusts his knee again. Tyler seems to have that 'clutch gene' and usually comes up and produces when we least expect to see it.
 
DCTribefan said:
Aguilar had all of 58 ABs before Cleveland let him go to Milwaukee so yes, it was too soon although I think it arguable how much of a contributor he would really be on the 2020 Tribe. In stark contrast, Naquin now has 939 ABs spread over 4 full seasons and one injury year. Hardly a small, insignificant sample. He currently has an OPS of .632 with a .218 BA. if the light hasn’t come on by now, it probably never will so I have zero issues with letting him go. I think you have a better argument by noting Urshela being let go too soon, not Aguilar.
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...and at least we got jake bauers in exchange for yandy. yikes!
 
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