The 2020 Cleveland Indians

[Wham with the Right Hand]

He has accumulated 7.5 dWAR in 446 games....Next best player with less than 500 games is at 6.0 dWAR.

So Perez is the best defensive player of all time for catchers with less than 500 games. In fact, he's 25% better than the next closest. Wow!

I think one of the best defensive catchers of all time will get his $5.5 million next year. They'd be insane to go cheap at a position that is involved in every pitch. Especially because when you play a lot of close, low-scoring games you need to be able to control the opponent's running game and keep their runners at first base.

Also, Berto has proved that when he plays everyday he can hit 24 home runs in 119 games and get on base over 30% of the time. When healthy and playing regularly he's not an offensive black hole. I think he's one of the best values in the game.

 

[Urban]

No, because in 7 yrs Perez has slashed 212/302/364/666 and he's due $5.5M. Look, I like how Perez handles the pitching staff. I give Gomes and Perez a good portion of credit for the Indians pitching staff's success over the last several years. They now have a younger, cheaper version to do the exact same thing. Like I said in a prior post, I could be wrong.

I know this is over a week old, but I don't think this is the case.

If Hedges does not receive a raise in arbitration, he stands to make $2.5m less than Perez. Hedges would've made $3m last year before the "COVID-cuts". Gomes was set to make $4.5m more than Perez in 2019.

Additionally, Gomes was coming off an All Star season and trading him was a way to not only cut salary, but to acquire some prospects in return. I think Perez is respected around the league but I don't think any team is giving up anything of real value to pay Perez $5.5m after his poor 2020 season where he missed half of the season.

Also, I believe the Indians liked what they saw from Perez in his opportunities when Gomes was injured and thought he was capable of being a better offensive player with more opportunity. He certainly showed that last year. On top of that, Perez had over 2000+ career innings on the Indians with their pitching staff. Hedges has been on the heavy side of the catching split before and has no real familiarity with the Indians pitching staff.

If Hedges were still a pre-arb player making $500k I think it's a lot more possible the Indians would choose him but the cost savings are pretty negligible, IMO. We'll see if the Indians FO feels the same way.

 

[sportscoach]

I know this is over a week old, but I don't think this is the case.

If Hedges does not receive a raise in arbitration, he stands to make $2.5m less than Perez. Hedges would've made $3m last year before the "COVID-cuts". Gomes was set to make $4.5m more than Perez in 2019.

Additionally, Gomes was coming off an All Star season and trading him was a way to not only cut salary, but to acquire some prospects in return. I think Perez is respected around the league but I don't think any team is giving up anything of real value to pay Perez $5.5m after his poor 2020 season where he missed half of the season.

Also, I believe the Indians liked what they saw from Perez in his opportunities when Gomes was injured and thought he was capable of being a better offensive player with more opportunity. He certainly showed that last year. On top of that, Perez had over 2000+ career innings on the Indians with their pitching staff. Hedges has been on the heavy side of the catching split before and has no real familiarity with the Indians pitching staff.

If Hedges were still a pre-arb player making $500k I think it's a lot more possible the Indians would choose him but the cost savings are pretty negligible, IMO. We'll see if the Indians FO feels the same way.

I personally feel that the Indians got Hedges rather than a low prospect added to the deal because they wanted him as Perez's backup. Shoot if I was a pitcher, Perez and Hedges both are rated highly as recievers, so I would be glad to be working with the combo. These guys make the pitchers better and honestly I think over the years Perez has proven that.

 

[CDAV45]

I know this is over a week old, but I don't think this is the case.

If Hedges does not receive a raise in arbitration, he stands to make $2.5m less than Perez. Hedges would've made $3m last year before the "COVID-cuts". Gomes was set to make $4.5m more than Perez in 2019.

Additionally, Gomes was coming off an All Star season and trading him was a way to not only cut salary, but to acquire some prospects in return. I think Perez is respected around the league but I don't think any team is giving up anything of real value to pay Perez $5.5m after his poor 2020 season where he missed half of the season.

Also, I believe the Indians liked what they saw from Perez in his opportunities when Gomes was injured and thought he was capable of being a better offensive player with more opportunity. He certainly showed that last year. On top of that, Perez had over 2000+ career innings on the Indians with their pitching staff. Hedges has been on the heavy side of the catching split before and has no real familiarity with the Indians pitching staff.

If Hedges were still a pre-arb player making $500k I think it's a lot more possible the Indians would choose him but the cost savings are pretty negligible, IMO. We'll see if the Indians FO feels the same way.

Don't disagree at all Urban because you could be absolutely correct. I just don't feel that they will pay 2 C that can't hit a lick $9M, so one will likely have to go. I just don't see the value in it.

 

[xmasbuck]

padres traded for two catchers the day before dumping hedges

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

Don't disagree at all Urban because you could be absolutely correct. I just don't feel that they will pay 2 C that can't hit a lick $9M, so one will likely have to go. I just don't see the value in it.

Heck, they paid a whole outfield to do that for the entirety of the season.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

Really think this season will act as a tipping point for the Tribe.

Will be an offseason to determine wheter our playoff window remains open or they focus on savings for a season and go full on youth development and see what we've got in the organization.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Really think this season will act as a tipping point for the Tribe.

Will be an offseason to determine wheter our playoff window remains open or they focus on savings for a season and go full on youth development and see what we've got in the organization.

I agree, this year is the tipping point where they transition to going full on youth development while cutting payroll to the bone. They said it will take "years" to recover from the financial losses of this season. They said they had to borrow money to meet expenses, which scares the hell out of me because that's what Art Modell did the year before he moved the Browns.

I wouldn't be shocked if this team has a new name AND a new city before too long. Maybe both at the same time.

 

[kidduck]

Sticking with the AL Central, the Indians face an offseason rife with uncertainty. The catching situation will be particularly interesting, Zack Meisel of the Athletic observes. Cleveland holds a $5MM club option on starter Roberto Pérez, while backup Austin Hedges would be in line for a raise on his $3MM salary in arbitration. That combination might prove too pricey for the low-payroll Indians, Meisel points out. That would seem to hint at Hedges being non-tendered, but Cleveland clearly liked him enough to acquire him from the Padres just over a month ago as part of the return for Mike Clevinger. Pérez had a dismal 2020 but is only a year removed from performing as one of the league’s best catchers; it’s hard to envisioning the Indians declining his option based upon a poor 100 plate appearances, although perhaps Pérez becomes a trade candidate himself if the club is comfortable turning to Hedges as their top option.

 

[CDAV45]

Really think this season will act as a tipping point for the Tribe.

Will be an offseason to determine wheter our playoff window remains open or they focus on savings for a season and go full on youth development and see what we've got in the organization.

It's hard to determine the financial ramifications from where we sit. MLB is rife with money as a whole, even as some clubs struggle, so we'll see how it pans out.

I think the tipping point is more likely to be cultural. The youth movement could be upon us my fellow Tribe fans. These kids are more prepared than ever when they're drafted, and I think the Indians are going to start being a bit more aggressive with promotions. Conversely, they are likely to be less willing to pay mediocre players any significant money at all.

The AL Central has changed. It's no longer the pathway for the Indians to make the playoffs every season in their current form. The Twins' lineup is one of the best in the league, the White Sox are bursting at the seams with positional talent, and the Tigers boast one of the leagues best farm systems now. They have 5 prospects in the top 50. We have 1 at 38. That's not the end all, be all, but it is certainly an indicator that they've acquired some serious talent and it's on the horizon. Having said all that, if the Indians make an astute trade or 2 that infuses some young talent then they will remain in the fray.

 

[CDAV45]

padres traded for two catchers the day before dumping hedges

They sure did, and why do you think they did so? After all, Hedges was renowned as the best defensive C in the NL.

 

[sportscoach]

They sure did, and why do you think they did so? After all, Hedges was renowned as the best defensive C in the NL.

They got the veteran in Castro and essentially swapped the older and more versatile but better hitter in Nola for Hedges. They essentially cut the low hitting defensive guy for one more versatile overall. They still have some prospects there as well at catcher, so they are fine depth wise. Indians lack catching depth period. We still have to sign a couple veteran catchers to play at AAA next season with keeping Hedges and Taylor.

 

[EdMonix11]

 

[N7RobBob]

dj leMahieu as mvp is

 

[MirORich]