The 2020 Cleveland Indians

[CDAV45]

No surprise really. Berto is as good as it gets defensively. Congrats to him.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

Cesar had a hell of a Tribe debut at the dish as well as his oustanding play in the grass all season. Persistent Professional.

Glad to see him recieve such a recognition. Humility may be his best trait of all. Solid way to follow up Kip's longstanding tenure.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

And muh fuckin' Bebo Perez!

What can we say that hasn't been rehashed here a hundred times over?!? Calls an oustanding game night after night. Studies rmthe scouting reports relentlessly snd readily deceminates opposing hitter's tendencies to our pitching staff.

The guy is just the best back there. Also, 'berto wields has a cannon to boot when baserunners foolishly try him.

 

[sportscoach]

And muh fuckin' Bebo Perez!

What can we say that hasn't been rehashed here a hundred times over?!? Calls an oustanding game night after night. Studies rmthe scouting reports relentlessly snd readily deceminates opposing hitter's tendencies to our pitching staff.

The guy is just the best back there. Also, 'berto wields has a cannon to boot when baserunners foolishly try him.

With us being a pitching first roster, we dont have a choice but to have the best catcher when it comes to receiving and calling games. Roberto is that guy in my mind, so I dont have a doubt in my mind we will keep him until his contract runs out in 23. After that it will be hard to say since hopefully Naylor will be ready behind the plate.

At the moment, I feel Hedges will stay in Cleveland since we legitimately dont have any backups better in the organization. All the AA and AAA guys we have at the moment are actually free agents, plus at best Naylor will start at A+ or AA, we are going to have to trade for or bring in more catchers. We currently only have Beau Taylor and no one else really at AA or AAA.

Now if we acquire a legit catcher (get Jansen from Toronto, Sanchez from the Mets) who is MLB ready, then we can move on from Hedges, but at the moment, the void is huge there. Cleveland is going to bring in 4-6 catchers from the free agent list/trade for to fill in spots.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

Beau Taylor seemed serviceable in his limited time in action here this season.

Equal or better to the veteran Leon even. Those were some costly interference calls that we don't usually see. And Leon has never been a threat on the other side of the plate either.

Just hoping Perez can get and stay healthy in the years ahead. Always seems he's beat up midway through and especially as we're on verge of playoff time each of these past few years.

 

[CDAV45]

With us being a pitching first roster, we dont have a choice but to have the best catcher when it comes to receiving and calling games. Roberto is that guy in my mind, so I dont have a doubt in my mind we will keep him until his contract runs out in 23. After that it will be hard to say since hopefully Naylor will be ready behind the plate.

At the moment, I feel Hedges will stay in Cleveland since we legitimately dont have any backups better in the organization. All the AA and AAA guys we have at the moment are actually free agents, plus at best Naylor will start at A+ or AA, we are going to have to trade for or bring in more catchers. We currently only have Beau Taylor and no one else really at AA or AAA.

Now if we acquire a legit catcher (get Jansen from Toronto, Sanchez from the Mets) who is MLB ready, then we can move on from Hedges, but at the moment, the void is huge there. Cleveland is going to bring in 4-6 catchers from the free agent list/trade for to fill in spots.

I agree with the idea that the ability to call a game, handle a pitching staff, and play excellent defense is paramount at C for the Indians. Where I disagree, is that they will keep both Perez and Hedges for $8 or $9M. I mean they're looking at the smallest of salaries not being offered arbitration in some cases. I'm not saying they're going to do this, but it wouldn't surprise me if they traded Perez in this moment when his value is as high, or higher than it will ever be. He is about to be 32 and could decline anytime.

On the other hand, it wouldn't surprise me if the trade Hedges instead. He too is an excellent defensive backstop that knows how to handle a staff. If not for Perez, he may be the best defensive C in baseball. Top 3 for sure. I wonder how many C will be looking for employment next season that could be signed to a below market value, short term contract?

Bottom line, under the current financial circumstance, I don't believe they will keep both, but good for the pitching staff and us if they do.

 

[sportscoach]

I agree with the idea that the ability to call a game, handle a pitching staff, and play excellent defense is paramount at C for the Indians. Where I disagree, is that they will keep both Perez and Hedges for $8 or $9M. I mean they're looking at the smallest of salaries not being offered arbitration in some cases. I'm not saying they're going to do this, but it wouldn't surprise me if they traded Perez in this moment when his value is as high, or higher than it will ever be. He is about to be 32 and could decline anytime.

On the other hand, it wouldn't surprise me if the trade Hedges instead. He too is an excellent defensive backstop that knows how to handle a staff. If not for Perez, he may be the best defensive C in baseball. Top 3 for sure. I wonder how many C will be looking for employment next season that could be signed to a below market value, short term contract?

Bottom line, under the current financial circumstance, I don't believe they will keep both, but good for the pitching staff and us if they do.

Its just going to be hard to merit moving Perez right now. We will come into 21, with a very young starting pitching staff going into their primes. Bieber is really the veteran of this staff and he is what 26? To me you need a veteran catcher to pair with them. Bauer pitched his best games for us when he wasn't shaking off Perez and was throwing what he put down. Also I would like a veteran catcher for Naylor to play with his first season or two in the bigs personally as well.

My question is why get Hedges knowing you will have to cut/trade him in a couple months when he has multiple years of team control? That doesn't sound like a move the FO makes. Also with the fact we have no catching depth, we cannot move Hedges until we has his replacement either in my mind.

 

[xmasbuck]

Its just going to be hard to merit moving Perez right now. We will come into 21, with a very young starting pitching staff going into their primes. Bieber is really the veteran of this staff and he is what 26? To me you need a veteran catcher to pair with them. Bauer pitched his best games for us when he wasn't shaking off Perez and was throwing what he put down. Also I would like a veteran catcher for Naylor to play with his first season or two in the bigs personally as well.

My question is why get Hedges knowing you will have to cut/trade him in a couple months when he has multiple years of team control? That doesn't sound like a move the FO makes. Also with the fact we have no catching depth, we cannot move Hedges until we has his replacement either in my mind.

Bauer's gonna win the Cy Young award this season - Perez wasn't responsible for his success - Pads told Antonetti they had to take Hedges if they wanted Cantillo

 

[Gson]

Bauer's gonna win the Cy Young award this season - Perez wasn't responsible for his success - Pads told Antonetti they had to take Hedges if they wanted Cantillo

Cantillo may end up being the next Cliff Lee... or a J.I.C. We'll see.. but, he's off to a very nice start in his career...

 

[CDAV45]

Its just going to be hard to merit moving Perez right now. We will come into 21, with a very young starting pitching staff going into their primes. Bieber is really the veteran of this staff and he is what 26? To me you need a veteran catcher to pair with them. Bauer pitched his best games for us when he wasn't shaking off Perez and was throwing what he put down. Also I would like a veteran catcher for Naylor to play with his first season or two in the bigs personally as well.

My question is why get Hedges knowing you will have to cut/trade him in a couple months when he has multiple years of team control? That doesn't sound like a move the FO makes. Also with the fact we have no catching depth, we cannot move Hedges until we has his replacement either in my mind.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you coach, but you kind of answer the question yourself in your 2nd paragraph. I feel that they waited a year too long to trade Kluber and now Lindor. If that is indeed true, then I wouldn't be surprised to see them deal Perez at his peak. I acknowledge that I could be way off base here and that both Perez and Hedges will be on the roster in 21, and if the 20 season was even typical financially, I wouldn't feel as I do.

Something else on this subject too. We all are in agreement that Perez is the best damn defensive C in the game right now, but don't forget how good Hedges is also. He's certainly behind Perez in that regard, but he's younger and still pretty damn good in every aspect behind the dish. Does that $2M difference in their salaries make a difference in this odd offseason? Maybe............maybe not.

What I'm uncertain of is Perez's value. As a GG winning C could he bring back Frazier for example? I really don't know, but I'm confident that Perez has good value to a team like the Yankees.

 

[sportscoach]

Bauer's gonna win the Cy Young award this season - Perez wasn't responsible for his success - Pads told Antonetti they had to take Hedges if they wanted Cantillo

Where did you see that at?

And no Perez isn't 100% responsible for his success, but Perez does usually make his pitchers slightly better since he calls a good game and is a good pitch framer as well and pitchers arent afraid to throw the ball into the dirt with him.

 

[CDAV45]

Where did you see that at?

And no Perez isn't 100% responsible for his success, but Perez does usually make his pitchers slightly better since he calls a good game and is a good pitch framer as well and pitchers arent afraid to throw the ball into the dirt with him.

I agree coach. I've said for years now that while this pitching staff is talented and the organization is excellent at developing SP, Gomes and Perez got the most of this pitching staff that lesser C couldn't have. Now we have Hedges who is revered in the same light.

 

[Gson]

Where did you see that at?

And no Perez isn't 100% responsible for his success, but Perez does usually make his pitchers slightly better since he calls a good game and is a good pitch framer as well and pitchers arent afraid to throw the ball into the dirt with him.

While it may not have been quoted in print.. in the few days before the Clevinger trade to the Padres was consumated, there was a statement to the effect that the Padres were "out" on the Clevinger deal and the Indians would be pursuing a different path.. It was two days later that, with the addition of Austin Hedges and Joey Cantillo, the Clevinger deal was completed. I believe there was discussion from both sides of the equation as there should be.. That is.. the Indians may have wanted Cantillo all along while the Padres were resisting (probably for good reason or we hope) The Indians wanted to "rid" themselves of Greg Allen, also for good reason.

As an aside.. the acquisitions, what we've seen so far.. can be characterized:

-of Cal Quantrill: fantastic get.. this is a guy that has a chance to move right into the spot vacated with the trade of Mike Clevinger..

-of Josh Naylor: versatile athlete that can really swat.. He hasn't even been given much of an opportunity to show what he can do defensively..

-Austin Hedges: See below

-Owen Miller: One poster has described him as Mark Loretta (.295/.360/.755 over more than 5000 ML ABs; 1B, 2B, & 3B) or Joey Wendle. Either way, he's the epitome of a major league utility players.. His best spot may be 2B..

Gabriel Arias: Could be the real gem (I think it will be Quantill) as this kid has all the tools needed to be a ML SS that can flat out hit.

Joey Cantillo: The reason Mike Clevinger is in San Diego.. as the Padres FO caved to the power and pressure of the time and CLEFO.. Cantillo may best be described as the mirror of Not-Justin Bieber..

In the interim, the Padres had already acquired two new backstops and were either going to DFA Hedges or rid themselves by including Hedges in the deal. Of course, a six for 2, one being a throw away could be a hard sell for the Padres FO to their fan base.. So, the padres evened the trade up by including PaT BeNaL.. (commented in this thread to be Alex Moroff...and I still don't know much about him)..

Hedges has proven to be Bebo Perez, lite. That is.. a much less than ML quality hitter while being a superb defensive back stop.

 

[FrontPageNews]

Neat

 

[Benway]

Man, what a shame about that outfield.