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The 2020 Cleveland Indians

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Derek said:
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.
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And contextually, if they broke the bank for a guy like Puig after losing Brantley, Donaldson, etc. I'd be even more bummed out.
 
AZ_ said:
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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I sincerely don't think they will at all, but for whatever reason it does happen, I am saying I will just trust them is all and hope they are right.
 
sportscoach said:
I sincerely don't think they will at all, but for whatever reason it does happen, I am saying I will just trust them is all and hope they are right.
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If it happens, it means that the front office that got us where we are no longer exists. We will no longer able to bring a competitor to a small market. I'll be deeply saddened.
 
Antonetti said on the TV broadcast the day or 2 days after the trade that Puig is a rental.

There is no reason to expect that to change. Puig will probably be the 7th most highly sought after offensive player on the market behind (in no particular order) Rendon, Grandal, Didi, Donaldson, Ozuna, and JD Martinez- if he opts out
 
“Kansas City Royals owner David Glass is discussing the sale of the club to a group headed by Kansas City native John Sherman, the vice-chairman of the Cleveland Indians” per The Athletic

Not sure what the implications are for the Indians. Sherman bought into the Indians in 2016.
 
Jim Bowden (former MLB GM) posted an article on The Athletic the other day listing 10 big names that could be moved this offseason.

Lindor was #2, Kluber was #7.

Sorta on the fence about Lindor. On one hand, he's one of the best players in the game, in his prime and he loves Cleveland. On the other, the Indians could set themselves up for playoff runs for the next decade+ by moving him this offseason and I'm not sure how realistic it is to think an extension is possible.

To be honest, I don't think the Dolan's have big enough balls to move him. I don't blame them, the blowback would be enormous. Bowden doesn't think the Indians will move him either but also says the Indians couldn't say no if someone like the Dodgers offered Gavin Lux and Keibert Ruiz for Lindor. I'd probably want more in that scenario but I'd be willing to listen.....
 
EdMonix11 said:
Jim Bowden (former MLB GM) posted an article on The Athletic the other day listing 10 big names that could be moved this offseason.

Lindor was #2, Kluber was #7.

Sorta on the fence about Lindor. On one hand, he's one of the best players in the game, in his prime and he loves Cleveland. On the other, the Indians could set themselves up for playoff runs for the next decade+ by moving him this offseason and I'm not sure how realistic it is to think an extension is possible.

To be honest, I don't think the Dolan's have big enough balls to move him. I don't blame them, the blowback would be enormous. Bowden doesn't think the Indians will move him either but also says the Indians couldn't say no if someone like the Dodgers offered Gavin Lux and Keibert Ruiz for Lindor. I'd probably want more in that scenario but I'd be willing to listen.....
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Bowden is a notorious blowhard, who throws shit against the wall and reminds everyone that he was once an MLB GM. I wouldn’t put any stock into what he says, nor do I think there’s even a chance Lindor gets moved this winter.
 
Puig has also already regressed below his career norm OPS of .824 during his time here in Cleveland. He's currently at .810, which still isn't bad, but for as hot as Puig started with us, he has already regressed right back around to the mean. Also playing barely league average defense in the outfield this year after being below average last year.

We're not in a position to offer an outfielder who's league average at best in defense and will hover around a .780-.820 OPS an extended contract worth a good amount of money.

Our best case scenario is that Puig plays out of his mind and helps us out in a playoff push, so we can have fond memories of him when some other team offers him a 4/80 contract this offseason.
 
Kevalier said:
Bowden is a notorious blowhard, who throws shit against the wall and reminds everyone that he was once an MLB GM. I wouldn’t put any stock into what he says, nor do I think there’s even a chance Lindor gets moved this winter.
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Eh, I think you missed the point.

Lindor is a superstar with two years left of team control and playing in a smallish market. Whether we like it or not, his name is gonna be out there from this winter until he hits free agency in two years. That's just the nature of the business.

The Indians are gonna have an internal price for him, just like they did for Bauer/Kluber this offseason. Bowden's just not dismissing the idea of a team meeting the asking price.

And FWIW, it's not just Bowden. Buster Olney said something similar last month too.

I'm not saying the Indians should or will move Frankie. Just saying his name is gonna be out there.....
 
EdMonix11 said:
Eh, I think you missed the point.

Lindor is a superstar with two years left of team control and playing in a smallish market. Whether we like it or not, his name is gonna be out there from this winter until he hits free agency in two years. That's just the nature of the business.

The Indians are gonna have an internal price for him, just like they did for Bauer/Kluber this offseason. Bowden's just not dismissing the idea of a team meeting the asking price.

And FWIW, it's not just Bowden. Buster Olney said something similar last month too.

I'm not saying the Indians should or will move Frankie. Just saying his name is gonna be out there.....
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I don’t see how any team is going to come even close to a potential price the Indians would set for Lindor, so it’s pretty much a moot point.
 
I don’t think Pluto is arbitration eligible until 2022
 
Oh, and a number of executives are expecting monster names to be in trade talks.
Wait. Did you say monster names?
Are Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor and Kris Bryant monster enough?
Really?
Yup. Now, this does not mean all three -- or even any of the three -- will be traded. But in preparing for this winter, rival executives believe the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs are willing to at very least listen on their stars.
This is nothing new for any of the three organizations. All are successful in part because they have no sacred cows, because they explore all avenues to winning, because to dismiss an idea outright is antithetical to teams that pride themselves on curiosity and creativity.

It's what makes Lindor moving less likely. He is not a free agent until after the 2021 season, meaning the Indians control his rights for two more years. The benefit of dealing him over the winter would be the price of two full seasons -- even heftier than a year of Betts. Cleveland also has a history of dangling some of its best players, including starters Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and Shane Bieber, to gauge their worth. Bauer was dealt at the trade deadline this year, with a year and a half to go before his free agency. The Indians may listen, but it's difficult to imagine them dealing Lindor before seeing how they perform in 2020 -- even if they know they won't re-sign him.
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From Jeff Passan's article on ESPN today-- Playing 20 Questions with the 2019-20 MLB Hot Stove

Relevant to our Lindor discussion yesterday.

Biggest takeaway? The Indians have supposedly dangled Bieber....
 
bigfoot5415 said:
I could see teams calling, but no way in hell would we move a top of the line starter on the current deal he is on.
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No, Bieber isn't moving now nor is it even a trade rumor. Passan just included that tidbit to use as an example of the Indians constantly gauging interest in their players.

I just don't remember there being any rumors of the Indians dangling Bieber, though. I assume the Indians were looking at the potential of flipping him for a young impact bat after it looked like Kluber and Bauer would stay put this past winter. That makes the most sense....

Hell even at the height of Salazar's value a few years back, the Indians dangled him too. Even went pretty deep in trade talks with the Giants.
 
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