Trade Deadline Day - 2020

[The Human Q-Tip]

chit chat - 6 super bowl titles, 0 world series titles

And baseball is full of bloated payrolls that have failed, and more frugal ones winning it all. This is not the 70's and 80's where the Tribe was acting as a farm team for better franchises and not fielding competitive teams.. Instead, they've traded top level talent about to get (over)paid for younger talent able to develop and then contribute at a high level themselves, but much more affordably.

It's the smartest way for teams with limited budgets to build a team capable of winning a WS.

 

[Lee]

It's a win-now and win-later special for the Tribe. They traded a top end starter, and those are supposed to be valuable. I get it. Fans wanted more.

But I don't think the Indians are going to miss Clev that much. They still have a #1 starter with two playoff worthy starters in Civale and Carrasco behind him. If McKenzie and Plesac are for real, they still have a plus group of starters.

The three young vets they receive in return help the three biggest holes on the roster right now with good players. Naylor is in the discussion for the second or third best outfielder on the team right now. Hedges is now the best catcher, Quantrill is a legit reliever arm. So, they are a more balanced team for this postseason.

If the minor league assets pan out, it's a hell of a trade for the future as well.

Is Hedges really better than Berto in your opinion?

 

[Derek]

Is Hedges really better than Berto in your opinion?

I honestly think they're really close. Neither has much history of being much at all at the plate and both are gold glove level receivers.

If Hedges can get up to speed with the pitching staff, I'd be open to an even time split between the two.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Is Hedges really better than Berto in your opinion?

Plenty of die-hard baseball fans will have stats to back their opinion up, but I've watched the Padres a little the past few years. He is great defensively and calling games. Buster Posey had the Gold Glove on lockdown for years in the NL, but Hedges calls a good game. He has some pop with contact issues, so he is a feast or famine player at the plate. Bottom line - they have a young everyday catcher who came up behind him.

 

[Lee]

Plenty of die-hard baseball fans will have stats to back their opinion up, but I've watched the Padres a little the past few years. He is great defensively and calling games. Buster Posey had the Gold Glove on lockdown for years in the NL, but Hedges calls a good game. He has some pop with contact issues, so he is a feast or famine player at the plate. Bottom line - they have a young everyday catcher who came up behind him.

Team control on the 2 catchers (Berto vs Hedges)?

 

[Obscured By Clouds]

 

[Randolphkeys]

@Lee

Austin Hedges:
Service Time (01/2020): 3.166 • Arb Eligible: 2021

Roberto Perez:
2020 Contract Status: Signed thru 2020, 4 yrs/$9M (17-20) & 21-22 team option
Service Time (01/2020): 5.083 • Free Agent: 2021

 

[Lee]

@Lee

Austin Hedges:
Service Time (01/2020): 3.166 • Arb Eligible: 2021

Roberto Perez:
2020 Contract Status: Signed thru 2020, 4 yrs/$9M (17-20) & 21-22 team option
Service Time (01/2020): 5.083 • Free Agent: 2021

So looked it up, do we think they pick up Perez option of 5.5? Is that reasonable for him being a top defensive catcher? Pick up option then trade him?....Seems Hedges is a very similar player, have 2 more years of him at 3-4 million in ARB, so a bit cheaper....does Berto at 5.5 mill have value this offseason or does he just walk?

 

[Randolphkeys]

So looked it up, do we think they pick up Perez option of 5.5? Is that reasonable for him being a top defensive catcher? Pick up option then trade him?....Seems Hedges is a very similar player, have 2 more years of him at 3-4 million in ARB, so a bit cheaper....does Berto at 5.5 mill have value this offseason or does he just walk?

Again, other stat heads can jump in whenever they want here. I'm a casual baseball fan who goes full geek on basketball and football...

But I'm sure they are worried Perez cashed in on a very good 2019. He hit a very nice total on homers and snatched a Golden Glove. Tribe doesn't want a bidding war for a guy who isn't that great in the batters box.

 

[Urban]

Gomes just signed a 2 yr $10m deal but has a better track record of offensive production than Perez

Like Keys mentioned, he's coming off a 2019 season where he hit 24 HR and is well-respected for his defense. The Tribe will not decline his option in hopes of bringing him back at a cheaper price; the risk isn't worth the reward of potentially shaving a million bucks off the payroll.

But will they bring him back? I would think so, but it's really hard to see where the team is at financially after losing Sherman and COVID. Could easily see them trading or decline his 2021 option now that they just acquired a very similar player that makes quite a bit less next year. I mentioned it before Pluto's doom and gloom article even came out, but I'm worried the offseason could be pretty rough.

 

[DCTribefan]

Gomes just signed a 2 yr $10m deal but has a better track record of offensive production than Perez

Like Keys mentioned, he's coming off a 2019 season where he hit 24 HR and is well-respected for his defense. The Tribe will not decline his option in hopes of bringing him back at a cheaper price; the risk isn't worth the reward of potentially shaving a million bucks off the payroll.

But will they bring him back? I would think so, but it's really hard to see where the team is at financially after losing Sherman and COVID. Could easily see them trading or decline his 2021 option now that they just acquired a very similar player that makes quite a bit less next year. I mentioned it before Pluto's doom and gloom article even came out, but I'm worried the offseason could be pretty rough.

You are talking about Gomes, the guy that cannot beat out Suzuki for the top Nats backstop?

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

"One rival evaluator raved about overall (long-term) value the Indians received – "Cleveland crushed it" – but also questioned whether they're better off for 2020."- Zach Meisel, The Athletic

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Keith Law's summary....

Naylor might be the biggest individual beneficiary, as he gets away from the logjam of Wil Myers, Eric Hosmer, and now Mitch Moreland, and ends up in the same system as his younger brother Bo, a top 100 prospect who was Cleveland’s first-round pick in 2018. Naylor is a patient hitter with power who got crushed by Petco — he slugged 104 points better on the road since his recall last year, and even had an 86 point OBP split — but who has everyday upside even if he ends up as a DH. He worked hard to improve his conditioning before 2019 and Cleveland should send him out to left field for now, since they’ve gotten no production there...

He could end up as a DH with Reyes moving to right field (that was supposed to happen this year) or Naylor could move to first base. Santana's $17.5 million option will not be picked up so the question is whether he will resign with the Indians at an affordable price. If not, Naylor is good insurance. I wouldn't want to count on Bauers or Bradley.

 

[Urban]

You are talking about Gomes, the guy that cannot beat out Suzuki for the top Nats backstop?

I don't have the slightest clue at what you're trying to get at here.

 

[sportscoach]

Is Hedges really better than Berto in your opinion?

When it comes to defensive talent, both are very good. Perez has a slightly better range factor and with experience being the reciever for these pitchers, Hedges will be the backup for Perez.