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Cleveland Indians 2018-2019 Offseason Outlook

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If they trade any of them, the returning players in package better be able to play now with what we have left in Lindor and Jose.

With this team at it's highest peak, the attendance doesn't meet the demands of keeping payroll up. Indians fans have to break barriers this season or it's back to square one very soon. (Trading Lindor for the best prospects)

Kipnis's 14.6 Million is looking so awesome though, #3 on the team.
 
Latest from Ken Rosenthal. Not much we didn't already know, but figured it was still worth sharing:

The high price for an Indians starter
Want Indians right-hander Corey Kluber? Think about offering a package similar to what the Pirates gave up for Chris Archer or the Red Sox gave up for Chris Sale.

Kluber has three years, $40.5 million remaining on his contract. Sale had three years, $38 million remaining when the Red Sox acquired him from the White Sox in Dec. 2016. Archer had three-plus years and $29.5 million remaining when the Pirates acquired him from the Rays last July 31.

While Kluber is the most expensive of that group, he also is the most accomplished, a Cy Young finalist in three of the past five seasons and a winner twice. Thus, the Indians might want to exceed the Yoan Moncada-Michael Kopech-plus return for Sale, and the Tyler Glasnow-Austin Meadows-Shane Baz return for Archer.

Not surprisingly, sources say the Indians are getting “hit hard” with trade inquiries for Kluber and their two other available starting pitchers — right-handers Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco, both of whom are under control for two more seasons, as opposed to Kluber’s three.

The narrower window of control means the price for either Bauer or Carrasco might be lower than it is for Kluber. But in Bauer’s case, it might not be much lower; he was on a Cy Young track before he suffered a stress fracture in his right fibula on Aug. 11, and is only 27, while Kluber is 32.

Kluber has worked 1,136 2/3 innings the past five years, the most of any pitcher in the majors, including regular season and postseason. He faded in each of the past two postseasons, perhaps due to physical issues, but he is a tireless worker who stays in excellent shape. The Indians point to his resurgence in the 2018 regular season as proof that his struggles in the ‘17 Division Series against the Yankees were only temporary.

Rival clubs say the Indians rarely come off their desired price in trade discussions, so it’s possible they will not trade any of their starters this offseason. They always can try again at the non-waiver deadline, knowing righty Danny Salazar might be ready by then after missing all of last season due to shoulder issues.

Whatever they do, the Indians again will be prohibitive favorites to win the AL Central. They are open to trading a starter only because of their payroll limitations and roster needs, most notably in the outfield. Such a deal would be more painful if it actually jeopardized their chances of winning the division.
If the Indians do a trade for prospects, then you must trade Bauer and Carrasco as well. It makes little sense, as you still may win the Central, but you're not a better team without Kluber. Not using the assets in the trade to fill holes on the team at the present moment gets you further away from the Astros, Sox and Yankees.

Currently that Sox trade doesn't look so hot for Chicago. Kopech is definitely the real deal, but Moncada is a strike out machine and the other 2 players are still in the minors. I would hope we would get a package of young mlb established players and a prospect for insurance.
 
I hear Cimber has a brother...
 
If they trade any of them, the returning players in package better be able to play now with what we have left in Lindor and Jose.

With this team at it's highest peak, the attendance doesn't meet the demands of keeping payroll up. Indians fans have to break barriers this season or it's back to square one very soon. (Trading Lindor for the best prospects)

Kipnis's 14.6 Million is looking so awesome though, #3 on the team.

We are in the wrong league. Boston and New York are both incredibly strong with a good mixture of young guys and expensive free agents. Houston has a large payroll, but also great at developing their own players. Pretty hard to compete with that, when our big signing is an old Eddy(who has given good production) when those guys are signing Jd Martinez and maybe Machado or Harper this year.
 
If the Indians do a trade for prospects, then you must trade Bauer and Carrasco as well. It makes little sense, as you still may win the Central, but you're not a better team without Kluber. Not using the assets in the trade to fill holes on the team at the present moment gets you further away from the Astros, Sox and Yankees.

Currently that Sox trade doesn't look so hot for Chicago. Kopech is definitely the real deal, but Moncada is a strike out machine and the other 2 players are still in the minors. I would hope we would get a package of young mlb established players and a prospect for insurance.
Nah.
You can do a trade of one of them, shift some things around, pivot and stop have a good shot at things.

Trade all three top tier pitchers and you are doing a rebuild, which is not what they are looking to do.
 
Nah.
You can do a trade of one of them, shift some things around, pivot and stop have a good shot at things.

Trade all three top tier pitchers and you are doing a rebuild, which is not what they are looking to do.
Maybe if you use those prospects to get other mlb proven players. I can see that. But trades is the avenue they will have to use to get the team better. I don't see them spending big money in free agency.
 
We are in the wrong league. Boston and New York are both incredibly strong with a good mixture of young guys and expensive free agents. Houston has a large payroll, but also great at developing their own players. Pretty hard to compete with that, when our big signing is an old Eddy(who has given good production) when those guys are signing Jd Martinez and maybe Machado or Harper this year.

I'm not saying Houston won't be good next year because they obviously will, but they have some issues to address this offseason. Keuchel and Morton are free agents and McCullers is out for 2019. Right now their rotation is Verlander, Cole, and three question marks. Maldonado, McCann, and Gattis are all free agents, so they'll need a catcher (although dropping McCann and Gattis off the payroll probably helps). Marwin Gonzalez is also a free agent and has been an important part of that team. That's not to say they won't fill those holes, but they have work to do.

The Yankees will likely lose Britton, McCutchen, and possibly Robertson. They are the favorites to land Corbin, but may lose Happ. They also have some work to do.

The Red Sox probably have the least amount of work to do, but they do have some free agents. Craig Kimbrel, Nathan Eovaldi, Joe Kelly, Ian Kinsler, and Steve Pearce all played roles in helping them win a title.

The Indians have the most work to do, losing Brantley, Allen, Miller and more, and that's why they'll need to get creative.
 
Is Andujar actually expendable for Kluber? 128 wRC+ as a 23 year old? I think I suffer from some Kluber fatigue but some package around a young hitter THAT good is pretty enticing. I think we can cycle pitching through our system over the next few years but I have little faith we could unearth a young corner infielder as good as MA.

He just hit .297 as a 23 year old and had damn near 50 doubles at a premium corner position.

As a 23 year old, MLB ranks among 3B:

AVG: #2
2B: #3
HR: #9
RBI: #T-5
OBP: #10
SLG: #4
OPS: #6

Plus, he was a sub 100 K guy in 573 AB's.......that is Bregman level.

Am I just drinking the Andujar kool-aid or would the Yankees actually move him for starting pitching?
 
Is Andujar actually expendable for Kluber? 128 wRC+ as a 23 year old? I think I suffer from some Kluber fatigue but some package around a young hitter THAT good is pretty enticing. I think we can cycle pitching through our system over the next few years but I have little faith we could unearth a young corner infielder as good as MA.

He just hit .297 as a 23 year old and had damn near 50 doubles at a premium corner position.

As a 23 year old, MLB ranks among 3B:

AVG: #2
2B: #3
HR: #9
RBI: #T-5
OBP: #10
SLG: #4
OPS: #6

Plus, he was a sub 100 K guy in 573 AB's.......that is Bregman level.

Am I just drinking the Andujar kool-aid or would the Yankees actually move him for starting pitching?
Yanks would move him in a heartbeat for Kluber
 
Latest from Ken Rosenthal. Not much we didn't already know, but figured it was still worth sharing:

The high price for an Indians starter
Want Indians right-hander Corey Kluber? Think about offering a package similar to what the Pirates gave up for Chris Archer or the Red Sox gave up for Chris Sale.

Kluber has three years, $40.5 million remaining on his contract. Sale had three years, $38 million remaining when the Red Sox acquired him from the White Sox in Dec. 2016. Archer had three-plus years and $29.5 million remaining when the Pirates acquired him from the Rays last July 31.

While Kluber is the most expensive of that group, he also is the most accomplished, a Cy Young finalist in three of the past five seasons and a winner twice. Thus, the Indians might want to exceed the Yoan Moncada-Michael Kopech-plus return for Sale, and the Tyler Glasnow-Austin Meadows-Shane Baz return for Archer.

Not surprisingly, sources say the Indians are getting “hit hard” with trade inquiries for Kluber and their two other available starting pitchers — right-handers Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco, both of whom are under control for two more seasons, as opposed to Kluber’s three.

The narrower window of control means the price for either Bauer or Carrasco might be lower than it is for Kluber. But in Bauer’s case, it might not be much lower; he was on a Cy Young track before he suffered a stress fracture in his right fibula on Aug. 11, and is only 27, while Kluber is 32.

Kluber has worked 1,136 2/3 innings the past five years, the most of any pitcher in the majors, including regular season and postseason. He faded in each of the past two postseasons, perhaps due to physical issues, but he is a tireless worker who stays in excellent shape. The Indians point to his resurgence in the 2018 regular season as proof that his struggles in the ‘17 Division Series against the Yankees were only temporary.

Rival clubs say the Indians rarely come off their desired price in trade discussions, so it’s possible they will not trade any of their starters this offseason. They always can try again at the non-waiver deadline, knowing righty Danny Salazar might be ready by then after missing all of last season due to shoulder issues.

Whatever they do, the Indians again will be prohibitive favorites to win the AL Central. They are open to trading a starter only because of their payroll limitations and roster needs, most notably in the outfield. Such a deal would be more painful if it actually jeopardized their chances of winning the division.
First ive heard Bauer is available.
Is Andujar actually expendable for Kluber? 128 wRC+ as a 23 year old? I think I suffer from some Kluber fatigue but some package around a young hitter THAT good is pretty enticing. I think we can cycle pitching through our system over the next few years but I have little faith we could unearth a young corner infielder as good as MA.

He just hit .297 as a 23 year old and had damn near 50 doubles at a premium corner position.

As a 23 year old, MLB ranks among 3B:

AVG: #2
2B: #3
HR: #9
RBI: #T-5
OBP: #10
SLG: #4
OPS: #6

Plus, he was a sub 100 K guy in 573 AB's.......that is Bregman level.

Am I just drinking the Andujar kool-aid or would the Yankees actually move him for starting pitching?
Heck yeah the Yanks would do that. They would do that and then proceed to go out and sign a top tier 3rd baseman in free agency. Im sorry i just cant get into any trade that involves trading him there. If they are really considering moving him then please let it be to a National League team.
 

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