2016-2017 Indians Off-Season Thread

[Soar]

Oh well.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Oh well.

Still some decent utility guys out there, if we are still thinking about going that route.

Might as well throw a minor league deal at one and see if they beat out Gonzalez/Martinez.

 

[sportscoach]

Still some decent utility guys out there, if we are still thinking about going that route.

Might as well throw a minor league deal at one and see if they beat out Gonzalez/Martinez.

Who would you want them to bring in on a minor league invite since the next week or so teams are looking to finalize camp deals?

I don't see a whole lot of moves left that they will make. We will still do some minor league invites but honestly Utley was looked at because he is a well liked veteran who can bring leadership to the team. I don't see anybody else getting a major league deal from us, so at the moment our 40 man roster is set and the only one of the invites that I think we really need to keep an eye on is Austin Jackson. Guys like Yandy Diaz will impress, but very unlikely they will put on the 25 man roster. Really the only spots available will be Backup OF, Utility bench and last spot in the bullpen, so not very many guys will be in camp unlike previous years.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Who would you want them to bring in on a minor league invite since the next week or so teams are looking to finalize camp deals?

I don't see a whole lot of moves left that they will make. We will still do some minor league invites but honestly Utley was looked at because he is a well liked veteran who can bring leadership to the team. I don't see anybody else getting a major league deal from us, so at the moment our 40 man roster is set and the only one of the invites that I think we really need to keep an eye on is Austin Jackson. Guys like Yandy Diaz will impress, but very unlikely they will put on the 25 man roster. Really the only spots available will be Backup OF, Utility bench and last spot in the bullpen, so not very many guys will be in camp unlike previous years.

If Utley is the template, I'd toss a minor league deal at Kelly Johnson in a heartbeat. Plays 2B/3B at an average level, and has even played some LF. LH hitter with some pop. Even platoon splits over his career. Already played the bench utility role on a contender, unlike Utley.

I'm just not a fan of our primary battle for that utility IF spot right now being Gonzalez and Martinez. Both of them work defensively, but they have major shortcomings at the dish, and I'd rather have a better bat than a more flexible defender.

 

[sportscoach]

If Utley is the template, I'd toss a minor league deal at Kelly Johnson in a heartbeat. Plays 2B/3B at an average level, and has even played some LF. LH hitter with some pop. Even platoon splits over his career. Already played the bench utility role on a contender, unlike Utley.

I'm just not a fan of our primary battle for that utility IF spot right now being Gonzalez and Martinez. Both of them work defensively, but they have major shortcomings at the dish, and I'd rather have a better bat than a more flexible defender.

My question is the fact Gonzalez hit around .300 in the minors, but I noticed he doesn't walk/get on base exceptional well. How well do you think he bat will translate to the pros?

I know you always say these guys are scrubs, but guys like Stamets and Ronny Rodriguez are also competing for the utility role. No one can deny if Stamets figures out how to hit he would be in the pros cause his glove at SS is a gold glove. Ronny hit well at the start of last season but died off.

I get what ya mean though I want a better hitting veteran in the mix with these guys, the question is who can we sign on a minor league invite.

 

[AZ_]

My question is the fact Gonzalez hit around .300 in the minors, but I noticed he doesn't walk/get on base exceptional well. How well do you think he bat will translate to the pros?

I know you always say these guys are scrubs, but guys like Stamets and Ronny Rodriguez are also competing for the utility role. No one can deny if Stamets figures out how to hit he would be in the pros cause his glove at SS is a gold glove. Ronny hit well at the start of last season but died off.

I get what ya mean though I want a better hitting veteran in the mix with these guys, the question is who can we sign on a minor league invite.

Dude, Stamets and Ronny Rodriguez aren't big league options.

 

[BimboColesHair]

My question is the fact Gonzalez hit around .300 in the minors, but I noticed he doesn't walk/get on base exceptional well. How well do you think he bat will translate to the pros?

Not well right now, hence why I'd like to see him in AAA getting everyday ABs and playing SS every day and another option brought in for the MLB level. He was a bit of a late bloomer, as far as growing into his body goes, and its caused some holes to open up in his swing, particularity his high rate of swings and misses.

And batting average holds no weight for me at all when judging a hitter. Batting average doesn't tell you about a hitters success or failure nowadays with all the stats we have available to us. That .296 mark doesn't matter to me one bit. But I love the .450 slugging and 122 wRC+ coming from a SS...

I know you always say these guys are scrubs, but guys like Stamets and Ronny Rodriguez are also competing for the utility role. No one can deny if Stamets figures out how to hit he would be in the pros cause his glove at SS is a gold glove. Ronny hit well at the start of last season but died off.

I've never said Stamets and Ronny are scrubs? I just said they aren't options for the MLB club at all...Stamets might not even be an option at AAA to begin the year...these guys have no business being mentioned in this conversation right now.

I get what ya mean though I want a better hitting veteran in the mix with these guys, the question is who can we sign on a minor league invite.

I literally just brought one up. Kelly Johnson. Toss a minor league deal at him yesterday. Or Aaron Hill, if you want to stick with the "entire bench full of righties" thing.

 

[BimboColesHair]

If Utley is the template, I'd toss a minor league deal at Kelly Johnson in a heartbeat. Plays 2B/3B at an average level, and has even played some LF. LH hitter with some pop. Even platoon splits over his career. Already played the bench utility role on a contender, unlike Utley.

I'm just not a fan of our primary battle for that utility IF spot right now being Gonzalez and Martinez. Both of them work defensively, but they have major shortcomings at the dish, and I'd rather have a better bat than a more flexible defender.

Spit-balling again...but here's another one, though this one would have to come through trade.

Pittsburgh is trying to do everything possible to trade Josh Harrison to open PT for some of their young middle IFs.

Plays plus defense at 2B and 3B, has played 650 career innings in the OF. .296/.329/.426 average slash over his last 3 seasons. Stolen 50 bases over his last 3 seasons.

He's owed quite a bit of money the next few seasons (19 million guaranteed next 3 seasons, 1 million of which is a buyout for 2019), but if they are desperate to move him, maybe they're willing to eat a lot of that money?

Certainly not realistic with what he's still owed, but just an idea...

 

[sportscoach]

Spit-balling again...but here's another one, though this one would have to come through trade.

Pittsburgh is trying to do everything possible to trade Josh Harrison to open PT for some of their young middle IFs.

Plays plus defense at 2B and 3B, has played 650 career innings in the OF. .296/.329/.426 average slash over his last 3 seasons. Stolen 50 bases over his last 3 seasons.

He's owed quite a bit of money the next few seasons (19 million guaranteed next 3 seasons, 1 million of which is a buyout for 2019), but if they are desperate to move him, maybe they're willing to eat a lot of that money?

Certainly not realistic with what he's still owed, but just an idea...

The question is which players would they want/are we willing to give up for him? If they take part of the contract then we will likely give up better prospects from our end. Also is the guy willing to take a bench role?

I am not opposed to getting a guy like Harrison at all, but I doubt they make the move for a bench player via a trade especially since the pirates want starter value probably for him otherwise they would have dealt him by now.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Spit-balling again...but here's another one, though this one would have to come through trade.

Pittsburgh is trying to do everything possible to trade Josh Harrison to open PT for some of their young middle IFs.

Plays plus defense at 2B and 3B, has played 650 career innings in the OF. .296/.329/.426 average slash over his last 3 seasons. Stolen 50 bases over his last 3 seasons.

He's owed quite a bit of money the next few seasons (19 million guaranteed next 3 seasons, 1 million of which is a buyout for 2019), but if they are desperate to move him, maybe they're willing to eat a lot of that money?

Certainly not realistic with what he's still owed, but just an idea...

I think you mistyped there. He's due 18 million over 2, or 29 million over 3--not 19 over 3.


2017 $7,500,000
2018 $10,000,000
2019 $10,500,000
2020 $11,500,000
2021 Free Agent Year 33

Contract Notes:

• 2019 option : $1M buyout
• 2020 option : $500,000 buyout

 

[BimboColesHair]

I think you mistyped there. He's due 18 million over 2, or 29 million over 3--not 19 over 3.


2017 $7,500,000
2018 $10,000,000
2019 $10,500,000
2020 $11,500,000
2021 Free Agent Year 33

Contract Notes:

• 2019 option : $1M buyout
• 2020 option : $500,000 buyout

19 million over 3 is how much he is guaranteed, which is what I said.

The 18 million in 17 and 18, and the 1 million buyout in 19.

Everything else isn't guaranteed.

 

[sportscoach]

19 million over 3 is how much he is guaranteed, which is what I said.

The 18 million in 17 and 18, and the 1 million buyout in 19.

Everything else isn't guaranteed.

Either way that is a little much for a bench player to be sincere. I don't think it would make sense for the Indians unless they can get the price per year down on him

 

[BimboColesHair]

Either way that is a little much for a bench player to be sincere. I don't think it would make sense for the Indians unless they can get the price per year down on him

If a team is hell bent on trading a player, a team will also eat quite a bit of that money.

Look what just happened with Brandon Phillips, for example...owed 14 million in 2017, and the team who just acquired him is on the hook for 1 million of that.

Because a guy is owed 19 million guaranteed doesn't mean we would have to pay him all 19 million of that remaining salary...not how salary dump trades work in baseball, and that's what Pittsburgh is trying to do.

 

[macbdog]

At first I liked the idea until I looked at his production the last two years- clearly trending downward, pop has evaporated and he is still not drawing walks. Pirates could probably find a team to swap bad contracts with- and at least get someone useful- before having to just eat a large portion of his contract. Indians don't really have anyone like that to deal. If Pittsburgh decided to eat half of it, sure.

 

[BimboColesHair]

At first I liked the idea until I looked at his production the last two years- clearly trending downward, pop has evaporated and he is still not drawing walks. Pirates could probably find a team to swap bad contracts with- and at least get someone useful- before having to just eat a large portion of his contract. Indians don't really have anyone like that to deal. If Pittsburgh decided to eat half of it, sure.

Ask yourself this...

Is his decline in production still more than we can expect from Gonzalez or Martinez this season?

And I'm bringing up the guy, and the only way I'd do it is if they eat at least 10 million of his remaining deal.