2017-18 Cleveland Indians Offseason

[Urban]

Morrison worries me as he's never come close to producing like he did last year. Imagine he's looking at something similar to what Trumbo signed for last year (3 yrs, $37.5m)

 

[BimboColesHair]

Morrison worries me as he's never come close to producing like he did last year. Imagine he's looking at something similar to what Trumbo signed for last year (3 yrs, $37.5m)

Think that's similar to what Bruce eventually gets as well, actually.

5/80 is a pipedream for him. Think he gets 3/36-40.

If you were hoping for a Bruce return, that 5/80 info is actually a good thing for you, because he won't get that offer right off the bat, which allows the Indians to work their way into that market if they want after they, presumably, deal with Santana first.

That 3/40-50 million will initially be on the table for Santana, not Bruce, and I think both parties try to do everything in their power to get Santana to stay.

But after that, if the Indians look to play the market for a guy initially asking for too much, circling back to Bruce makes sense...especially if they trade a few pieces...

 

[macbdog]

Morrison worries me as he's never come close to producing like he did last year. Imagine he's looking at something similar to what Trumbo signed for last year (3 yrs, $37.5m)

Trumbo had a much better track record of production, though. TB had no reason to NOT offer him a qualifying offer unless they honestly worried that he would accept it- I think his market is narrow for the exact reason you mentioned. Trumbo also had his old team bidding for him- TB will not be doing that. I just see Morrison as one of those guys who sees a bunch of one-year or two year deals from all of his suitors, and makes his decision more on fit than necessarily the last dollar. This lineup, sans Santana and Bruce, and table setters in the lineup before him, would be an ideal setup even if it is Cleveland.

 

[Urban]

Trumbo had a much better track record of production, though. TB had no reason to NOT offer him a qualifying offer unless they honestly worried that he would accept it- I think his market is narrow for the exact reason you mentioned. Trumbo also had his old team bidding for him- TB will not be doing that. I just see Morrison as one of those guys who sees a bunch of one-year or two year deals from all of his suitors, and makes his decision more on fit than necessarily the last dollar. This lineup, sans Santana and Bruce, and table setters in the lineup before him, would be an ideal setup even if it is Cleveland.

I think he would have jumped all over the QO if Tampa offered him it. It's not a multiyear deal, but $18m guaranteed is pretty nice.

Like you said though, could easily see him only getting a 1 yr $10m deal or like 2 yrs $24m

 

[Urban]

But after that, if the Indians look to play the market for a guy initially asking for too much, circling back to Bruce makes sense...especially if they trade a few pieces...

Who do you think is a candidate? Kipnis seems to fit the puzzle with his salary and our infield situation.

 

[macbdog]

Who do you think is a candidate? Kipnis seems to fit the puzzle with his salary and our infield situation.

Would be utterly bizarre IMO to pick up Brantley's option then turn around and trade Kipnis. They must feel they can get something substantial in return if they dealt him. I guess we find out if this FO knows how to make a trade like that. They made a great deal in Bruce but haven't got to see this particular group make any deal other than the LuCroy (imagine the wailing and gnashing of teeth over this now had he accepted) and Miller deals.

What I do trust is their continued success at dumpster diving- curious to see who they end up bringing in. Austin Jackson was a fantastic add last year, who knows who might end up available.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Who do you think is a candidate? Kipnis seems to fit the puzzle with his salary and our infield situation.

I don't think there is a chance they trade Kipnis, especially after a down year when his value is at its lowest.

But there is a logjam from AAA to the MLB with similar OF types. Lonnie, Almonte, Zimmer, Naquin, Allen...too many bodies, not enough spots...could see them sending out one or 2 of those guys in a trade. Wouldn't be surprised to see Almonte and Naquin moved.

Same goes for Urshela and Gonzalez. Out of options, Diaz is the superior prospect to Urshela, Gonzalez has more position flexibility...I think one of those guys could be traded as well.

Lot of ways the Indians could go this off season to fill in holes. Money to spend, blocked young players who could be moved, a good farm, and a bunch of impending free agents in the next year or 2 makes this potentially a very interesting off season.

Very real chance the Indians throw all of their chips into the middle of the table this off season.

 

[PIP]

Bruce just balanced the lineup so well. Hate to see him leave.

 

[3 Ball...GOT IT]

In case Bruce ends up elsewhere and the Indians are in the market to add another LHH on an expiring deal similar to Bruce this past season, here are the somewhat realistic candidates that are FA's in 2019, and holy shit is it rough:

Victor Martinez
Nick Markakis
Matt Weiters
Asdrubal Cabrera
Jed Lowrie
Matt Joyce
Matt Adams
Freddie Galvis
Conor Gillaspie
Yasmani Grandal
Gerardo Parra (2020 club option $12m)
Luis Valbuena (2020 mutual option $8.5m)
Brandon Moss (2020 club option $10m)
Justin Smoak (2020 club option $6m)

Other possible options for 2020 FA's
Kendrys Morales $23 million remaining
Jason Castro $16 million remaining
Brad Miller (2018/2019 ARB)

Not really the best options available. Curious to see how much the Indians and other teams have forecasted what else could possibly be available to them at the deadline of 2018 as an alternative. If I'm Bruce's agent, I'm certainly pointing this out. Nearly all of these guys aren't upgrades to what we have, or are going to be on teams that could be competing/in buy mode.

 

[Steve_424]

My dream scenario is re-signing Santana and trading for Marcell Ozuna.

S-SS-Lindor
S-3B-Ramirez
L-LF-Brantley
R-DH-Encarnacion
R-RF-Ozuna
S-1B-Santana
L-2B-Kipnis
R-C-Gomes
L-CF-Zimmer

 

[sportscoach]

I don't think there is a chance they trade Kipnis, especially after a down year when his value is at its lowest.

But there is a logjam from AAA to the MLB with similar OF types. Lonnie, Almonte, Zimmer, Naquin, Allen...too many bodies, not enough spots...could see them sending out one or 2 of those guys in a trade. Wouldn't be surprised to see Almonte and Naquin moved.

Same goes for Urshela and Gonzalez. Out of options, Diaz is the superior prospect to Urshela, Gonzalez has more position flexibility...I think one of those guys could be traded as well.

Lot of ways the Indians could go this off season to fill in holes. Money to spend, blocked young players who could be moved, a good farm, and a bunch of impending free agents in the next year or 2 makes this potentially a very interesting off season.

Very real chance the Indians throw all of their chips into the middle of the table this off season.

It will be hard to say, but with Almonte, Urshela, Gonzalez, Meritt, Armstrong, Crockett all out of options, maybe some type of move will be made since there is no way we keep all of them. I actually only see two making the roster possibly in Gonzalez/Urshela as an utility guy and Merritt in the bullpen possibly as a long reliever.

I dont see many prospects we need to protect in the offseason outside of like maybe Merryweather. Do you think its possible we use a rule 5 pick to get a Right handed OF to go with what will be our heavily left handed OF?

Do you see any possible 1st baseman we could grab with a rule 5 pick/via waivers? Moving Brantley/Chisenhall to 1st base would make way for Kipnis in the OF. I feel we need to keep a Diaz up since he is just too good of a prospect to keep at AAA same with Zimmer. That is if we don't sign Santana of course.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Do you see any possible 1st baseman we could grab with a rule 5 pick/via waivers? Moving Brantley/Chisenhall to 1st base would make way for Kipnis in the OF. I feel we need to keep a Diaz up since he is just too good of a prospect to keep at AAA same with Zimmer. That is if we don't sign Santana of course.

Think we do re-sign Santana, so I'm not looking into any of that right now.

Bridge to cross if/when Santana walks.

 

[Kiddo]

My dream scenario is re-signing Santana and trading for Marcell Ozuna.

S-SS-Lindor
S-3B-Ramirez
L-LF-Brantley
R-DH-Encarnacion
R-RF-Ozuna
S-1B-Santana
L-2B-Kipnis
R-C-Gomes
L-CF-Zimmer

We'd have to give up some major prospects for Ozuna but this might be the year to do that.

 

[3 Ball...GOT IT]

 

[bushwick_bill]

Fuck he is totally not going to sign here.