2018 Trade Deadline

[Huber.]

Id be for expansion. To me its 2 less markets we would have to worry about being moved to. Cincy in our division would also be great. The games usually do well from an attendance stand point; so it would be nice to stretch that out across 16 games instead of 4. I did like the division with us, Detroit, Cincinnati & Pittsburgh. A lot of mediocre attendance can be made up by traveling fans.

On the flip side, any division that results in us going back against the Red Sox & Yankees will result in me throwing an unbelievable hissy fit and stop watching baseball.

To show you how fucked up baseball is, the Orioles & Rays have only won the division for a combined 4 times in 23 years. With an additional 4 WC appearances in that same time span. I get the history that is there, but you have to break them up. You cant have 2 teams completely controlling a division.

I'm for expansion and moving to the east as long as they shorten the season to 154 and expand the playoffs to the top 6 teams.

 

[Urban]

Id be for expansion. To me its 2 less markets we would have to worry about being moved to. Cincy in our division would also be great. The games usually do well from an attendance stand point; so it would be nice to stretch that out across 16 games instead of 4. I did like the division with us, Detroit, Cincinnati & Pittsburgh. A lot of mediocre attendance can be made up by traveling fans.

On the flip side, any division that results in us going back against the Red Sox & Yankees will result in me throwing an unbelievable hissy fit and stop watching baseball.

To show you how fucked up baseball is, the Orioles & Rays have only won the division for a combined 4 times in 23 years. With an additional 4 WC appearances in that same time span. I get the history that is there, but you have to break them up. You cant have 2 teams completely controlling a division.

One of the Rays, Jays, or Orioles have made the playoffs in 8 of the last 10 years.

I mean yeah, it would absolutely suck to play in the AL East with the Yankees and Red Sox. But the Rays lack of success has a lot to do with them being an expansion team who was horribly terrible for their first 10 years (64.5 wins/year) as well as being a team that consistent ranks bottom 3 in payroll and attendance: that isn't going to be successful anywhere. As for the Orioles, they just recently had a very successful 5 year window off of a 10 year window where they only won 69.6 games a year.

 

[Steve_424]

It will be interesting to see what the Indians do with their internal options, as it could impact the deadline direction.

• Francisco Mejia has played 12 games at AAA - 2 at DH, 6 at C, and 4 at LF. He's struggling at the plate so far, posting .192/.236/.346
• Yandy Diaz continues to hit - posting .289/.396/.356 so far
• He's still in AA, but Shane Bieber is DOMINATING - 20 IP, 0 ER, 0 BB, 23 SO. This year's Jaret Wright?

 

[Otsego Mar]

It will be interesting to see what the Indians do with their internal options, as it could impact the deadline direction.

• Francisco Mejia has played 12 games at AAA - 2 at DH, 6 at C, and 4 at LF. He's struggling at the plate so far, posting .192/.236/.346
• Yandy Diaz continues to hit - posting .289/.396/.356 so far
• He's still in AA, but Shane Bieber is DOMINATING - 20 IP, 0 ER, 0 BB, 23 SO. This year's Jaret Wright?

I wonder what players and managers would have thought of guys playing all over the field 20-40+ years ago like they do today?

 

[Steve_424]

Manny Machado continues to make so much sense for the Indians to acquire, assuming he's good with playing 3B for a half season to try to get a ring.

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

You could also salary-dump Kipnis and play Melky/Chis/Guyer in RF.

 

[Chris]

In all seriousness about the Machado thing gutting our farm for half a season is never a good idea. Even with Machado I'm not sure this team's WS chances increase all that much, as much of a stud as he is.

 

[Kevalier]

In all seriousness about the Machado thing gutting our farm for half a season is never a good idea. Even with Machado I'm not sure this team's WS chances increase all that much, as much of a stud as he is.

The playoffs are full of too many weird, random moments to say any certain player can increase the chances of winning a World Series by an enormous amount. Having said that, future Hall of Fame players with a 6 WAR in their prime are rarely available at the trading deadline. It would be an incredible opportunity to add a third superstar to the infield and the price would be somewhat reduced because he’s an impending free agent. If Brantley stays healthy, our 1-5 (Lindor, Machado, Ramírez, Brantley and Encarnacion) would be as good as anyone’s first five hitters in the league including the Yankees.

 

[Huber.]

In all seriousness about the Machado thing gutting our farm for half a season is never a good idea. Even with Machado I'm not sure this team's WS chances increase all that much, as much of a stud as he is.

If the Indians draft as well as some people say they do, they should have no problem trading away prospects for Machado.

 

[Chris]

The playoffs are full of too many weird, random moments to say any certain player can increase the chances of winning a World Series by an enormous amount. Having said that, future Hall of Fame players with a 6 WAR in their prime are rarely available at the trading deadline. It would be an incredible opportunity to add a third superstar to the infield and the price would be somewhat reduced because he’s an impending free agent. If Brantley stays healthy, our 1-5 (Lindor, Machado, Ramírez, Brantley and Encarnacion) would be as good as anyone’s first five hitters in the league including the Yankees.

Not worth it for one shot, but for a team that only really competes for a few years per decade I can see the argument for it.

 

[Steve_424]

I think it's clear the Indians will add a reliever or two, and there will be no shortage of potential options.

Raisel Iglesias - There's been no indication that the Reds want to deal him, but if you're the Reds, why wouldn't you? Iglesias is 28, signed through 2020, and is low-cost, owed $4.5 M this year and $5 M each of the next two seasons. Iglesias/Miller/Allen would be downright scary, and he'd soften the blow if both Allen/Miller leave this winter.

Brad Hand - Hand is only 28 and locked in through 2021. He's an elite LH reliever who, like Iglesias, would help both short and long term.

Zach Britton - In the final year of his deal and almost certain to be traded. He's expected back by June, so he'll have an opportunity to prove he's healthy. If he is, he's one of the best in the game.

Brad Brach - Also a free agent at the end of the season, Brach is one of the most underrated relievers in the game.

Kelvin Herrera - Another soon-to-be free agent, Herrera has been absolutely dominant early on.

Joakim Soria - He isn't elite anymore, but he's a solid relief arm that probably won't cost much in July. Free agent this winter.

Nate Jones - Jones is a fantastic reliever that has never been able to stay healthy. A free agent this winter on a non-contender, he likely wouldn't cost a ton.

Other Possibilities: Jim Johnson, Peter Moylan, A.J. Ramos, Brad Ziegler, Jerry Blevins

 

[Derek]

Brach has sucked ass this year, and really didn’t pitch all that great last year. Price would have to be really cheap to interest me.

 

[Steve_424]

Brach has sucked ass this year, and really didn’t pitch all that great last year. Price would have to be really cheap to interest me.

He's had 3 bad appearances this year that have ballooned his ERA...certainly small sample size. Last year he had a 3.18 ERA in 67 appearances...better numbers than Bryan Shaw gave the Tribe in 2017. He's not my top choice, but he'd be a welcome addition.

 

[Derek]

He's had 3 bad appearances this year that have ballooned his ERA...certainly small sample size. Last year he had a 3.18 ERA in 67 appearances...better numbers than Bryan Shaw gave the Tribe in 2017. He's not my top choice, but he'd be a welcome addition.

Eh, I’m not big on him. He wasn’t better than Shaw last year, he was just luckier.

This year, he’s been wild, a problem throughout his career. 3 blow ups this early isn’t small sample size, that’s suckage.

Trust me, I had him on my fantasy team until about a week ago.

Like I said, I’d take him if he was cheap.

 

[Steve_424]

Eh, I’m not big on him. He wasn’t better than Shaw last year, he was just luckier.

This year, he’s been wild, a problem throughout his career. 3 blow ups this early isn’t small sample size, that’s suckage.

Trust me, I had him on my fantasy team until about a week ago.

Like I said, I’d take him if he was cheap.

Told me all I need to know

 

[jlegg21]

Give me Machado and go all in. Assuming Miller is healthy. And find a taker for Kipnis, guy has been killing us for 2 years now, looks like the decline has begun.