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Cleveland Indians 2018-2019 Offseason Outlook

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I've heard the luck card played as a way to not give the Indians credit for the deal, and I just don't agree with it. They wanted Brantley, got him, and he panned out in a big way. He may have been considered more of a "lottery ticket" than "sure thing" LaPorta at the time, but the Indians really liked and wanted him.

The answer to your 2008 question is a mixture of injuries and under-performance. Hafner only played in 57 games, Sabathia was pretty mediocre before being dealt, they lost Westbrook after only 5 starts, Fausto/Roberto took a major step back, Betancourt was bad after dominating in 2007, and Perez/Lewis didn't have great years.
Even with all that, their Pyth W/L was 85-77. Under Wedge, they underperformed their Pythag every year except 2007.
 
I'd be good with them trading Kluber. The Central division should be weak again next year, and with Clev, Carlos, Trev, our rotation would still be good, and we can win the Central division with or without Kluber. Last 2 postseasons Kluber has been garbage. Sure, maybe he would rebound with a good 2019 postseason performance, but maybe not. Besides the playoffs now turn into bullpen games anyway. Starters are given the hook after 4 innings now, the game will be decided by the bullpens, probably putting Clev, or Bieber in the bullpen next year to decide playoff games, Kluber probably wouldn't be the guy to come out of the pen in October anyway. If you can find a good deal I say pull the trigger and trade him.
 
Kluber to Atlanta

Tribe Gets:
3B Austin Riley
RHP Kyle Wright
RHP Touki Toussaint


Kluber to SD

Tribe Gets:
Wil Myers
Luis Urias
Mackenzie Gore
can we give Cimber back to SD for free?
 
Kluber trade ideas:

  • to New York for Andujar, Sheffield, Frazier
  • to Cincinnati for Iglesias, Senzel, Winker
  • to Dodgers for Bellinger, Urias, Maeda
  • to Philadelphia along with Kipnis for Eflin, Arano, Sanchez, Santana
 
Kluber trade ideas:

  • to New York for Andujar, Sheffield, Frazier
  • to Cincinnati for Iglesias, Senzel, Winker
  • to Dodgers for Bellinger, Urias, Maeda
  • to Philadelphia along with Kipnis for Eflin, Arano, Sanchez, Santana
To Cubs for: Happ, Almora, Bote, Edwards Jr
 
Kluber trade ideas:

  • to New York for Andujar, Sheffield, Frazier
  • to Cincinnati for Iglesias, Senzel, Winker
  • to Dodgers for Bellinger, Urias, Maeda
  • to Philadelphia along with Kipnis for Eflin, Arano, Sanchez, Santana

I would strongly consider Verdugo in the Dodgers deal if they refuse to include Bellinger, but they would need to add more to the package. That Cincinnati deal is awfully enticing, but I don’t see the Reds offering us that much for Kluber since he alone wouldn’t put them over the Cubs or Brewers.
 
To Cubs for: Happ, Almora, Bote, Edwards Jr

Not even close enough of a haul coming back to Cleveland. Happ was pretty underwhelming last season and posted an alarmingly high strikeout rate. Even if the Cubs added Schwarber, the Tribe should get a much better deal elsewhere.
 
I would strongly consider Verdugo in the Dodgers deal if they refuse to include Bellinger, but they would need to add more to the package. That Cincinnati deal is awfully enticing, but I don’t see the Reds offering us that much for Kluber since he alone wouldn’t put them over the Cubs or Brewers.

I am hoping the Indians see it this way - we don't have to deal Kluber, so we're going to require a home run offer we can't say no to.

Senzel, Iglesias, Winker fill three major holes and all really affordable. You could also switch out Iglesias for Luis Castillo.

But yeah, I'm shooting for the moon in any Kluber deal.
 
I am hoping the Indians see it this way - we don't have to deal Kluber, so we're going to require a home run offer we can't say no to.

Senzel, Iglesias, Winker fill three major holes and all really affordable. You could also switch out Iglesias for Luis Castillo.

But yeah, I'm shooting for the moon in any Kluber deal.

I've been saying it all along the Yankees are our perfect trading partner. They have the young lions and great bullpen. They need Kluber or Carrasco badly. They won't beat Boston with their starters currently constructed.

It's still centered around Torres for me, but Andujar is another great target.
Throw in Green, and some low end pitching prospect, I would do that in a nanosecond. We need high end talent that can contribute now, or we would be wasting carrasco and bauer in their final 2 years. We will not be better trading Kluber for prospects who can't help the team this year. If you do that, you trade Bauer and Carrasco too. Theres no in-between shit here. All in or all out.
 
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I actually feel Oakland would be the team to trade a starter too, especially with Chapman or Olson as the main centerpiece.
 
Matt Chapman is going no where
 
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 they trade any of them it better be for an absolute haul.
 

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