Cleveland Indians 2018-2019 Offseason Outlook

[Kevalier]

This team has elite pitching and little upper level depth. Trading it would be foolish.

Kluber has five straight seasons of 200+ innings. If I'm trading anyone, its him.

But I'm not trading anyone. This team is littered with depth at the middle and lower levels. Find a way to get it done with those assets and the few guys around the big league club whom you could move.

Greg Allen, Bradley Zimmer, Tyler Naquin, Yandy Diaz, Erik Gonzalez.

Those guys might not have the value they once had, but they could reasonably be dealt as an add-in with the right move.

The only player from this list who I would pound the table to keep would be Yandy. The organization absolutely needs to find a way to give him everyday at-bats next season.

 

[sportscoach]

This team has elite pitching and little upper level depth. Trading it would be foolish.

Kluber has five straight seasons of 200+ innings. If I'm trading anyone, its him.

But I'm not trading anyone. This team is littered with depth at the middle and lower levels. Find a way to get it done with those assets and the few guys around the big league club whom you could move.

Greg Allen, Bradley Zimmer, Tyler Naquin, Yandy Diaz, Erik Gonzalez.

Those guys might not have the value they once had, but they could reasonably be dealt as an add-in with the right move.

The biggest issue is how are we replacing the guys we are likely going to lose? We don't have cap space, if anything we have to cut salary, so going out and getting a solid free agent may not work as well as we would like. Luckily the market is flooded projected wise with Right handed relievers, so the price may not be as high as last season, so I am not afraid that we won't be able to get someone. Also the guys who have value are almost untradeable (aka McKenzie, Jones etc) so we cannot just trade the farm to replace the guys we are losing since that hurts the long term as well.

I guess what I am getting to is the fact, we aren't going to be a better team right now projection wise in 19 than we are now, we are likely going to be worse. We can still win the division, but I really doubt we will have the firepower to beat the big guys. I am not saying we give up on 2019, but is there a way to stay about the same win-loss but be able to build for the future as well.

The roster that is left over after the free agents leave are under team control in 2019 and 2020, but currently we don't have much to replace the guys who have left. As I stated in a previous post, our upper minors isn't all that strong and we don't have a ton of options. Trading Kipnis, EE, Alonso, Carrasco, could net us legit MLB starters this season and beyond. So from oakland getting 1B/OF Olson/3B Chapman, and some other solid prospects, getting a decent starter back for one of the guys, while another one gets us a solid OF prospect. If we cannot get a player like an Olson back then we don't trade Carrasco, but if we can, I think we need to take the deal.

We then go and resign Brantley for LF/DH, get Lofton as a spring training coach for Allen. Let Diaz have the legit chance to be our 1st/3rd baseman, etc. Sign a veteran OF like McCutchen, then bring in guys like Buchholz, Happ, etc to compete with Plutko for the 5th spot in the rotation. We have had a lot of luck over the years with bringing in injuried players/signing them to mostly incentive contracts.

I doubt anyone agrees with me of course, but this is just what I feel we should do.

 

[ice cream man]

What do you guys think of the hitting coach Tyler Van Burkleo. I feel like the hitting approach to this team is wrong. And while we were near the top of the list in runs scored, the team was too streaky and not consistent enough. I think Ramirez and Lindor need to be more line drive hitters and not hit for the home run every time they are up. I'd be much happier if they hit .330 and cut down their home runs to about 25 - 30 then hit .270 with 40 HRs. Every batter except Brantley tries to pull the ball and the other teams shift to defend it. I don't like it and think that a new approach needs to be taken to get to the next level.

Yes. Homerun or bust guys are not the way to go. Hoping for Edwin and those types of guys to go on a homerun binge in the playoffs...the chances are so low. You need guys that work a count and put good wood on the ball. Make things happen, put the pressure on, one thing leads to another in the playoffs. I mean Yonder and Donaldson just try to kill everything and they almost struck out literally every at bat. Granted they were facing great pitching. But god damn Yan Gomes was putting up the some of our best at bats. Terrible approach from most guys. No one could get on base.

 

[Derek]

Yes. Homerun or bust guys are not the way to go. Hoping for Edwin and those types of guys to go on a homerun binge in the playoffs...the chances are so low. You need guys that work a count and put good wood on the ball. Make things happen, put the pressure on, one thing leads to another in the playoffs. I mean Yonder and Donaldson just try to kill everything and they almost struck out literally every at bat. Granted they were facing great pitching. But god damn Yan Gomes was putting up the some of our best at bats. Terrible approach from most guys. No one could get on base.

We actually weren’t a HR or bust team. We had one of the lowest strikeout rates in the majors.

Obviously they blew in the playoffs, but the all or nothing approach was not their MO throughout the season.

 

[Urban]

Look at the teams who advanced:

Houston- 21 runs, 10 from HR
Dodgers- 20 runs, 14 from HR
Brewers- 13 runs, 5 from HR
Red Sox- 27 runs, 7 from HR (5/11 runs from HR in Games 1,2,4)

Now these teams, nor the Indians are HR or bust, but the notion that teams need to string together hits and not rely on the HR ball in the postseason is not really accurate.

 

[Steve_424]

I wonder if a few Marlins might interest the Tribe:

Derek Dietrich - can play 2B, 3B, and LF and is a decent offensive player with some pop in his bat. He made $2.9 M in 2018 and is under two more years of control through arbitration.

Adam Conley - is about to enter arbitration for the first time this winter, and the Marlins may not want to pay him. He'd be an affordable reliever to add to the mix.

Drew Steckenrider - was pretty average this year after a fantastic 2017 season. The potential is there though, and he's a cheap relief arm still two years away from arbitration with several more years of control.

 

[Alpoe]

The biggest issue is how are we replacing the guys we are likely going to lose? We don't have cap space, if anything we have to cut salary, so going out and getting a solid free agent may not work as well as we would like. Luckily the market is flooded projected wise with Right handed relievers, so the price may not be as high as last season, so I am not afraid that we won't be able to get someone. Also the guys who have value are almost untradeable (aka McKenzie, Jones etc) so we cannot just trade the farm to replace the guys we are losing since that hurts the long term as well.

I guess what I am getting to is the fact, we aren't going to be a better team right now projection wise in 19 than we are now, we are likely going to be worse. We can still win the division, but I really doubt we will have the firepower to beat the big guys. I am not saying we give up on 2019, but is there a way to stay about the same win-loss but be able to build for the future as well.

The roster that is left over after the free agents leave are under team control in 2019 and 2020, but currently we don't have much to replace the guys who have left. As I stated in a previous post, our upper minors isn't all that strong and we don't have a ton of options. Trading Kipnis, EE, Alonso, Carrasco, could net us legit MLB starters this season and beyond. So from oakland getting 1B/OF Olson/3B Chapman, and some other solid prospects, getting a decent starter back for one of the guys, while another one gets us a solid OF prospect. If we cannot get a player like an Olson back then we don't trade Carrasco, but if we can, I think we need to take the deal.

We then go and resign Brantley for LF/DH, get Lofton as a spring training coach for Allen. Let Diaz have the legit chance to be our 1st/3rd baseman, etc. Sign a veteran OF like McCutchen, then bring in guys like Buchholz, Happ, etc to compete with Plutko for the 5th spot in the rotation. We have had a lot of luck over the years with bringing in injuried players/signing them to mostly incentive contracts.

I doubt anyone agrees with me of course, but this is just what I feel we should do.

I have a feeling if we trade any of them, it would be Bieber or McKenzie. Tito has always been loyal to veterans(see Tomlin, Guyer, Allen, miller) I cant see him trading carrasco or Kluber.

To fill all of our holes, we will need to trade one of them. To get the hitting needed to win in October, it's going to have to be via trade. Edwin and Alonso are 2 lost souls in October. Does anybody want to see Edwin hit cleanup in another playoff game? I know I don't. If he stays he needs to be hitting 6th.

We havnt hit over .200 in the last 2 postseason. 0 hits with men in scoring position against Houston. Only 6 chances, think about that. Houston had 30!

 

[Steve_424]

Looking for this offseason's "Yelich" has proven to be a bit difficult.

Nolan Arenado - Arbitration eligible, free agent after 2019
Paul Goldschmidt - $14.5 M in 2019, free agent after 2019

Some good players that aren't necessarily superstars:

Starling Marte - $10 M in 2019 with team options for $11.5 M and $12.5 M in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Scooter Gennett - Arbitration eligible, free agent after 2019

Khris Davis - Arbitration eligible, free agent after 2019


It may also be worth watching Philadelphia, who was Justin Bour signed through 2020, Carlos Santana signed through 2021, and Rhys Hoskins under team control through 2023. Hoskins played outfield last year but should be at 1B. Santana was playing 3B after the team acquired Bour. Basically, they have three 1B/DH types with no DH.

 

[Alpoe]

Looking for this offseason's "Yelich" has proven to be a bit difficult.

Nolan Arenado - Arbitration eligible, free agent after 2019
Paul Goldschmidt - $14.5 M in 2019, free agent after 2019

Some good players that aren't necessarily superstars:

Starling Marte - $10 M in 2019 with team options for $11.5 M and $12.5 M in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Scooter Gennett - Arbitration eligible, free agent after 2019

Khris Davis - Arbitration eligible, free agent after 2019


It may also be worth watching Philadelphia, who was Justin Bour signed through 2020, Carlos Santana signed through 2021, and Rhys Hoskins under team control through 2023. Hoskins played outfield last year but should be at 1B. Santana was playing 3B after the team acquired Bour. Basically, they have three 1B/DH types with no DH.

You won't find a yelich type player with his contract on the market for a very long time. That's the type of deal they Should've been all over last year. All you had to do was give up McKenzie and few other prospects. We would've had another mvp player on the team for the next 5 years along Lindor and Jose . It doesn't get much better than that.

 

[AZ_]

You won't find a yelich type player with his contract on the market for a very long time. That's the type of deal they Should've been all over last year. All you had to do was give up McKenzie and few other prospects. We would've had another mvp player on the team for the next 5 years along Lindor and Jose . It doesn't get much better than that.

It would have taken Mejia, McKenzie, likely more.

At that point, you have Yelich and no ammo to go after someone like Brad Hand.

 

[Steve_424]

You won't find a yelich type player with his contract on the market for a very long time. That's the type of deal they Should've been all over last year. All you had to do was give up McKenzie and few other prospects. We would've had another mvp player on the team for the next 5 years along Lindor and Jose . It doesn't get much better than that.

I don't know if that's true. It's easy to say in retrospect. But I'll give you an example and we'll play a fun offseason game:

Player A: Age 25, .282/.369/.439/.807, 120 OPS+, 18 HR, 81 RBI
Player B: Age 25, .246/.354/.496/.850, 125 OPS+, 34 HR, 96 RBI

Which player would you take?

 

[Urban]

Not really a major need and I think he'd cost too much/not be available, but I think Rougned Odor will continue to improve. He's 24, locked up long term, good defense, great power, and nearly doubled his walk rate (albeit 4%>8%) this season. If he can chip away at his K rate he could really break out.

Gallo could be intriguing too, although I would think he'd also be too expensive.

 

[Kevalier]

Not really a major need and I think he'd cost too much/not be available, but I think Rougned Odor will continue to improve. He's 24, locked up long term, good defense, great power, and nearly doubled his walk rate (albeit 4%>8%) this season. If he can chip away at his K rate he could really break out.

Gallo could be intriguing too, although I would think he'd also be too expensive.

I would imagine that Gallo would cost us McKenzie plus another top fifteen prospect. Would you make that deal? Personally, I don't think I would considering the alarming home/road splits for him along with his infamous strikeout rate.

 

[Alpoe]

It would have taken Mejia, McKenzie, likely more.

At that point, you have Yelich and no ammo to go after someone like Brad Hand.

Its water under the bridge at this point in time, but the haul the marlins received was very underwhelming according to many. Got a centerfielder that hit.199 this year and a bunch of low end prospects, that nobody knows will amount to anything. Mckenzie, plus zimmer/allen and some low end prospects would've probably got the deal done.

At any rate that was the steal of the century for the brewers. We only got Miller for a little over 2 years,(a deal I do every time) and the brewers will get yelich's services until 2022. Insane.

 

[Alpoe]

I would imagine that Gallo would cost us McKenzie plus another top fifteen prospect. Would you make that deal? Personally, I don't think I would considering the alarming home/road splits for him along with his infamous strikeout rate.

Gallo has too many holes in his swings. I just think he would be overmatched against elite pitching we just saw. Hard pass on him, and no way for mckenzie.