2018 Trade Deadline

Derek said:

He was hurt all of last season. I don't hold that against him in terms of what he can do for us right now and moving forward.

He's been really good for the last two months, basically All-Star level. His overall numbers are just dragged down by a brutal April.

.273/.360/.494 with 9 HR over the Indians last 50 games. That's 1/3 of the season. Is that enough of a sustained stretch?

Replacing Kipnis should not be a priority at all after the production he's given us the last two months.

If there's a readily available star you can slide in, sure, but I don't see that happening.

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What you are referencing is a point in time where he basically spent 3 weeks floating just above being a league average hitter.




And even with that stretch, the Indians were 20th in WAR at 2B the last time I pulled all these numbers.

In terms of WAR, our 3 biggest holes were:

1. RP - 27th
2. CF - 26th
3. 2B - 20th

LF was close behind at 19th.

We also aren't getting much defensive pop from anyone occupying that infield spot either, as we land in the middle 3rd of qualified 2B's in almost all advanced fielding metrics. So we are hitting at a bottom 3rd level, fielding at a middle third level for the position.

Again, it's not our biggest need but I think you are underselling it given the landscape. By most advanced metrics it is our 2nd worst positional player. There are a handful of value players (like Castro) out there at the position that I think would be a meaningful upgrade and likely wouldn't cost much....maybe I am wrong on that opinion....we will see.

I'mWithDan said:

What you are referencing is a point in time where he basically spent 3 weeks floating just above being a league average hitter.

And even with that stretch, the Indians were 20th in WAR at 2B the last time I pulled all these numbers.

In terms of WAR, our 3 biggest holes were:

1. RP - 27th
2. CF - 26th
3. 2B - 20th

LF was close behind at 19th.

We also aren't getting much defensive pop from anyone occupying that infield spot either, as we land in the middle 3rd of qualified 2B's in almost all advanced fielding metrics. So we are hitting at a bottom 3rd level, fielding at a middle third level for the position.

Again, it's not our biggest need but I think you are underselling it given the landscape. By most advanced metrics it is our 2nd worst positional player. There are a handful of value players (like Castro) out there at the position that I think would be a meaningful upgrade....maybe I am wrong on that opinion....we will see.

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No, I’m referencing almost 2 full months now where he’s played nearly 50 games, and been at an All-Star level.

.273/.364/.472 with a 128 wRC+ over his last 184 PA in 45 GP

I mean if you can go get Machado, you get him. That's not rocket science. You go hard after him and figure out what to do with Kipnis later.

Is it a high priority? Meh, I think the difference surrounding that word is somewhat semantics.

Yeah, a player of Machado's caliber for a package that doesn't include your best guys is a high priority to me. But the NEED of having to replace Kipnis isn't a high priority, IMO.

Does Machado guarantee a run at the prestigious award?

I think he does. You want him in any 7 game series. It's just getting past the flukey 5 game series that worries me the most.

a Machado/Lindor/Jose trio in the infield is....

I mean that's Randy Marsh spooky ghost gif inducing

It'd be a hell of a luxury to have, but like Arizona said you obviously can't give up vital parts to the future of the organization in the process. If it can be done for blocked AAA prospects then you obviously have to do it and then just put Kipnis back in the OF

By all indications the Indians were looking for people that they could control past 2018, so I would highly doubt that they would look at Machado hoping I'm wrong though

Dawg4L said:

By all indications the Indians were looking for people that they could control past 2018, so I would highly doubt that they would look at Machado hoping I'm wrong though

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Regardless of whether or not they get him, I 100 percent know they went after him.

Confirmed offer on the table, directly from a source that would know.

Derek said:

No, I’m referencing almost 2 full months now where he’s played nearly 50 games, and been at an All-Star level.

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His last 50 games he's .256 / .356 / .444 with 8 HR's and 26 RBI's in 178 AB's. It's about 1/3rd of a season.

So if you want to paint the absolute best picture and imagine the numbers above qualify him for positional leader stats, he'd still rank here:

AVG: T-13
OBP: 6th
SLG: 7th
HR: T-8th

We are talking extrapolating the best 50 game stretch of his season and he still doesn't rank in the top 5 in any offensive category on the year.

Again, we can get by with him but I think you are a little too bullish on Kip. Maybe I'm wrong at the end of the year but he's at best, during his hottest streak of the year, an above average+ second basemen. Saying at All-Star level, when you look at the landscape at the position, is stretching it pretty far.

AZ_ said:

Regardless of whether or not they get him, I 100 percent know they went after him.

Confirmed offer on the table, directly from a source that would know.

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Any idea what Cleveland offered Baltimore?

I'mWithDan said:

His last 50 games he's .256 / .356 / .444 with 8 HR's and 26 RBI's in 178 AB's. It's about 1/3rd of a season.

So if you want to paint the absolute best picture and imagine the numbers above qualify him for positional leader stats, he'd still rank here:

AVG: T-13
OBP: 6th
SLG: 7th
HR: T-8th

We are talking extrapolating the best 50 game stretch of his season and he still doesn't rank in the top 5 in any offensive category on the year.

Again, we can get by with him but I think you are a little too bullish on Kip. Maybe I'm wrong at the end of the year but he's at best, during his hottest streak of the year, an above average+ second basemen. Saying at All-Star level, when you look at the landscape at the position, is stretching it pretty far.

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Just posted the stats I was referring to in my original post.

Something clicked for him in the last third of May, and he’s been very productive ever since.

His numbers aren’t buoyed by an insane two week stretch, or an incredible BABIP (.303), he’s just been a consistently good hitter.

It'd be nice to have the greatest infield ever with Machado/Lindor/Jose.

I'd much rather improve our woeful OF and Bullpen.

OF and Bullpen help are cheaper as well.

I'm happy with a top-5 offense and our starting pitching talent.

Out of the Rafters at the Q said:

It'd be nice to have the greatest infield ever with Machado/Lindor/Jose.

I'd much rather improve our woeful OF and Bullpen.

OF and Bullpen help are cheaper as well.

I'm happy with a top-5 offense and our starting pitching talent.

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Yeah, this is likely the logical way to approach it, but man would it be cool to watch that infield.

Like, as a fan watching it that would be extremely fun to watch. Even if it isn't the ideal optimization solution, having the best infield ever and being able to watch it would be pretty awesome. That's just fan talk though, I understand the FO will (and probably should) have their priorities elsewhere

If you guys could acquire one bullpen arm that has been discusssed — who is it and why ?

PIP said:

If you guys could acquire one bullpen arm that has been discusssed — who is it and why ?

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If they’re actually available:
Treinen
Ottavino
Hand

In that order because they’re the best