2016-2017 Indians Off-Season Thread

[AZ_]

Indians just extended the options clock on Jesus Aguilar by replacing him with a better, more versatile version of him.

I love it.

 

[The Oi]

Jesus Aguilar appears to have had some really strong seasons in the minors. Why hasn't he been given more of a shot in the majors yet?

 

[AZ_]

Jesus Aguilar appears to have had some really strong seasons in the minors. Why hasn't he been given more of a shot in the majors yet?

Classic AAAA player.

Can play at the AAA level all day, but just does not have the bat speed or pitch recognition to hang with MLB pitching on a regular basis.

Slow bat will always be slow.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Jesus Aguilar appears to have had some really strong seasons in the minors. Why hasn't he been given more of a shot in the majors yet?

Few reasons, IMO.

He has a huge, long, slow swing, which you can get away with in the minors, but can't in the majors. And he hasn't been able to get away with it in the majors. In the minors he hit a HR every 25 ABs. He hasn't hit one in the majors yet in almost 60 ABs. In the minors he was a 2:1 K to BB hitter. In the majors he's been a 5:1 K to BB hitter.

Some guys are just perfect for AAA, but terrible in the MLB...Aguilar fits that bill. He's a AAAA player.

And the other is because he is a RH 1B only. Those kind of guys aren't valued all that much anymore, unless you are a Pujols or Goldscmidt kind of hitter, which Aguilar is most certainly not.

Same concern a lot of people have with Nellie Rodriguez.

 

[TheLand1287]

Has some decent pop. RH bat. Has played 3B, 1B, LF, and RF in the minors, so he's flexible defensively. Other than that, I have to read up on him to get more info on him, but good depth/minors depth.



He has 2 options left it looks like. Have to look into it a bit more.

Appreciate the info. Seems to fit the bill for the cheap utility man/corner bat that Rosenthal was alluding to yesterday. The fact he has options left is even better.

 

[sportscoach]

Has some decent pop. RH bat. Has played 3B, 1B, LF, and RF in the minors, so he's flexible defensively. Other than that, I have to read up on him to get more info on him, but good depth/minors depth.



He has 2 options left it looks like. Have to look into it a bit more.

I checked and he does have two more option years I am pretty sure since he should fall under the same fourth year option that Kyle Crockett has. I see him as a depth guy rather than a guy who will make an impact. Now I wonder if we can get him to hit like he did in college once again, then maybe we have a winner on our hands.

Now what do you think we will end up doing with Aguilar if a team doesn't claim him? I see Nellie at sometime this seasons getting at bats at AAA, so we do have to figure how all of those innings will fit between those three

Appreciate the info. Seems to fit the bill for the cheap utility man/corner bat that Rosenthal was alluding to yesterday. The fact he has options left is even better.

We are not done getting utility guys to be sincere, but they will be on minor league deals. If we do anyone else on a major league deal it will be a guy like Boone Logan who would push our rule 5 guy off the roster unless we are able to make a deal for him to keep him.

 

[BimboColesHair]

I checked and he does have two more option years I am pretty sure since he should fall under the same fourth year option that Kyle Crockett has. I see him as a depth guy rather than a guy who will make an impact. Now I wonder if we can get him to hit like he did in college once again, then maybe we have a winner on our hands.

Now what do you think we will end up doing with Aguilar if a team doesn't claim him? I see Nellie at sometime this seasons getting at bats at AAA, so we do have to figure how all of those innings will fit between those three



We are not done getting utility guys to be sincere, but they will be on minor league deals. If we do anyone else on a major league deal it will be a guy like Boone Logan who would push our rule 5 guy off the roster unless we are able to make a deal for him to keep him.

I know he has 2 options...why I said that.

He has 2 options because he was put on the 40 man when he was called up late in 2015 and ate his first option this past year following Spring Training. He won't qualify for a 4th option since he'll be well past his 5th pro season before his 3 options run out.

That's what I was looking more into. When he was put on the 40 man, when he was optioned, etc.

And of course he is a depth guy. Odds of him making this team out of spring are slim to none. But he has options and replaces Aguilar, who didn't. That's what the move was for. Depth with options.

As for Aguilar. Don't think he will be claimed, and he can't reject assignment since this is his first time eating a DFA. So either he will be in Columbus, or we'll release him.

And lucky for us, we have the DH spot in Columbus, so Aguilar being in Columbus won't have that much bearing on Rodriguez getting ABs there, should we want him there. Only thing that will make that spot a little tight is if Aguilar goes to Columbus, and then Colabello doesn't opt out of his minors deal and decides to stick around in the organization following Spring Training.

 

[sportscoach]

I know he has 2 options...why I said that.

He has 2 options because he was put on the 40 man when he was called up late in 2015 and ate his first option this past year following Spring Training. He won't qualify for a 4th option since he'll be well past his 5th pro season before his 3 options run out.

That's what I was looking more into. When he was put on the 40 man, when he was optioned, etc.

And of course he is a depth guy. Odds of him making this team out of spring are slim to none. But he has options and replaces Aguilar, who didn't. That's what the move was for. Depth with options.

As for Aguilar. Don't think he will be claimed, and he can't reject assignment since this is his first time eating a DFA. So either he will be in Columbus, or we'll release him.

And lucky for us, we have the DH spot in Columbus, so Aguilar being in Columbus won't have that much bearing on Rodriguez getting ABs there, should we want him there. Only thing that will make that spot a little tight is if Aguilar goes to Columbus, and then Colabello doesn't opt out of his minors deal and decides to stick around in the organization following Spring Training.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/9/3/9257163/the-reemergence-of-rays-prospect-richie-shaffer

Actually he was added, then sent back down then recalled in 2015, since it was less than 20 days he actually didn't use an option year up, and next season would be his 6th pro season, so if they kept him down 4 more days he would actually have one option year left. It's irrelevant, but I figured I would look at that as well. I couldn't find the day when they actually added him to the 40 man roster originally since they only have the recent stuff about him.

You never know, Aguilar may get taken by a team like Oakland who doesn't like to spend money in free agency and was rumored to be trying to get a RH 1st baseman. Who knows what would happen when a player gets into a new organization as well. I didn't expect Wolters to stay at the big league level and he did, though he did it as a backup forced to start, but still you never know.

 

[BimboColesHair]

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/9/3/9257163/the-reemergence-of-rays-prospect-richie-shaffer

Actually he was added, then sent back down then recalled in 2015, since it was less than 20 days he actually didn't use an option year up, and next season would be his 6th pro season, so if they kept him down 4 more days he would actually have one option year left. It's irrelevant, but I figured I would look at that as well. I couldn't find the day when they actually added him to the 40 man roster originally since they only have the recent stuff about him.

You never know, Aguilar may get taken by a team like Oakland who doesn't like to spend money in free agency and was rumored to be trying to get a RH 1st baseman. Who knows what would happen when a player gets into a new organization as well. I didn't expect Wolters to stay at the big league level and he did, though he did it as a backup forced to start, but still you never know.

I'll be absolutely shocked if a team claims Aguilar, with no options, and wastes a 40 man spot/corresponding move for him.

There is a major difference between Wolters and Aguilar...Wolters had options, Aguilar doesn't. That's why he was claimed off waivers, and why Aguilar most likely won't. He's just not good enough to be claimed, and doesn't play a premium defensive position like Wolters.

And who cares how it came about, spent too much time trying to figure out which date he was added to the 40 man during my lunch hour. He has 2 options left. All we need to care about at this point.

 

[macbdog]

I like this move, had no idea he was ping ponging around like he has been. Worth a flyer. He also has a champions pedigree having attended Clemson.

 

[BimboColesHair]

View: https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/824834589260673025

The Indians continue to explore the market, and bullpen coach Jason Bere was one of two representatives from the team to watch Craig Breslow’s throwing session on Monday, according to a scout in attendance. Breslow impressed scouts by throwing at a lower arm slot. The Mets and Dodgers each had two officials attend the session as well, and the Jays and Cubs were among the other clubs represented.

 

[sportscoach]

View: https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/824834589260673025

If we sign a reliever to a major league deal, who would you remove from the 40 man roster?

 

[Snarly]

If we sign a reliever to a major league deal, who would you remove from the 40 man roster?

A worse player? I would love to add a Breslow if he is healthy and proves he still has it. I will find a way to make it work. A top notch Breslow along side Andrew Miller, All I can say is hell yes.

 

[AZ_]

If we sign a reliever to a major league deal, who would you remove from the 40 man roster?

Cooney or Milner.

 

[Derek]

Not a lefty, but I saw reports of the Indians keeping an eye on Joe Blanton. Would be nice insurance if Otero is a one year wonder like Manship, or if Shaw's work load finally catches up to him.

http://www.espn.com/blog/mlb/rumors...r-central-indians-keeping-tabs-on-joe-blanton

The Cleveland Indians are doing “background work” on free-agent righty reliever Joe Blanton, tweets Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Rosenthal adds the Indians would prefer to add a left-hander to the bullpen, but that is not a priority, given the American League champions did just fine last season with Andrew Miller as their primary southpaw reliever.

The 36-year-old Blanton had a strong 2016 season for the Los Angeles Dodgerswith a 2.48 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 75 appearances, but was pounded by the Cubs in the NLCS, allowing seven runs and three homers in three outings.

Blanton was linked to the Colorado Rockies this week, but that might no longer be on the table after Colorado reached a deal with free agent Greg Holland.