2016-2017 Indians Off-Season Thread

[macbdog]

If Utley is looking for playing time, it doesn't make sense. But I think his attitude (which I fucking love - hard nosed) and experience would be great. Has also won a World Series and been to another. We lose that with Nap.

Utley's moxie, grit and sticktoititveness are all off the charts. He is exactly the kind of vet that Tito loves to have on the bench- if his goal is to contend and find ABs this is the place, Tito will work him in.

 

[sportscoach]

View: https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/829893403131396101

So you think he is worth signing? I feel bad for Gonzalez if we do sign him since it likely makes him the guy sent to the minors cause of this deal. I guess 2017 is the year we are truly going for it all so Utley over Gonzalez makes sense cause of that. Who would you guys prefer?

 

[Snarly]

So you think he is worth signing? I feel bad for Gonzalez if we do sign him since it likely makes him the guy sent to the minors cause of this deal. I guess 2017 is the year we are truly going for it all so Utley over Gonzalez makes sense cause of that. Who would you guys prefer?

Utley fits the Nap singing of last year as a guy who will keep pushing other guys harder to win. Not that the team needs it as much but a guy like that around is always a guy you want around. I would take Utley there is no replacement not matter what for proving winning experience who still want to win.

 

[Frank Stallone]

Utley's moxie, grit and sticktoititveness are all off the charts. He is exactly the kind of vet that Tito loves to have on the bench- if his goal is to contend and find ABs this is the place, Tito will work him in.

Exactly. I may be a bit bias, I have a TON of Phillies friends... but the love of Utley is HUGE. I love our team, don't get me wrong, but just think we need that one guy who has that sharp ass edge. Edwin is pretty intense, but think Utley really supplies that.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

I just do not see why this deal would happen. Utley barely has a position any more, and we are going to use him as a bench player?

Man, I dont know. I guess it will breed competition, but it seems like Utley doesnt have a spot in Cleveland. imo.

 

[Derek]

I just do not see why this deal would happen. Utley barely has a position any more, and we are going to use him as a bench player?

Man, I dont know. I guess it will breed competition, but it seems like Utley doesnt have a spot in Cleveland. imo.

Like @BimboColesHair said, it only makes sense if they are planning on working him almost exclusively at 3B in spring training to prep for a role there that would allow Jose to move around, and give other guys days off.

His abilities to play 2B and 1B are almost completely useless, so the only real fit is if they think he can play 3B.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Like @BimboColesHair said, it only makes sense if they are planning on working him almost exclusively at 3B in spring training to prep for a role there that would allow Jose to move around, and give other guys days off.

His abilities to play 2B and 1B are almost completely useless, so the only real fit is if they think he can play 3B.

I dont know how to feel about converting a 38 year old career 2B/1B into an entirely different position but whatever, worth a shot if they can spend the money, I guess.

 

[Derek]

I dont know how to feel about converting a 38 year old career 2B/1B into an entirely different position but whatever, worth a shot if they can spend the money, I guess.

He's played there a couple times in the majors, and did play 123 games there in AAA back in '02, so it's not a completely foreign position to him. He's more experienced there than he is at 1B, although 1B is a much simpler transition.

Hopefully, you'd only need him there for 40 games or so over the course of the season.

 

[BimboColesHair]

I dont know how to feel about converting a 38 year old career 2B/1B into an entirely different position but whatever, worth a shot if they can spend the money, I guess.

2B to 3B isn't that hard of a change. Probabaly an easier position to play most of the time in fact, because range and lateral movement is less of a factor. It's all about the arm and throwing footwork from 3B.

Why a good defensive 2B like Ramirez has been able to play the spot very well, even though he barely had any experience at that position before he got to the MLB.

This would be different if we were trying to turn him into a full utility guy, who is going to play 2B/SS/3B/OF...but the idea is he can play some 3rd and let Ramirez be that player every once in a while. Makes sense, and is a big offensive upgrade over Gonzalez or Martinez as the bench IF bat.

Another thing not talked about is that our entire bench figures to be all RH hitters right now...think it would be nice to have a LH hitter on there as well, considering how much Tito likes to matchup vs handedness.

 

[MoFlo]

View: https://twitter.com/tribeinsider/status/830100625824346113

 

[Derek]

View: https://twitter.com/MLBRosterMoves/status/830108223067680768


Adios Austin

 

[sportscoach]

2B to 3B isn't that hard of a change. Probabaly an easier position to play most of the time in fact, because range and lateral movement is less of a factor. It's all about the arm and throwing footwork from 3B.

Why a good defensive 2B like Ramirez has been able to play the spot very well, even though he barely had any experience at that position before he got to the MLB.

This would be different if we were trying to turn him into a full utility guy, who is going to play 2B/SS/3B/OF...but the idea is he can play some 3rd and let Ramirez be that player every once in a while. Makes sense, and is a big offensive upgrade over Gonzalez or Martinez as the bench IF bat.

Another thing not talked about is that our entire bench figures to be all RH hitters right now...think it would be nice to have a LH hitter on there as well, considering how much Tito likes to matchup vs handedness.

Actually I he was a solid defensive guy when he was younger, so I think he will do just fine at 1st and 3rd even up in age. He had played some innings at both in the last few years and I would bet he is better at first defensively than Santana and EE. Part of me would rather have Gonzalez, but at the same time, if we sign Utley, I will not be mad. He would be a very good fit personality wise and nothing wrong with having veterans like him on the roster.

View: https://twitter.com/tribeinsider/status/830100625824346113

What do you guys know about Perez? I am not familiar with him, I am guessing he won't make the team, but you never know. It would just be nice to know about him

View: https://twitter.com/MLBRosterMoves/status/830108223067680768


Adios Austin

It makes sense for the Angels to acquire Adams, he's not a bad pitcher just was out of options and we had a ton of pitchers so he was the odd man out. He may catch on out there, but if not it happens.

 

[BimboColesHair]

View: https://twitter.com/MLBRosterMoves/status/830108223067680768


Adios Austin

Cash for Utley...cash me outside...

 

[BimboColesHair]

Actually I he was a solid defensive guy when he was younger, so I think he will do just fine at 1st and 3rd even up in age. He had played some innings at both in the last few years and I would bet he is better at first defensively than Santana and EE. Part of me would rather have Gonzalez, but at the same time, if we sign Utley, I will not be mad. He would be a very good fit personality wise and nothing wrong with having veterans like him on the roster.



What do you guys know about Perez? I am not familiar with him, I am guessing he won't make the team, but you never know. It would just be nice to know about him



It makes sense for the Angels to acquire Adams, he's not a bad pitcher just was out of options and we had a ton of pitchers so he was the odd man out. He may catch on out there, but if not it happens.

Utley will produce more in 2017 than Erik Gonzalez at the MLB level. That is what this is coming down to.

Erik Gonzalez also should be getting everyday ABs while he is still improving as a hitter, and should be playing a ton of innings at SS, instead of every 4th day at a random position.

No, I won't feel bad at all if Gonzalez is optioned down to the minors again. He is a young guy, this is far from his last chance at making a club...why should I feel bad for him? Plus, the odds of him being in Cleveland at some point if an Utley signing were to happen would be pretty damn high.

And Adams is a pretty bad MLB pitcher. He throws pretty hard, but he has no plus off speed pitch and a fastball that is too straight. You can get away with straight velocity in the minors, you can't at the MLB level, and his performance in the MLB has shown just that.

 

[Derek]

Actually I he was a solid defensive guy when he was younger, so I think he will do just fine at 1st and 3rd even up in age. He had played some innings at both in the last few years and I would bet he is better at first defensively than Santana and EE. Part of me would rather have Gonzalez, but at the same time, if we sign Utley, I will not be mad. He would be a very good fit personality wise and nothing wrong with having veterans like him on the roster.



What do you guys know about Perez? I am not familiar with him, I am guessing he won't make the team, but you never know. It would just be nice to know about him



It makes sense for the Angels to acquire Adams, he's not a bad pitcher just was out of options and we had a ton of pitchers so he was the odd man out. He may catch on out there, but if not it happens.

Only way Utley would see time at 1B is if one of EE or Santana is sitting, which barring injury, will happen maybe a dozen times throughout the year. Utley being an emergency option at 1B shouldn't factor into our interest in him at all.

Pay no mind to Perez, he has no chance to make the club.

Adams is a bad pitcher. He can throw hard, and really has nothing else going for him. At least with a live arm there's a chance, but I'd be surprised if he figured it out.