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2016-2017 Indians Off-Season Thread

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D-Wreck said:
I'd prefer if they didn't sign any free agents. I want to keep some money available for when we extend Lindor through his arbitration years. He's eligible in after the 2018 season, and I think we'd all love to lock him down past 2022 (his current FA year).

Only FA I'm looking at are salvageable relievers like Hudson, Storen, Morrow, and Richard if he can't land a starting gig. I'd love to find a lefty to compete with Crockett in camp. I want Crockett to be our 2nd lefty, and he looked like it down the stretch, but definitely need the competition.

The obsession with a big bat around here is pretty humorous. Unless you think we're landing a Goldschmidt via trade, we're better off with high average guys. Power is overrated. If Brantley even comes back as a .280/.290 hitter, that's a huge boost, and I think we all know he's capable of more.

I would look to bring Napoli back, and I think we have a good shot to do that. I've also said before that I'd welcome Rajai back. He can be valuable even if we're playing him less.

I said it earlier in the year, I like Chisenhall, but we have a little bit of a crowded OF and Zimmer is coming. With Brantley back, I think we should look to deal him. Not sure what we could get for him to be honest, but it's something I'd look into.

I think Erik Gonzalez deserves a shot at the utility spot. Yandy Diaz could be in the mix as well, but I'd give Gonzalez the edge with his superior fielding prowess.

Zimmer will be up at some point, so that provides some insurance for Naquin if his struggles continue. Almonte/Davis is a weak spot in the lineup, but they're serviceable.

C: Gomes/Perez
1B: Napoli/Santana/Brantley
2B: Kipnis/Gonzalez
3B: Ramirez/Gonzalez
SS: Lindor/Gonzalez
LF: Brantley/Davis/Guyer
CF: Almonte/Davis
RF: Naquin/Guyer/Almonte

If we can't manage to bring back Napoli and Davis, I'd look at these guys:

Franklin Gutierrez
Austin Jackson
Drew Stubbs
Jose Bautista
Matt Holliday
Carlos Beltran

Holliday and Beltran are guys I would consider for a 1B/DH role. I want them nowhere near the OF.
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I also don't think we're going to make any big free agent splashes, but thinking we're going to do nothing in free agency isn't realistic either. If past seasons are anything to go by, we'll bring in at least 1 or 2 past their prime but veteran bats, and a reclamation project starter that had a down year last year but has high potential.
 
Im predicting the following:

1. One of Davis, Crisp, and Napoli returns.
And probably in that order. Rajai is still an useful platoon guy. Coco seems like a reliable veteran presence for the bench although I'm not sure what he has left. Every other team saw what we did with Naps, and I just can't see him getting more than two years. I think the list of suitors will be long for one year; maybe a great incentive package could keep him here. I'm actually more concerned about his defense- he was not as good with us as he was in the past. This was a good part of his prior value to me. And if they go with my no. 2 route then he is likely gone.

2. They do make one sizeable signing/trade for a bat.
This club ponied up for Swish and Bourn; if the market doesn't go insane I see them wading into FA and if it goes nuts they find a one/two year rental bat, eat the contract and save the prospects. Antonetti was more bold in this regard than Shap and I expect a surprising move here. This I'm not going to guess on the guy, I think they pull a rabbit out here.

3. Salazar to the bullpen.
It may not happen right away, but they go into spring training with this as the next step if his elbow issues pop back up.
 
shoes22 said:
I also don't think we're going to make any big free agent splashes, but thinking we're going to do nothing in free agency isn't realistic either. If past seasons are anything to go by, we'll bring in at least 1 or 2 past their prime but veteran bats, and a reclamation project starter that had a down year last year but has high potential.
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I guess I should have clarified free agents on major league deals.
 
Offer Mark Trumbo a 3 year deal. Dude hit .256, drove in 108 and hit 47 bombs. Plays right field and can DH. He's 30 years old, 5 years younger than Napoli. Does it kinda make the outfield situation a bit crowded? Yes. But that's for Tito to figure out.
 
Coyote850 said:
Offer Mark Trumbo a 3 year deal. Dude hit .256, drove in 108 and hit 47 bombs. Plays right field and can DH. He's 30 years old, 5 years younger than Napoli. Does it kinda make the outfield situation a bit crowded? Yes. But that's for Tito to figure out.
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Zero chance I'm letting him play anywhere in the field for any extended capacity.

Not sure I'm willing to bet on his career outlier year of 2016 being the norm moving forward either.
 
AZ_ said:
Zero chance I'm letting him play anywhere in the field for any extended capacity.

Not sure I'm willing to bet on his career outlier year of 2016 being the norm moving forward either.
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.214/.284/.470 slash line in the second half.

I'd take him as a Napoli replacement at Napoli money, but I know he's going to command more than that.
 
Offering Napoli the QO ultimately kills his market value.

He'd be wise to accept it, I'm hoping he doesn't.

Keeping Davis as a swing man against LHP is a solid move.

He and Guyer would platoon for Naquin and Chisenhall vs. LHP, presumably.

Not sure where that leaves Almonte, but not sure he's good enough to warrant worrying about that either.
 
Looks like no Brantley to 1B for now. Must be pretty confident that Napoli will return. I'd still expect to see more days off for Nap, even if it's Santana at 1B and somebody else getting a day off from the field.
 
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