2018 Trade Deadline

[KluberSociety]

I would take Tyler Clippard in a heartbeat, bro. This team needs at least two quality relievers to add to the pen both preferably being right-handed.

Quality reliever is a bit of stretch for him, but I took a quick glance at his stats and probably underestimated him. He'd be an improvement over some of our arms, not a huge improvement over anyone except Tomlin or Kontos though. The question is - what do we do with these mostly comparable arms once our players return from the DL? We'd be complaining about him the first bad game.

 

[Kevalier]

Quality reliever is a bit of stretch for him, but I took a quick glance at his stats and probably underestimated him. He'd be an improvement over some of our arms, not a huge improvement over anyone except Tomlin or Kontos though. The question is - what do we do with these mostly comparable arms once our players return from the DL? We'd be complaining about him the first bad game.

Zach McAllister- 5.85 ERA, 4.91 FIP, 1.36 WHIP
Dan Otero- 6.04 ERA, 5.10 FIP, 1.09 WHIP
Tyler Clippard- 3.20 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 1.14 WHIP

Essentially, Clippard would be replacing Otero and McAllister as a middle reliever. Ideally, if Miller gets healthy and they add a Hand or Iglesias, your middle relievers would be Neil Ramirez and Clippard, Oliver Perez is your LOOGY, Hand/Iglesias and Miller are your late inning, set up men with Allen closing.

 

[KluberSociety]

Zach McAllister- 5.85 ERA, 4.91 FIP, 1.36 WHIP
Dan Otero- 6.04 ERA, 5.10 FIP, 1.09 WHIP
Tyler Clippard- 3.20 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 1.14 WHIP

Essentially, Clippard would be replacing Otero and McAllister as a middle reliever. Ideally, if Miller gets healthy and they add a Hand or Iglesias, your middle relievers would be Neil Ramirez and Clippard, Oliver Perez is your LOOGY, Hand/Iglesias and Miller are your late inning, set up men with Allen closing.

McAllister/Otero have HR/FB% of 18.4% and 28.6%, respectively, which are not only unsustainable by pretty much anyone, but also they don't have any bad trends in their career stats like Tomlin.

In SIERA which is a much better gauge especially at low sample sizes, and which takes into account the kind of contact:
Otero - 3.13
McAllister - 3.64
Clippard - 3.69

So basically this is saying that brighter times are ahead for Otero, and McAllister and Clippard are roughly comparable.

There's certainly arguments to be had for preferring Clippard over McAllister (he tends to overperform ERA peripherals) but he's somewhere in the same realm. Let's say it's Otero = Clippard > McAllister. Even if that's the case, it's not worth too much to make the replacement if you're just replacing McAllister. If you're replacing Tomlin or Kontos, then yes. Make the trade in a heartbeat. Those 2 don't have any place on a playoff roster.

Otero and McAllister are two guys I'm perfectly comfortable with on the roster, not in the highest leverage spots at least for McAllister, but they aren't trash bin players that you make trades to replace. Otero in particular is someone of significant value.

 

[Kevalier]

View: https://twitter.com/JL_Baseball/status/1013401195472457729


Very encouraging to read. I'm starting to believe Mejia will be available for the right reliever based on the conflict between him and the organization on having him embrace the opportunity to play in the outfield according to Tito's latest comments. Perhaps, a deal involving Mejia and a couple other top prospects not named Bieber or McKenzie could land Iglesias and an outfielder from the Reds like Scott Schebler.

 

[Ohio]

View: https://twitter.com/JL_Baseball/status/1013401195472457729


Very encouraging to read. I'm starting to believe Mejia will be available for the right reliever based on the conflict between him and the organization on having him embrace the opportunity to play in the outfield according to Tito's latest comments. Perhaps, a deal involving Mejia and a couple other top prospects not named Bieber or McKenzie could land Iglesias and an outfielder from the Reds like Scott Schebler.

Here's the bullet from his article:

• The Cleveland Indians want to add at least one really good, late-inning reliever who will be under team control beyond 2018. After this season, the Indians will lose bullpen stars Andrew Miller and Cody Allen to free agency. The Indians know that surviving the October steel-cage match with the Astros, Yankees and Red Sox will be incredibly difficult, and while Cleveland's bullpen performance has improved since it starting feasting on its AL Central brethren, it will need more bullpen weapons for the postseason.

 

[Kevalier]

Here's the bullet from his article:

• The Cleveland Indians want to add at least one really good, late-inning reliever who will be under team control beyond 2018. After this season, the Indians will lose bullpen stars Andrew Miller and Cody Allen to free agency. The Indians know that surviving the October steel-cage match with the Astros, Yankees and Red Sox will be incredibly difficult, and while Cleveland's bullpen performance has improved since it starting feasting on its AL Central brethren, it will need more bullpen weapons for the postseason.

 

[KluberSociety]

I like the way that sounds. We lack in high-end quality not quantity. And high minors players aren't as much in our contention window. We may be selling off by around 2021 and at that point we can get some high minors players back and back up our low minors guys. Hand is locked up until 2021. I wouldn't mind paying for him as long as the price isn't egregious.

 

[MGMT]

Ill be guilty of the unpopular opinion but Mejia for a reliever doesn’t do it for me. I’ll ask this: How does a guy like Mejia project offensively compared to say — Moncada? Maybe I’m just overrating Mejia but I feel like that a package centralized around Mejia lands more a more impactful player than a bullpen arm.

But we’ve seen the value of it in 16 so maybe I’m just off here — completely.

 

[PIP]

Ill be guilty of the unpopular opinion but Mejia for a reliever doesn’t do it for me. I’ll ask this: How does a guy like Mejia project offensively compared to say — Moncada? Maybe I’m just overrating Mejia but I feel like that a package centralized around Mejia lands more a more impactful player than a bullpen arm.

But we’ve seen the value of it in 16 so maybe I’m just off here — completely.

I’d agree but if you’re getting a high end reliever with team control beyond this year you’re potentially extending the window..

Beyond this season the only part that could possibly hold the Indians back is bullpen... Getting a good late inning reliever for Mejia might extend the run?

 

[Ohio]

I’d agree but if you’re getting a high end reliever with team control beyond this year you’re potentially extending the window..

Beyond this season the only part that could possibly hold the Indians back is bullpen... Getting a good late inning reliever for Mejia might extend the run?

Right. Because, as Olney pointed out, we are losing both Miller and Allen from a bullpen that is already bad overall. If we just rolled with the same guys going forward minus those two, we likely wouldn't even make the playoffs again.

 

[EdMonix11]

View: https://twitter.com/JL_Baseball/status/1013401195472457729


Very encouraging to read. I'm starting to believe Mejia will be available for the right reliever based on the conflict between him and the organization on having him embrace the opportunity to play in the outfield according to Tito's latest comments. Perhaps, a deal involving Mejia and a couple other top prospects not named Bieber or McKenzie could land Iglesias and an outfielder from the Reds like Scott Schebler.

Highly highly unlikely on Mejia being available for a reliever-- just not the Indians M.O.

High minor league prospects = Chang, Allen, Bradley, Castro, Diaz

Chang is particular has really good value around the MLB as a power bat that can/should stick at SS

 

[kriegs]

 

[Kevalier]

I was just about to post this tweet. Barraclough and Steckenrider are natural fits to our bullpen. Another name that the Tribe may be interested from the Marlins is Cleveland's own Derek Dietrich, who plays multiple positions in both the outfield and infield and has had a very productive season (.291/.349/.470)

 

[JMcCurry08]

View: https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1014503456122507264

 

[FrontPageNews]

View: https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1014503456122507264

Oh hello