I think this team can compete now if the young talent already at the major league level pans out. I'm willing to let it ride. I feel like it's house money at this point--a season where we shouldn't be contending, but if the guys put us in that position at the deadline, then let's buy instead of sell.
I just expect that we'll fall a bit more behind and look back on the first half of this season as the peak.
I agree with the "house money" analogy. It seems they are using this season to reload after moving on from Lindor, Carrasco, Clevinger, Bauer, Kluber, and Santana over a two-year period. Next year they should be back up to full speed.
This year is all about player development as I see it. There are three groups.
1. Pitchers: McKenzie, Hentges, Mejia, Allen, Clase, and Quantrill. All these guys can be much better than they are now from what the Indians are saying. We just need two of the starters to emerge as above average 4 and 5 starters next year and for Clase and Quantrill to add that last bit of refinement. There are some really impressive but unfinished arms in this group.
2. Young veterans: Naylor, Luplow, Amed Rosario, Gimenez, Harold Ramirez. These guys will either stake their claim to starting jobs in the future or be slowly weeded out like Naquin, Mercado, and Zimmer. So far Naylor is making his case while Luplow is floundering. The other three showed some flashes but have been inconsistent. I'm putting Bauers and Chang in the "one foot out the door" category.
3. Prospects: Miller, Freeman, Arias, Espino, Jones, Bo Naylor. It's all about giving them as much playing time and coaching as possible with an eye toward earning starting jobs next season or the year after in the case of Espino and Naylor. They put Miller in left field last night. Are they looking at him as Eddie Rosario's replacement next year?
Next year could be a real changing of the guard if they go with Miller in left, Amed in center, Naylor in right, Jones at first, Freeman at second, and Arias at short. Luplow and Harold compete for the fourth OF job. Gimenez is the UIF. Leaving are Cesar, Eddie, Chang, and Bauers.
I'm not sure we'll need to add a lot of payroll in terms of new players to be able to compete with the White Sox as long as the young vets and upper level prospects develop as hoped.