Cleveland Indians 2018-2019 Offseason Outlook

[AZ_]

The classic misnomer here is the belief that you need "the top free agents" to remain competitive or build through the trades of your top end talent.

For a front office as creative as this one, I'll wait and see what they come up with before passing judgement on what players have to be traded for them to have a chance at a World Series.

 

[Steve_424]

I don't think the Indians have any interest in trading expensive contract for expensive contract.

Maybe, but if they find they cannot dump Kipnis, it might make more sense to have that expensive contract being a guy who is actually playing their natural position.

 

[Steve_424]

From Pluto:

There is nearly a zero chance Michael Brantley will return to the Tribe. At the moment, the starting outfield would be Jason Kipnis (LF), Leonys Martin or Greg Allen (CF) and Tyler Naquin (RF). Bradley Zimmer is recovering from shoulder surgery and probably won’t be ready for opening day.

I can’t believe the Indians will stick with that outfield. Trades are the most logical way to fix it. The Indians plan to keep Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez. They want to add more hitters, not subtract from the lineup.

 

[JDailey23]

Gonna miss Dr Smooth

 

[Pjlea28]

Could not watch a year with Kip as the starting left fielder.

 

[CavsRules]

The classic misnomer here is the belief that you need "the top free agents" to remain competitive or build through the trades of your top end talent.

For a front office as creative as this one, I'll wait and see what they come up with before passing judgement on what players have to be traded for them to have a chance at a World Series.

The fact that the Indians do have a creative front office is giving me some hope that they can, and will make the most out of this situation and keep the club competitive enough to be a playoff team, and hopefully a legit contender for the World Series.

But obviously isn't looking too good right now. Talks of dealing your ace, zero percent chance one of, if not your best hitter returns next season because he rightfully wants to get paid. I'm just not sure how they can spin this to where it makes sense, and they come out on top.

Regarding Brantley.. It's really difficult to watch this unfold. I understand money is tight, but I'm working the phones as hard as possible right now to get some guys with bad deals out of here so I can at the very least offer Brantley a deal that makes sense for both sides, and try to keep one of your best players that you need.

I feel like I should ignore this winter off-season until it's completely over. Gonna be a depressing, stressful one without a doubt.

 

[Steve_424]

It's amazing to watch average Indians fan go from yelling at the FO last year for picking up Brantley's option to wanting them to commit big money over 2-3 years to him.

 

[chuck0609]

Were labeling Kluber as a disappointment now?

Lol

Not a label, a factual reality. He will be in CLE lure forever for his efforts three years ago though.

Hes a workhorse, an elite pitcher on a friendly contract. If they move him, the return should be excellent.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Could not watch a year with Kip as the starting left fielder.

THAT is your biggest problem?

If Tyler Naquin is a starter, we are fucked.

 

[JMcCurry08]

It's amazing to watch average Indians fan go from yelling at the FO last year for picking up Brantley's option to wanting them to commit big money over 2-3 years to him.

That's what a healthy, All-Star season will do

 

[Pjlea28]

THAT is your biggest problem?

If Tyler Naquin is a starter, we are fucked.

The whole outfield is fucked!

 

[sportscoach]

Naquin will be a platoon guy in RF/LF, so I am not 100% worried about it since we will always manage to find someone to help him out.

If we get the Allen who finished the season last year, we will be in good shape in CF, since he was over .300 in the last month. I think if given every day ABs he will be a breakout candidate in the case of production.

But overall looking at that OF as we have it now, I do not like it at all if we are trying to win it all. We need a bit more production out there.

 

[Steve_424]

I have a feeling the Indians will add a free agent to supplant the outfield late in the game on a very team-friendly 1 year deal. Heck, it could even be Melky, Chisenhall, or Guyer.

 

[sportscoach]

I have a feeling the Indians will add a free agent to supplant the outfield late in the game on a very team-friendly 1 year deal. Heck, it could even be Melky, Chisenhall, or Guyer.

I think we will definitely bring in guys like we have with Davis and Jackson the last few years just to help out, but I still feel we gotta resign Brantley/replace his production somehow and we aren't going to be able to do that in house I don't feel.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Kluber is a phenomenal pitcher...2016 postseason was his zenith except for game 7 but he was gassed...The only realistic way for the Indians to stay as legit WS contenders is through a trade to get outfield and relief help...we simply don’t have the $ to get top free agents...Now is trading Kluber the smart move? Will he start to decline? has that decline already begun? Do we have enough pitching without him to make the playoffs? probably...They have to retool someway...I think they should look to revamp the lineup with guys that get on base not necessarily through the home run...speed guys...how many games did we score 5 runs in one inning and nothing the rest of the game? approach the game almost like an old school national league team

Kluber's 2017 and 2018 were utterly horrendous in the post-season. I just don't know how you level set on that when talking WS. We literally have zero percent chance to win a world series if Kluber pitches like he has the last 2 years. He has just not been the same, late in the year, since we ran his ass in to the ground in 2016.

Numbers aside, there is also a downward trend in his velocity chart, that to me, is more concerning. His regular season numbers dipped but were still very good but a 4th year of velocity decline is something I would really be worried about, given how many mistakes he made in the zone, most notably in the playoffs. His fastball is notably down.

I think it's a really tough decision. I personally think the time is right to move on from him, if you can get back cost controlled assets like Andujar +.....but I may be in the minority. I love Kluber but we are just blocked by better teams right now. I think our path to a WS is 2 years out and we should be making moves with that in mind. I just don't see how this current roster has much of a chance and we should have enough pitching flowing through the system to make it work (on a 2 year track).