2012-2013 Indians Red Hot Offseason Thread (Bourn signed post 1940)

[BimboColesHair]

#Indians still in market for Nick Swisher. Have not closed door on Youkilis. Still looking for starting pitching.

— paul hoynes (@hoynsie) December 10, 2012

Sounds like #Indians have more money to spend this winter. is.gd/rNeQXi

— paul hoynes (@hoynsie) December 10, 2012

[elcheato]

Ken Rosenthal reports the four-team trade isn't dead yet.

Rosenthal reports that the Mariners have replaced the Rays as the fourth team involved in talks. They would likely get Rangers left-hander Derek Holland in return for whatever talent they surrendered.

The Rangers’ goal in the proceeding is to get Justin Upton from Arizona, and to accomplish that, it seems they’re going to have to facilitate a deal that would send Asdrubal Cabrera from the Indians to the Diamondbacks.

What’s odd about that whole aspect is that the Diamondbacks and Indians wouldn’t seem to need the Rangers at all, given that the Diamondbacks have young pitching to trade. However, it sounds as though the Indians are more interested in Tyler Skaggs than fellow top prospect Trevor Bauer, while the Diamondbacks prefer to deal Bauer.

So, perhaps it all boils down like this:

Rangers get Upton from Diamondbacks
Diamondbacks get Cabrera from Indians, prospect from Rangers
Mariners get Holland from Rangers
Indians get prospect(s) from Mariners

For the Mariners’ side, it’s hard to imagine they’d trade top prospect Taijuan Walker for Holland. However, Danny Hultzen could be in play. Jesus Montero might be another possibility.

I'd do Cabrera for Skaggs or Bauer and Hultzen.

The Mariners are not going to give up Hultzen for Derek Holland.

[RealKingofCleve]

The Indians would be lucky to get one top pitching prospect for Assdribble.

[AMC]

The Indians would be lucky to get one top pitching prospect for Assdribble.

We have zero mlb quality starting pitchers. Lets go get a whole staff for Assdribble.

Thought this was quite comical.

Carry on.

[shoes22]

Even though it's not likely to happen, I wouldn't mind if we still added Youklis in addition to Reynolds. This lineup needs all the protection it can get.

The player I'm worried about most is Chisenhall at 3B. This is the first time in his career where he's the de facto everyday MLB third baseman, and I think he's bound to go through a slump this season.

[JMcCurry08]

I would sign Youk and rotate reynolds and youk at 1B and DH

[Amherstcavsfan]

I would sign Youk and rotate reynolds and youk at 1B and DH

No need, unless Youk needs the rest. Reynolds is not as good a defender as Youk.

[Nom]

Disagree with signing Youk now that Reynolds is on board.

There are GAPING holes in the OF and SP. Getting Youk would be a luxury at this point - especially with Santana receiving a lot of time at 1B.

Let's fill the holes we have before we start adding additional guys at positions that aren't necessary. Remember how inflexible the roster was with Hafner at DH?

[Amherstcavsfan]

Disagree with signing Youk now that Reynolds is on board.

There are GAPING holes in the OF and SP. Getting Youk would be a luxury at this point - especially with Santana receiving a lot of time at 1B.

Let's fill the holes we have before we start adding additional guys at positions that aren't necessary. Remember how inflexible the roster was with Hafner at DH?

I don't see a problem with it. Apparently the Indians have money, and there really isn't any SP that I would go wild over. May as well solidify your hitting, as well as adding another corner outfielder.

I am very content to add SP through trades.

[Bkerr02]

Adding a guy like Edwin Jackson would definitely help our rotation. He would be a solid 3/4 guy. Then trade choo or drubs for a young major league ready pitcher would go a long ways

[macbdog]

I don't see a problem with it. Apparently the Indians have money, and there really isn't any SP that I would go wild over. May as well solidify your hitting, as well as adding another corner outfielder.

I am very content to add SP through trades.

I would have to imagine that if the Tribe went with Reynolds over Youk, it was partly done with the intention of using that savings (3m this year and 9M next) on some player not named Kevin Youkilis. I know they say they haven't moved on, but as of right now I think they have. I would much rather see them save that money and give it to someone like Edwin Jackson.

[Nom]

I would have to imagine that if the Tribe went with Reynolds over Youk, it was partly done with the intention of using that savings (3m this year and 9M next) on some player not named Kevin Youkilis. I know they say they haven't moved on, but as of right now I think they have. I would much rather see them save that money and give it to someone like Edwin Jackson.

This is my thought - Jackson / Swisher are way more important to this team than Youkilis. If the diff between Reynolds and Youkilil wasn't huge, the $10mil saved should be used to grab a guy at a need position.

[Nom]

All this Youkilis / Reynolds / Swish talk is fun, but the next 3 years of this franchise hinge on what kind of trades they are able to pull off. The offense is weak and the starting pitching worse. They need to get an influx of controllable talent onto this team.

[SRStark20]

All this Youkilis / Reynolds / Swish talk is fun, but the next 3 years of this franchise hinge on what kind of trades they are able to pull off. The offense is weak and the starting pitching worse. They need to get an influx of controllable talent onto this team.

This. We've got our young guys like Kipnis, Brantley, Santana, and Chisenhall, along with prospects such as Yan Gomes and Lars Anderson that should all be at a high level in three years time. Our pitching is what concerns me.

[MoFlo]

Tony Lastoria‏@TonyIPI

A reason the Indians may have moved on from Youkilis? The #Dodgers are reportedly interested in him to be their 3B.

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