Should be a pretty fast team with Martin, Lindor and Ramirez they'll have three quality basestealers.

Bauers is considered capable of stealing up to 20 bases although that's the most he's had in a single minor league season.

Kipnis used to steal but that part of his offense like the rest has rally tailed off.

If they really want to go for speed they'd give Greg Allen a big role.
if Zimmer can get on base he's a great threat to steal.

Neither Naquin nor Luplow steals much. Carlos Santana has had as many as 11 in a season.

Roberto Perez somehow has stolen 2 in his career. Kevin Plawecki stole a base in 2013 in Class A and another in 2017 for the Mets, so he's not due for another yet.

BA is going through a fun exercise "If every team was homegrown" with rosters of players signed by each organization. Starting with the NL East and Central. Gives us a few days to determine the Indians homegrown team.

We'd be way weaker in the starting rotation that the real life Indians are since Kluber Carrasco Bauer Clevinger all came in trades although our farm system deserves credit for developing all of them into top quality major leaguers. We get to claim Bieber and CC - for one more year. I think Bartolo is finally retired? but he could be back! We get to include the always injured Danny Salazar. Drafting but not signing Tim Lincecum doesn't count. We can include Drew Pomeranz. Is Steven Wright still a Red Sox major leaguer?
I'd have to look at lots of rosters to figure out our homegrown bullpen, Jeanmar Gomez I think is in the majors; Elvis Araujo I think not.
Behind the plate, Mejia of course, and our very own Roberto Perez
Jesus Aguilar at first base
Can't do much better than the threesome we have born and raised t 2nd SS and 3rd. Asdrubal Cabrera is still around. Peralta may be done.
Are there any Indians-originated OFs besides the recent mediocre run of 1st run draftees Naquin, Frazier and Zimmer? Anthony Santander if he's ready for the majors.

I'm sure I'm overlooking some obvious names. Once they're gone I tend to forget about them.

BA also is listing top farm systems each system when viewed in retrospective. Included:

2003 Indians Victor Martinez, Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips, Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore, Jhonny Peralta, Jeremy Guthrie, Coco Crisp

I think Victor has also just retired.

ok, in reviewing historic drafts, I get to add Chisenhall and Allen to the original Indians outfield. Joey Wendle as a utility infielder or maybe he'd beat out Kipnis.
Thomas Pannone has debuted with the Blue Jays and joins the lefty rotation. Plutko is another potential starter. Heller joins the bullpen. Kyle Crockett too; both of them have been marginal major leaguers so far. Similarly Shawn Armstrong. And for a lefty in the pen the surprisingly successful 48th round pick Vidal Nuno from 2008. TJ McFarland is a solid reliever from 2007.
And then I come up with the perhaps the best pitcher of the team: Chris Archer from 2006.
Also add Tony Wolters and Haase to the catching corps.
I'm quitting my search of drafts in 2004.

There could well be some other international signees who add to this collection. I know there's a reliever in the NL who we let get away but I can't recall who.
It winds up very strong in the infield. Mediocre but deep in the outfield and behind the plate. Not terribly impressive in the pitching corps.

Didn't Asdrubel come from Seattle? I think he was acquired after we stole Fermin from them.

You're right. That was the year we traded two part time 1st basemen and got all the best of the Seattle farm system. We sent Eduardo Perez and Broussard We got Choo, Cabrera and more.

So I have something like this:

C: Perez, Wolters, Haase, Mejia
1b: Aguilar
2b: Kipnis
ss: Lindor'
3b: Ramirez
IF: Gonzalez Wendle
LF: Naquin, Mejia
cf: Allen, Zimmer, Frazier
rf: Chisenhall, Mejia

SP: Archer, Bieber, Sabathia, Pomeranz, Pannone, Plutko
RP: Allen, McFarland, Gomez, Nuno, Wright, Anderson, Heller, Armstrong
and the other guys I don't remember

Tyler Clippard reportedly signs a Minor League deal with the Indians after going 4-3 with seven saves and a 3.67 ERA in 2018

each additional signing is a little better than the last. Poor Jon Edwards may not get a job after all. And maybe we can hope the odds on Otero returning are also lengthening.

Less Corey Kluber might be the way to get more Corey Kluber


By T.J. Zuppe Feb 19, 2019 12

CLEVELAND​ — Corey Kluber’s​ reign among​ baseball’s best arms began​ with a prediction from​ Terry Francona five years​ ago.​ That spring,​ Francona forecast that​​ Kluber was capable of big things.

But even then, the Indians’ manager probably didn’t foresee the righty emerging as one of this era’s best hurlers.

Yes, Kluber’s recent playoff failures have been as unappealing as an unfiltered Snapchat selfie, but the 10.20 ERA in his past four postseason starts didn’t stop a lengthy list of rumored teams from inquiring about the him this winter, nor were the Indians eager to dump him for anything less than a massive haul.

Furthermore, the stoic right-hander is still nationally perceived as one of baseball’s best, as was made evident by his fourth-place ranking on MLB Network’s Top 10 Right Now countdown for starting pitchers this offseason.

But we aren’t really here to debate Kluber’s place among the elite of the elite. We’re here to determine whether he’s still capable of maintaining his place near the top of the mountain — and if so, what can be done to help him stay there.

Entering his age-33 season, some of that, inevitably, is left to fate. But not everything.

To maximize Kluber in 2019 and beyond, perhaps the most important factor to consider is also the thing that has helped elevate him into the upper echelon of baseball.

His impressive workload.

To help paint the picture, let’s start with the familiar name that leads FanGraphs in wins above replacement since the start of 2014.

# Name Team WAR
1 Corey Kluber CLE 31.0
2 Clayton Kershaw LAD 30.8
3 Max Scherzer DET/WAS 30.8
4 Chris Sale CWS/BOS 30.5
5 Jacob deGrom NYM 24.9
6 Justin Verlander DET/HOU 21.9
7 Carlos Carrasco CLE 21.4
Now, WAR isn’t necessarily the final word on a pitcher’s worth, but Kluber owes a chunk of that top seed — the part that isn’t directly related to his microscopic FIP numbers or massive collection of strikeouts — to his uncanny ability to log hefty inning totals.

With the number of workhorses dwindling (13 pitchers tossed at least 200 innings last year), Kluber remains one of the few consistently taking the ball every fifth day and going deep in games. His ability to devour innings like a hungry dog with a fresh Milk-Bone is what separates him from Sale or Kershaw, two arms who might slightly better him in quality but haven’t quite measured up in quantity.

Since Kluber’s first Cy Young campaign in 2014, only Scherzer has tossed more innings than the Tribe’s top arm. Over that time, Kluber has averaged just more than 218 innings.

# Name IP ERA FIP
1 Max Scherzer 1098.2 2.79 2.88
2 Corey Kluber 1091.1 2.85 2.84
3 Rick Porcello 994.1 4.04 3.95
4 Zack Greinke 993.2 2.94 3.33
5 Jon Lester 989.2 3.14 3.48
6 Justin Verlander 987.0 3.36 3.46
7 Chris Sale 981.2 2.85 2.69
8 Jose Quintana 977.2 3.59 3.51
9 Julio Teheran 973.2 3.69 4.24
10 Chris Archer 957.1 3.76 3.43
Those trends continued through last season for Kluber, leading the AL with 215 innings.

Going deeper, he averaged 96.1 pitches per game last season, 18th-highest in the majors. Discard his two shortest outings — he failed to make it out of the second inning on June 26 and Sept. 10 — that average climbs to 99.3. He threw at least 110 pitches five times, topping out at 117 on Aug. 9 against the Twins. The other four came prior to the All-Star break.

Impressive? Absolutely.

But in the interest of maximizing him, perhaps it’s that workload that needs to be adjusted. After all, what good are those elite regular-season numbers if they aren’t reflected in a way similar to his playoff dominance of 2016?

Remember, Kluber battled a balky back in 2017, an ailment that caused him to miss a month of the season. He endured some right knee discomfort last year, eventually requiring a gel shot just before the All-Star break.

The soreness however, had already led to a drop in release point (as we detailed here and here last season). The trend stabilized a bit in the second half, but he was never able to reclaim his early-season release point, and perhaps more important, he felt repeating his delivery was occasionally an issue.

He continued to pitch through those aches and pains, a testament to his ability and work ethic, but the 2.89 ERA and top-three finish in Cy Young voting was overshadowed by his drop in whiff rate and velocity and his unsightly postseason start against the Astros.





So, how can they avoid a similar result in 2019? Well, of course, there’s nothing that can be done to assure health. But there are certainly things that can reduce the burden, particularly when it comes to a pitcher with Kluber’s history of shouldering a heavy load.

The Indians, it seems, are a bit better equipped in pitching depth than they were at this point last year. While very few of their acquisitions are no-doubt candidates to assume an eighth-inning role, they’ve done a solid job of targeting semi-interesting arms with upside. By adding enough of those types, they should be able to assemble a capable group in the bullpen.

Among the appealing qualities, a number of the candidates to make the roster still have options, a disappointing reality for a player but a worthwhile scenario for an organization seeking flexibility at the end of the roster. Relievers with options include Nick Wittgren, Nick Goody, Ben Taylor, James Hoyt, Jon Edwards and Adam Cimber.

Players with options can be shuffled between the minors and majors without running the risk of being exposed to other organizations on waivers. That can be appealing when a short start or extra-inning game taxes a bullpen — or in this situation, a club wants to find ways to offer stars a needed rest.

Adam Plutko, Chih-Wei Hu, Cody Anderson and Jefry Rodriguez are potential starting depth who also have a remaining option. Each would be more than capable of taking an occasional turn in the Tribe’s rotation, offering Kluber (and anyone else who needs it) an extra few days between starts — more, if it’s needed.

Kluber rarely likes to drift from his between-start routines, but in the interest of keeping him fresh and maximizing his ability for when it matters most, using their depth might help.

The same can be said for monitoring his nightly pitch count. Last year, it became tempting to watch Kluber handle opposing teams with ease over opting to spin the bullpen’s nightly wheel of terror. While it might be just as appealing this year, the only way to accurately uncover the worth of the Indians’ relievers is to offer opportunities to shine, even if it leads to a few stubbed toes along the way.

Answering questions about the state of the bullpen (even if they aren’t pleasant) has worth, as would Kluber avoiding 117-pitch efforts against an AL Central opponent in May.

Now, would a smarter management of his workload guarantee that the worrisome peripheral elements (things like losing a tick off his fastball or slipping release point) return to normal? Not necessarily. Even the best can’t permanently stave off decline, even those with a Kluber-like work ethic.

But it’s certainly one of the things within their control. And with a goal of keeping Kluber at an elite level for as long as possible, it’s an avenue that ought to be explored.

Francisco Lindor, the Cleveland Indians and the possibility of a long-term extension

Zack Meisel Feb 18, 2019 34
GOODYEAR,​ Ariz. —​ Before he​ sat down at the​ table in the​ media workroom, Francisco Lindor​ declared​ he had​ no intention​​ of discussing past seasons.

No recollections of 2018, a season that fizzled in an October instant. No frustrating reflections of the ALDS lead that slipped away from the 102-win Indians the year prior. No mention of the 2016 campaign, which ended in unforgettable defeat on a rain-soaked field in early November.

“I’m tired of talking about the World Series,” Lindor said Monday morning. “We lost. It still hurts.”

Well, then, forget about the past. Let’s discuss Lindor’s future.

The All-Star shortstop — a true embodiment of everything a big-league club would covet in a franchise cornerstone — has three years remaining under the Indians’ control. He won’t play in another uniform until at least the 2022 season, unless the club opts to complete some seismic trade down the road.

Lindor earned about $1.75 million total in major-league salary for his first three seasons with the Indians, the standard for the sport’s archaic pay structure. Rather than drag the Indians to arbitration, Lindor and the club settled for $10.55 million. Why not try to extract a few more singles from the team?

“Did you see the number?” Lindor said. “It’s pretty good. I’ll take it.”

So, then, what about a potential long-term pact? The Indians offered Lindor a nine-figure deal prior to the 2017 season, but the shortstop declined. At this point, it’ll take a much more substantial sum to secure the shortstop beyond 2021, given his ascent toward the top of the league’s position-player rankings.

In three, full big-league seasons, Lindor has earned three All-Star Game nods, two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove Award. His OPS has increased each season, from .794 to .842 to .871. He has finished in the top 10 in MVP balloting each year.

In 2018, Lindor established career highs with 38 home runs, 25 stolen bases, 129 runs scored, 183 hits and 70 walks. He rated exceedingly well in the field, with 14 defensive runs saved. His 7.6 fWAR ranked fifth among the game’s position players.

His ability to speak fluent Spanish and English allows him to connect with just about every teammate and coach. His bubbly personality and ever-present smile make marketing executives salivate.

And he’s scheduled to enter free agency right around the time he turns 28, a star destined to hit the market smack dab in the middle of his peak years.

So, is there potential for a long-term deal in Cleveland?

“Who knows?” Lindor said. “That’s not where we are right now. I was focused on arbitration. That’s not where I am. When it comes to long-term deals, I love the city of Cleveland. I love everything about Cleveland. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens. At the end of the day, I’m playing the game to win. This is a good place where I can win, so we’ll see. If the Indians come up with the right numbers and at some point it happens — which, I’m not even thinking about it — we’ll see.”

Lindor holds every iota of leverage.

No, a pesky calf strain doesn’t have him rethinking his future.

“Not a chance,” he said.

And no, he isn’t desperate to overflow his bank account with even more cash than he already has. Lindor owns a lucrative endorsement deal with New Balance, who provided the brown tanktop and white shoes he donned on Monday. He received a $2.9 million signing bonus after the Indians selected him with the eighth pick in the 2011 amateur draft. And then there’s the $10.55 million he’ll earn this season.

“I’m good,” he said. “I don’t need anything else. I’m good. Money is good. I could buy a lot of things right now.”

Ah, but don’t take that to mean he’ll sign for far less than he’s worth. Lindor has monitored the deliberate pace of the league’s free agency this winter, and he’s rooting for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado to break the bank.

“I hope they max every single penny that they can get,” Lindor said. “It’s good for everybody. I back them up. I’m with them.”

These are conversations for down the road, certainly. But the clock is ticking toward certain decisions.

If the Indians and Lindor can’t pinpoint a long-term deal that would make sense for both sides — if such terms even exist — it might make sense for the club to dangle the shortstop in trade talks a year or two from now. The timing of deploying such a strategy would depend on the overall state of the team and its place in the American League pecking order. But if a long-term deal can’t be struck, the alternative scenarios are rather frightening for a franchise that has never doled out more than the $20 million average annual salary they committed to Edwin Encarnacion.

Before he traveled to Arizona, Lindor dyed his curly hair blue out of boredom. He said he might switch it up at some point.

“I might turn into Hulk and be green,” he said.

There’s plenty of green heading his way in the future, whether it’s the Indians or some other franchise supplying it.

Diamond Dialogue: Let’s discuss some under-the-radar names in Indians camp


By Zack Meisel and T.J. Zuppe Feb 18, 2019 14

GOODYEAR,​ Ariz. —​ The whole​ gang’s here. The Indians​ have ramped up​ the spring-training activity​ now​ that position​ players have​​ reported.

The stars are out, from Corey Kluber to Francisco Lindor to José Ramírez. (Have you heard that Trevor Bauer’s here?) But we talk about those guys all the time. Let’s shine a light on some of the lesser-known entities in camp.

In fact, here’s a pop quiz. Nine of the following names are of players in big-league camp with the Indians. Can you identify the four who are made up?

1. Josh Smith
2. R.C. Orlan
3. Mike Freeman
4. Shao-Ching Chiang
5. B.C. Sierra
6. Ernie Clement
7. Glen Mathis
8. Asher Wojciechowski
9. Brooks Pounders
10. Li-Jen Chu
11. Eric Marshall
12. Tim Federowicz
13. Charles Miner

TJ: LMAO, thought you’d sneak Brooks Pounders past me, didn’t ya? Oh wait, I’m being told that he might be pitching the eighth inning this year. Whoopsie.

There are those sorts of guys in camp every spring. By the end, you see enough of one to begin talking yourself into why he’d be solid if he only got a chance. And occasionally, you’re right about it. (I’m still waiting on Blake Wood to become a dominant reliever.)

But we don’t have to travel too far down the roster to begin finding interesting guys we haven’t talked much about this offseason. The first one that comes to mind is Greg Allen. He finished the season strong. Did you know he was an above-average hitter in the second half? Granted, a lot of that was fueled by his September wRC+ of 147, but for the first time in the majors, he looked confident and demonstrated some of the patience that was impressive in the minors in a limited sample.

I know we’ve stressed the Jordan Luplow-Leonys Martín-Tyler Naquin talking point all winter, but I’m a little interested to see what Allen could do with more of an extended opportunity. Or maybe that’s the R.C. (Orlan) Cola talking.

Zack: The Indians figure to draw a ton of walks and run amok on the bases this year. Allen’s strengths certainly fit that profile.

(By the way, B.C. Sierra, Glen Mathis, Eric Marshall and Charles Miner – one of Michael Scott’s adversaries from The Office – were the imaginary players.)

Speaking of outfielders with upside, there are two ways to frame the Indians’ addition of Matt Joyce:

1. “Hey, the Indians signed this guy who logged 4.6 fWAR, a .470 slugging percentage and an absurd walk rate in 2016-17 and they didn’t even have to guarantee him a big-league salary.”
2. “Hey, the Indians’ marquee offseason signing was Matt Joyce. He posted a .675 OPS last season.”

Certainly, the proper framing should lie somewhere in the middle, because we don’t yet know if he’s capable of producing another .800+ OPS, or if, at 34 years old, he’s more of the guy Oakland watched last year, a guy who could walk but couldn’t hit and was susceptible to injury.

Given the Indians’ outfield candidates, Joyce stands out as an intriguing platoon option, possibly even someone who could hit near the top of the order against right-handed pitching.


(Photo of Matt Joyce: Kelley L. Cox / USA Today Sports)
TJ: Speaking of walks, where does Jefry Rodriguez fit into their plans? I’m still a bit puzzled by how quickly they dealt Yan Gomes this offseason. With outfield prospect Daniel Johnson — the main return piece in the deal — still likely a year away, maybe they really believe in Rodriguez’s mid-90s fastball? He probably fits best as a reliever, but he’ll still have to limit that walk rate. It hovered around 16 percent last year.

If nothing else, they’ve done a better job of assembling bullpen options this offseason — at least when compared to last winter. I’m particularly intrigued by Nick Wittgren, the reliever they picked up in a trade with the Marlins, mostly because he doesn’t possess pure stuff but has somehow posted a 3.50 FIP in three major-league seasons. There’s nothing particularly impressive about his fastball, but it still gets good results. Those sorts of guys are always interesting.

Zack: What the Indians lack in proven bullpen substance, they make up for with intrigue. Or something like that. Here’s another one.

Consider these stat lines, compiled from 2015-18:

Reliever A: 3.33 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 2.9 BB/9, 9.7 K/9, 34 years old
Reliever B: 3.04 ERA, 3.45 FIP, 2.5 BB/9, 9.0 K/9, 29 years old
Reliever C: 3.53 ERA, 3.21 FIP, 4.1 BB/9, 10.8 K/9, 31 years old
Reliever D: 3.20 ERA, 3.87 FIP, 2.1 BB/9, 5.8 K/9, 32 years old

And now consider their identities and the contracts they signed this winter:

A: Joakim Soria — two years, $15 million with the Athletics
B: Kelvin Herrera — two years, $18 million with the White Sox
C: Justin Wilson — two years, $10 million with the Mets
D: Alex Wilson — minor-league deal with a spring training invite with the Indians

So long as Wilson avoids the yips this spring, he’ll likely break camp with the big-league club. He’s been just as productive as a slew of other relievers who have more notoriety and more cash in their pockets. The only visible difference is his lack of strikeouts. But he also boasts an impressive walk rate and, well, the Indians took zero risk by luring him to camp.

TJ: I’d certainly feel better if they had someone a bit more proven to insert into the eighth inning, but I think they have enough options to find a perfectly fine, suitable group.

And here’s where I say something about Danny Salazar becoming that guy later this year. And you look at me sideways. And we agree that it’s silly to count on him until he’s actually, you know, consistently thrown off a mound. And we end up talking about an old WWE pay-per-view that you just watched. So, let’s just fast forward to the next part of the roster that leaves me curious: Will Yu Chang be given a legitimate opportunity to fill in for Francisco Lindor?

Maybe that depends on how long Lindor is expected to be out, but Chang seems like a guy that could help them at several positions this year, a plus for a club looking to mix and match their way through the season. He’s carried an above-average bat with some power in the minors, slashing .256/.330/.411 with 13 homers and 28 doubles last year at Triple-A. Maybe a strong spring will really put the 23-year-old infielder on the map.

Zack: He was also unconscious at the plate during a 23-game sample in the Arizona Fall League a few months ago (.337/.396/.523). I’m not sure if it’ll be in late March, but Chang will force his way onto the major-league roster at some point before his/my birthday (Aug. 18).

And if we’re talking Salazar, we should mention Cody Anderson. I don’t think he’ll break camp with the club, but his ceiling is high enough to where it wouldn’t shock me if he was pitching in the eighth inning of a tightly contested game in September. He hasn’t thrown a meaningful pitch since 2016, but he’s far enough removed from Tommy John surgery that the Indians should be able to ease him into the season and then remove the training wheels by the time summer arrives.


(Photo of Oscar Mercado: Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports)
TJ: Speaking of your birthday, don’t you get the feeling that we might see Oscar Mercado before then? When the Indians acquired him last year, I thought he might make a September appearance against left-handed pitching.

He’s got all sorts of speed, doesn’t strike out a ton, has posted some decent OBP totals over the past two years in the minors and might emerge as an above-average defensive center fielder. We’ll see if his bat grows into an every day role at some point, but he certainly seems like someone who could help a major-league contender.

Zack: Well, it’s not like you need a secret password with at least one uppercase letter, one special character and some hieroglyphics to break into the Indians’ outfield club. All competitors are welcome, and Mercado certainly has some valuable skills. Between Mercado, Allen and Bradley Zimmer, the Indians appear to have plenty of options for a year from now, assuming Leonys Martín departs in free agency.

If this exercise has taught us anything, it’s that there are a ton of under-the-radar players in camp, far more than in past years. And the Indians are relying on at least a handful of them to exceed expectations.

TJ: Sure. And we’ve spent enough time this offseason talking about all the things that could go wrong. I think we’ve established the disappointment over the way this winter played out. But there’s also something easy about playing the role of the cynic — you typically end up right in the long run.

So, no, it’s not worth trying to sell anyone on why Jon Edwards is just as exciting as a major free-agent addition (they’re called sleepers for a reason, right?), nor is anyone claiming that Luplow and Kevin Plawecki are clear upgrades over their predecessors.

But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious how Justin Grimm’s adjustment in pitch mix and release point impact his ability to make the club. Or if Chih-Wei Hu’s changeup is as good as we’ve been led to believe. And if I’ve gotta sift through a list of Michael Scott’s adversaries to find the answer, well, then so be it.

CLEVELAND.COM

Tyler Clippard: Here’s what the veteran reliever can bring to the Cleveland Indians

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com | Posted February 20, 2019 at 08:19 PM | Updated February 21, 2019 at 06:11 AM


What Tyler Clippard brings to the Cleveland Indians


CLEVELAND, Ohio — With right-handed reliever Tyler Clippard set to join the Cleveland Indians on a minor-league contract, the Tribe’s bullpen appears to have a lot more options than it did at the beginning of the offseason.

Clippard, provided he passes a physical, would become the 12th pitcher among non-roster invitees to big-league camp in Goodyear, Ariz. A veteran of 12 MLB seasons with eight clubs, Clippard can reportedly earn $1.75 million if he makes the team and an additional $1 million in incentives.

The two-time All-Star is one of baseball’s most durable and reliable relievers over the last 10 seasons. Clippard owns a career 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings and has averaged 69 appearances since moving to the bullpen in 2009.

Clippard’s fastball averages in the low-to-mid 90s and he relies on his change-up to keep hitters off balance. From 2009-16 he led all relievers in baseball with 658 whiffs and was third in appearances with 550.

Known for his deceptive delivery and bespectacled appearance, Clippard fancies himself among the best golfers in baseball and has at least two career holes-in-one to his credit.

Below is a little more about the Clearwater, Fla. resident who might be the final piece to the Tribe’s bullpen puzzle in 2019.


His signature specs changed his career

Clippard started wearing prescription glasses on the mound after he was traded from the Yankees to the Nationals in 2009. He was a struggling starter and the Nats moved him to the bullpen. But with the new specs, things took off.

"I had eight big-league starts and I didn't wear glasses," Clippard told MLB.com in 2016. "Then I got moved to the bullpen. Maybe I should have worn glasses as a starter and maybe I'd still be a starter."

Clippard said he has tried contact lenses, but finds them uncomfortable and less practical than glasses. He says dry eyes and dirt make wearing glasses an easier alternative.

“At worst, they fog up sometimes, but that hasn't really been an issue for me."


Clippard reacts after getting the last out of the eighth inning against Tampa Bay last August. (Tom Szczerbowski, Getty Images)


He was born on Valentine's Day
Clippard, 34, has probably been called Cupid once or twice, given that his birthday falls on Valentine's Day. This year, the holiday nearly took on an even bigger meaning for Clippard and his family. According to an Instagram post, he and wife Britt welcomed Maddox William on Feb. 15, missing a shared birthday with Dad by just a few hours.




He's durable
Clippard moved to the bullpen full time in 2009 for the Nationals and made 41 appearances. The following year he began a streak of five seasons with at least 70 appearances, including a career-high 78 in 2010. Last year, at 33, Clippard pitched 68 2/3 innings across 73 outings for Toronto, equaling his career best mark of 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings.


Clippard pitches against the White Sox on July 28, 2018. (Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)


He's just about a scratch golfer
Clippard considers himself one of the best golfers in baseball. Golf was his main focus in high school as a freshman and sophomore before he hit a growth spurt and committed to playing baseball.

He’s been known to drive around with 15-20 pairs of golf spikes in the back of his truck and has played elite courses such as Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach, where he shot even par in 2017.

Clippard has said he would like to play a round of golf with Tiger Woods, and if you’re looking for a present, the Dark Knight-inspired Batmobile golf cart ($17,500) is high on his list.



He's a collector
Clippard collects baseballs from every game he has saved in his career. In 12 seasons, that’s a total of 68 saves. But Clippard’s collection is not complete. During a 2016 game in Oakland, center fielder Billy Burns caught the final out and flipped the ball into the stands, not realizing that Clippard wanted to keep it. The Athletics were never able to locate the fan who caught the ball.


Clippard reacts after he gave up a go-ahead home run against Seattle in 2015. (Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images)


He’s incredibly flexible
Clippard told the Washington Post in 2011 that he discovered at age 6 he could do the splits when he signed up for a taekwondo class. Every year at spring training he scores highly on mandatory flexibility tests, leading teammates to sometimes refer to him as “Gumby.”


Clippard throws against Texas last April 7. (Ronald Martinez, Getty Images)


He likes driving fast
During spring training with the Diamondbacks in 2016, Clippard and his mother, Debbie, had the opportunity to ride with Indy car legend Mario Andretti at Arizona's ISM Raceway. The experience was memorable for both Tyler and mom, as Debbie proudly still boasts of the adventure in her Twitter bio.




He's a bit of a crooner
Clippard claims to have once almost won a karaoke contest on a cruise ship. He says Garth Brooks and Frank Sinatra are among the artists in his karaoke catalog.

This should help a lot as Francona and the front office are masters at using the waiver wire. last year they seemed to have a lot less roster flexibility. It suggests that marginal pitches without options left, like Otero who I'm trying to get rid of but any ruse that can succeed, will be at a disadvantage when the cuts are made.

Relievers with options include Nick Wittgren, Nick Goody, Ben Taylor, James Hoyt, Jon Edwards and Adam Cimber.

Players with options can be shuffled between the minors and majors without running the risk of being exposed to other organizations on waivers. That can be appealing when a short start or extra-inning game taxes a bullpen — or in this situation, a club wants to find ways to offer stars a needed rest.

Adam Plutko, Chih-Wei Hu, Cody Anderson and Jefry Rodriguez are potential starting depth who also have a remaining option. Each would be more than capable of taking an occasional turn in the Tribe’s rotation, offering Kluber (and anyone else who needs it) an extra few days between starts — more, if it’s needed.

GOODYEAR Ariz. -- The Indians have a lot of questions to answer throughout the next five weeks and manager Terry Francona knows he will have to make some tough decisions prior to Opening Day.

With the Tribe’s Cactus League opener scheduled for Saturday against the Reds, here are 10 players to watch as games get underway.

Returning from illness

Leonys Martin: It’s hard not to root for this comeback story. Martin was traded to the Indians at the non-waiver Trade Deadline last July. He got off to a hot start with his new team, but after just six games, he was in the intensive care unit with a life-threatening bacterial infection. Martin has made a full recovery and has shown no signs of weakness through the first week of camp. He said his return to the field will be emotional for him, especially once the regular season hits.



The non-roster hurlers

Alex Wilson: The 32-year-old right-hander said this Spring Training feels different for him because it’s the first time he is competing for a spot, rather than having one, but noted his versatility to pitch in any situation and consistency could benefit the Tribe’s bullpen. Even though he isn’t currently on the 40-man roster, Wilson has a high chance of breaking camp with the Indians at the end of March.

Tyler Clippard: The 34-year-old’s durability piqued the Tribe’s interest, prompting them to sign him to a Minor League deal on Wednesday. Over his 12-year career, he’s logged a 3.16 ERA and has averaged 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings. After losing multiple relievers after 2018, including Cody Allen and Andrew Miller, Clippard, like Wilson, will have a decent chance of making the 25-man roster.

The prospects

Yu Chang: With Francisco Lindor questionable for Opening Day (calf strain), there are even more reasons to keep an eye on Chang. The Tribe’s No. 11 ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, is a natural shortstop, who is getting more reps at third to give himself more versatility to make it to the Majors. In Triple-A Columbus last year, the 23-year-old hit .256 with 28 doubles, 13 home runs and 62 RBIs in 127 games.

Bobby Bradley: Bradley’s power will be something for fans to watch throughout the spring, as the Tribe’s No. 6 prospect competes alongside Carlos Santana and Jake Bauers at first. Last year, he hit 27 homers with 83 RBIs in 129 Minor League games.

Eric Haase: Although he’s less likely to break camp with the club after the acquisition of Kevin Plawecki, Haase will still be out to compete behind the dish. The team’s No. 29 prospect led the Triple-A International League by throwing out 49 percent of basestealers in 2018, according to MLB Pipeline.

The corner-outfield candidates

Jordan Luplow: With Martin locked in at center, the Indians will have big decisions to make when it comes to left and right field. Luplow played in 64 big league games in his two seasons with the Pirates, but has had experience in both corners. He hit .185 in his 37 contests in 2018 and will definitely be a contender for Opening Day.

Tyler Naquin: Naquin brings a little more experience than Luplow, but his ’18 season was cut short by hip surgery. Francona said Naquin’s lower half is stronger this year and he could easily be the Indians’ starting right fielder at the beginning of the season.

Greg Allen: Allen will likely compete with Luplow for the starting left-field spot. He hit .257 in 91 games for the Indians last season and has spent his few games away from center field in left over the last two seasons. Francona said he informed Allen that he’d play all three outfield positions during the spring.

Matt Joyce: Joyce is another non-roster invitee, but could bring a veteran presence to a young outfield. He’s entering his 12th big league season and hit .208 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs in his 83 games for Oakland last season while battling through back problems.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – If Trevor Bauer hasn’t run his course with the Indians, he’s close.

This has nothing to do with his three rules of dating put forth in a Sports Illustrated article earlier this week and everything to do with something he said recently after he won his arbitration case at the start of spring training.

Bauer said that his performance last season would have been worth “$30 million plus” on this winter’s free-agent market. In the same interview he left little doubt that he would go to arbitration again after the 2019 season. When a player goes to arbitration for a fourth year, he can compare his salary demand with what free agents can earn. So if Bauer has a similar season to last year -- when he went 12-9 with a 2.21 ERA and finished sixth in the AL Cy Young voting -- how much will he seek for a single season of work?

David Price holds the record salary for a pitcher in his fourth year of arbitration. Price settled with the Tigers for $19.75 million in January of 2015 instead of going to a hearing. Price went 15-12 with a 3.26 ERA in 2014 with the Rays and Tigers. He led the big leagues with 248 1/3 innings and 271 strikeouts.

Bauer has never pitched 200 innings and set a career high with 221 strikeouts last year. To think Bauer could go from a $13 million settlement to $30 million is unrealistic. Teams pay free agents based on what they will do in the future, not what they’ve done in the past. So his assessment of what he was worth on the free-agent market based on last year’s season would be debatable.

Still, if he has a good season in 2019, he could easily challenge Price’s record. And the Indians’ choice would almost assuredly be to trade him sometime during the season or after it.

Under the team’s current spending freeze, there is little chance ownership will run the risk of paying one player between $20 million and $25 million for next season. The Indians control Bauer for two more years before he’s a free agent. He has said repeatedly that he will not sign a multiyear deal and wants to do one-year deals for the rest of his career.

Bauer and his representatives have already beaten the Indians twice in arbitration, winning $6.525 million in 2018 and $13 million in 2019. The Indians felt Bauer came in with a high figure this winter considering he was on the disabled list from Aug. 12 through Sept. 20 with a stress fracture of his right leg after getting hit by a line drive.

Bauer didn’t see it that way. In fact, he thought the Indians got lucky.

“They’re lucky I got hit,” he said. “I would have won the Cy Young. A lot of things will change when I win the Cy Young. Baseball gets to stay the same for another year at least.”

Bauer said the line drive off Jose Abreu’s bat probably cost him $3 million to $4 million. That is, of course, if he would have won the Cy Young.

The Indians have never paid a player more than $20 million a year and Bauer will be aiming high when the 2019 season is over.

“I’m going to set the record raise or the record salary in arbitration for a starting pitcher (eligible for arbitration for his fourth year),” he said. “I can’t imagine the LRD (Labor Relations Department, which represents MLB teams in part of the arbitration process) would ever allow a team to just agree (to that kind of deal) whether it’s the Indians or another team.”

“So, I honestly just don’t see how I avoid a hearing. Starting pitchers (in their fourth year of arbitration eligibility) are compared to free agents and my season this past year on the free agent market is worth $30 million plus. And next year, I’ll expect to be paid in line with what my season in 2019 is worth, which will never be agreed upon before a hearing. So, I don’t see a way we avoid it.”

Bauer could always have a poor season and settle with the Indians instead of going to arbitration. He settled in 2016, his first year of eligibility.

But last year he was hit by a line drive, suffered a stress fracture, and still beat them. So unless the bottom falls out of his season, the Indians’ choice is clear.