civ ollilavad wrote: How long until the team is a contender again without doing a full rebuild like Chicago did? Can they do they it without cleaning house: remember several of the Sox young stars came over in trains, e.g. Moncada.

Yes, for Chris Sale!

Get this, that trade was actually in December of 2016. Yes, 2016. How's that for a rebuild?

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/ ... -sale.html

I see May 1 as reshuffling the roster date. McKenzie and Allen need more work and I expect them to go to Columbus. Quantrill and Henges are their replacements. Can't see how Bauers can stay, he is totally lost. Miller or Johnson to replace him, maybe both. Could be other unexpected changes as well.

I don't think Hentges goes into the rotation; I think they'd either want him to get more innings behind him in Cleveland or stretch out with some starts for Columbus. I do expect Quantrill in the rotation, Sandlin in the bullpen. although would still make a 14 man pitching staff and that's too big.
Who would you suggest we would drop from the bullpen? Who has options remaining [other than Karinchak and he's not going anywhere]

civ - Trevor Stephan is the obvious borderline candidate to go to the minors.

Of course there's the Rule V stuff but as we saw earlier apparently that can be overrated. Can be done.

Is there a magic date coming up that relates to pay guarantee...service time...or any other off-the-field stuff?

seagull - from my understanding that can vary - however in the vast majority of cases that point has gone by. So guys like a Nolan Jones could be called up without service time affected.

Jarred Kelenic of Seattle got famous in spring training when the Seattle GM said they would wait on him because of service time. I think I read that's passed now.

FYI the Indians have a history of NOT holding guys back because of service time.

Wittgren off in paternity leave Can't get by with merely 8 relievers so Kyle Nelson fills in Could have been a chance to give Bradley or Johnson a few days

Shocker by cutting Ollie Perez!

He was signed really late in the winter; not much demand for him. And he didn't get many opportunities to pitch. The 3 hitter minimum may mean the end of his career.

here's a 2020 scouting report on Kyle Nelson:

: While he is only a two-pitch pitcher, Nelson has made it work with a fastball and slider combination. His fastball sits 89-91 but it’s his slider and command that has been the key to his success and has him on the doorstep of a big league relief role. His release point and spin on the slider is likely what makes it so hard for hitters, left handed or right handed to do much damage against him. That he’s able to command both pitches very well also helps them play up in short stints. [not in his very short first big stint: he retired 2, walked 1, allowed 3 hits including a home run

Dumping Perez is probably the start of the "old guys" purge. It's obvious, winning this year is not as important as auditioning younger guys.

Hernandez may be next. He has Bauers like numbers.

Shaw could be another casualty soon.

I'd bet against those moves, until post-All Star game. But we'll see.

civ ollilavad wrote:I'd bet against those moves, until post-All Star game. But we'll see.

Agree with civ here. In a situation like this you play it out until summer and then the trade deadline dictates.

Nick Sandlin added to the bullpen. Stick with a 3 man bench. I think that's stupid, but I am old enough to remember when teams generally carried 10 pitchers and sometimes only 9. Of course more pinch hitters were used then so there's one reason for a deeper bench. And anyway I see this decision as partly a vote of nonconfidence in the position players who could be added to the bench.
Daniel Johnson and Harold Ramirez will be joining the traveling taxi squad for away games along with Ernie Clement, some catcher, and for some reason J.C. Mejia.

I assume Taxi Squad members get Major League meal money for away games. Just some little bonuses they can give out to guys in the minors.