Is the Cleveland Indians offense ready to represent a contender in 2022? No, no, no



Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Josh Hader right, hugs catcher Omar Narvaez as Cleveland Indians' Myles Straw walks off the field after the final out of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. Hader combined with starting pitcher Corbin Burnes for a no-hitter. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

By Zack Meisel Sep 11, 2021 51

CLEVELAND — Cleveland is home to the vaunted starting pitching factory, the envy of many teams throughout the league. As fate would have it, the Indians have been involved in four hitless efforts this season.

They have never been the team celebrating in the middle of the diamond, however.

The nightmare continues to repeat. Every time, it’s the opposing pitcher(s) carving up Cleveland’s inept lineup. Every time, it’s Cleveland’s hitters sauntering back to the dugout, bat in hand, head down after a brief peek at the sky to search for answers that remain evasive. Every time, bizarrely, it’s Zach Plesac on the mound for the Indians.

The Indians are the first team in MLB history to be no-hit three times in one season. It would be four if their punchless, seven-inning showing in the second game of a doubleheader in Tampa on July 7 qualified for more than a “notable achievement.”

Two nights after the Indians snapped a 25-inning scoreless streak, two Brewers pitchers limited them to one, harmless Myles Straw walk.

“You deal with it, you get up and play tomorrow,” said acting manager DeMarlo Hale. “The good thing about no-hitters, it’s only one loss.”

And that’s true, even if Cleveland has continually surfaced on the wrong side of the highlights and the social media clips during a record-setting season of no-nos. There are nine and counting across the league.

But it does present a timely reason to dissect the driving forces behind the woeful performances at the plate. No hits, one hit, two hits — in the end, the microscopic tally in the hit column is a footnote to the real issues plaguing Cleveland’s roster.

The Indians have hunted for viable outfielders for years. They haven’t drafted and developed an All-Star outfielder since Manny Ramírez, whom they selected 30 years ago. Straw was a shrewd acquisition at the trade deadline; his speed and defense have already paid dividends. But he’s all alone on an island in the middle of Lake Erie.

Cal Quantrill and Triston McKenzie have taken significant leaps in recent weeks, which equips the club with a stout starting rotation for the 2022 season. But there has been a substantial lack of progress on the position player development side of the equation. Aside from Amed Rosario, who has recaptured his 2019 form — and even that only qualifies as league average, via wRC+ or OPS+, though his tormenting of lefties and his speed suggest he should stick somewhere — long-term solutions haven’t emerged.

Bradley Zimmer, Oscar Mercado, Harold Ramírez and Daniel Johnson have shared playing time and, aside from a couple of Zimmer home run balls that orbited Saturn, the group hasn’t offered much to convince the front office the outfield is in good shape. Johnson was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday. None of the overall numbers for Owen Miller, Andrés Giménez or Yu Chang screams “2022 second baseman,” either.

The team could wield a playoff-caliber rotation. It boasts an imposing closer who deserves some American League Rookie of the Year consideration. José Ramírez has two more years of team control remaining, and paired with Franmil Reyes, the club has its middle of the order secured.

But Cleveland needs some reinforcements. And if this ownership group plans to deliver on its word that the payroll will increase, it’s long past time, either through free agency or a trade, to solve the outfield calamity that has hampered the team for more than a decade.

Four Cleveland hitters own a wRC+ or OPS+ better than league average: Straw, Reyes, José Ramírez and Bobby Bradley. The bottom four in the lineup each night is a patchwork, hodgepodge mix of underperforming, inexperienced players. This season, Cleveland’s team run creation ranks 24th in the league, ahead of only the Royals, Marlins, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Pirates and Rockies. Those are the dregs of the league, the antithesis to good company.

Cleveland’s team slash line stands at .236/.303/.406, or a full roster of slightly worse Harold Ramírezes. It has received nothing at the plate from its catchers, which the team says it can live with because of the pitch calling, framing, blocking and staff-managing abilities of Roberto Pérez and Austin Hedges. But for that to be permissible, Cleveland needs something, anything, from left field or right field or second base. The Indians could even use more from first base, where Bobby Bradley has been exactly what his minor-league numbers would have suggested: a high strikeout rate, a solid supply of home runs and a low average that requires a healthy walk rate to adequately function.

Perhaps they would benefit from a thorough reevaluation of their approach to hitting instruction. Ty Van Burkleo is the league’s longest-tenured hitting coach, a member of Cleveland’s staff since Terry Francona arrived in town for the 2013 season. Victor Rodriguez has served as Van Burkleo’s co-pilot for four seasons. They added Justin Toole to the big-league staff last year to add emphasis to the data side of the operation. Alex Eckelman anchors the hitting development team and oversees the minor-league operation. Every team is attempting to solve the hitting riddle as pitching development has soared in recent years, thanks to advances in data and technology.

Cleveland’s hitters appeared uncomfortable, overmatched and unable to make necessary adjustments all night Saturday, as Corbin Burnes racked up 14 strikeouts, the most by a pitcher against the Indians since the late José Fernández totaled 14 on Aug. 2, 2013, in Miami.

The Brewers snapped the league’s second-longest no-hitter drought, which dated to Juan Nieves’ gem on April 15, 1987. Cleveland, home of the pitching pipeline, owns the league’s longest spell, with no no-no since Len Barker’s magnum opus on May 15, 1981.

The Indians have gone hitless in four of their 140 games (2.9 percent) this season. Minnesota’s Joe Ryan, in his second career big-league outing, carried a perfect game into the seventh inning at Progressive Field a mere three days ago.

“You hear conversations in the dugout, trying to make adjustments to how he is being successful,” Hale said about Burnes. “And then he’d get one step ahead of you where he uses his breaking ball.”

Cleveland’s offense has been a step behind for much of the season.

Ten big-name MLB players generating the most trade buzz for this offseason




CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 27: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians runs after hitting a two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the bottom of the fourth inning at Progressive Field on August 27, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

By Jim Bowden Sep 13, 2021 160

Last month I ranked the top 43 impending free agents in MLB, and since then three have signed contract extensions, taking themselves off the market. Right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton and catcher Travis d’Arnaud re-signed with the Braves, and future Hall of Fame backstop Yadier Molina agreed to a one-year contract that secures a 19th season with the Cardinals.

Now it’s time to look at the biggest names who could get traded this offseason. Teams’ pro scouts and analytics departments are hard at work this month evaluating and analyzing players they could acquire. Some of these names might surprise you. Inclusion on this list doesn’t mean these players will be traded, of course, but these names are generating the most buzz throughout the industry.

Here are the 10 players who have been mentioned the most in my conversations with executives from all 30 teams.

1. José Ramírez, 3B, Cleveland Indians
Age: 28
Bats: Both Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2023

Ramírez, one of the game’s best all-around third basemen, is in his prime. A career .353 on-base percentage player, Ramírez has belted more than 30 home runs again this season, while stealing 23 bases in 26 attempts. His 5.4 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference, shows his impact. He’s signed to a club-friendly contract that includes team options for 2022 ($12 million) and 2023 ($14 million). It’s unlikely the Indians will be able to sign Ramírez long term after those two seasons, and while they could extend him, trading him this offseason would bring the best possible return. On the other hand, keeping him for another season would likely result in an undervalued return, like what Cleveland received for Francisco Lindor when it traded him to the Mets after waiting until the final year of his contract. Watch the Giants, Blue Jays and Nationals as possible trade partners.

2. Matt Olson, 1B, Oakland Athletics
Age: 27
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2023

If Oakland fails to make the postseason this year, A’s fans should prepare for the front office to begin trading their best players, and it could start with Olson. A two-time Gold Glove winner and a first-time All-Star this season, Olson is having a career-best year, slashing .272/.370/.545 with 32 doubles, 34 home runs, 98 RBIs and a 152 OPS+. And better years arguably lie ahead for Olson, who’s arbitration-eligible in 2022 and ’23, but the A’s likely can’t afford him beyond those seasons. Therefore, it’s time to shop him so they can once again retool. The Yankees, Padres and Giants present the best trade partner fits. The Yankees make the most sense because their first baseman, Anthony Rizzo, is an impending free agent, and they covet left-handed hitters because of the short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium. New York has the necessary blend of prospects and major-league talent to offer in a trade for Olson, and could dangle players such as Gleyber Torres and/or Luke Voit.

3. Ketel Marte, CF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Age: 27
Bats: Both Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2024

The Diamondbacks made it clear to teams at the trade deadline that they had no interest in dealing Marte, their best overall player. However, after the season, once the Diamondbacks digest just how bad they are, many clubs believe they will rethink that position and offer him up for quality prospects to help brighten their long-term future, even if it dims 2022 even more. Marte is signed to an affordable contract that will pay him an average annual salary of $10 million over the next three seasons (with team options in 2023 and 2024 expected to be picked up), and it only increases his trade value. Marte is young enough that rebuilding teams will have as much interest as contending teams, especially those that think they can win in ’23 or ’24, such as the Tigers, Royals, Rangers, Marlins, Orioles, Pirates and Cubs. Marte’s ability to play second base and center field and his combination of power, speed and athleticism will send trade interest through the roof. The Diamondbacks should be able to make a deal that really improves the franchise long term.

4. Matt Chapman, 3B, Oakland Athletics
Age: 28
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2023

Chapman is the best defensive third baseman in the American League and there are metrics that suggest he’s the best in the sport, but I can’t go there because of my appreciation for Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. Like his teammate Olson, Chapman will be a free agent after the 2023 season. He comes with 25-30 home run power and standout run-prevention qualities that boost a pitching staff. He’s arbitration-eligible for the next two years, and he will get paid. Teams that could be interested in trading for Chapman include the Nationals, Giants, Blue Jays and Tigers.

5. Whit Merrifield, 2B, Kansas City Royals
Age: 32
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2023

The Royals have been reluctant to trade Merrifield over the last couple of years because he’s such an integral part of their rebuilding plan due to his leadership, mentoring and work ethic, not to mention his on-field production. He’s developed into one of the game’s best defensive second basemen and leadoff hitters. He’s second in the majors with 40 stolen bases and is leading the league in at-bats for the third straight year. He’s durable, a gamer and signed to an affordable contract that includes a team option for 2023, which means his trade value will be highest this offseason.

6. Willson Contreras, C, Chicago Cubs
Age: 29
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2022

Contreras will be a free agent after the 2022 season and if the Cubs can’t extend him early in the upcoming offseason, then they should trade him, just like they did with Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Báez. Contreras continues to improve defensively and has posted a 3.6 WAR this season because of it even though his OPS+ is just 97. I still rate Contreras as a top five catcher, and with so many teams in need of a frontline backstop, the Cubs should net a nice prospect return for him.

7. Joey Gallo, LF, New York Yankees
Age: 27
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2022

The Yankees were excited to acquire Gallo at the deadline in a six-player blockbuster trade with the Rangers, but the results have been mixed — to say the least. Gallo has played great defense in left field and belted seven home runs (giving him 32 on the season) in his 40 games with the Yankees, but he’s also hit .134 with 67 strikeouts in 167 plate appearances. The Yankees hope he turns it around the rest of the way and earns a spot as their everyday left fielder for the 2022 season. But if he doesn’t, many execs think they could decide to move on from him and explore the trade market again. Gallo’s 40 home run power and his ability to play all of the corners (1B, 3B, LF, RF) with plus defense will create a strong demand for his services.

8. Gleyber Torres, SS, New York Yankees
Age: 24
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2024

The Yankees believe Torres will eventually rediscover his form from 2019, when he slashed .278/.337/.535 with 38 home runs and 90 RBIs. But he’s regressed dramatically the past two years, and this season is hitting .252 with seven home runs in 438 plate appearances. He’s also played subpar defense at shortstop, so most evaluators think he has to move back to second base in 2022. If the Yankees decide to play DJ LeMahieu mainly at second base next year, then a Torres trade is inevitable. The Yankees are expected to engage in the free-agent shortstop market, where players such as Corey Seager, Trevor Story and Marcus Semien will be available. New York could include Torres in a trade package to try to land a slugger like Matt Olson or an athlete such as Ketel Marte.

9. Josh Donaldson, 3B, Minnesota Twins
Age: 35
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2024

The Twins are in the midst of a retooling, and there’s a real possibility they trade Donaldson this offseason. Donaldson still has it at 35; he’s hit 21 doubles and 22 home runs this season in 465 plate appearances. Although he’s an injury and age-related decline risk, Donaldson will have trade value, especially after free-agent third basemen like Kris Bryant and Eduardo Escobar land jobs this offseason. Contending teams with a need at third base might come calling, although the Twins must be willing to pay down the $50 million in guaranteed money left on his contract, which includes a 2024 club option with an $8 million buyout.

10. Byron Buxton, CF, Minnesota Twins
Age: 27
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2022

Buxton wants to remain with the Twins so much that he even has the Twins logo tattooed on his body. The feeling is mutual, according to a source who said Minnesota offered Buxton a contract extension worth more than $70 million this summer that also included loads of incentives and award bonuses. That’s a staggering offer if one considers that in seven seasons with the Twins, Buxton has played more than 92 games only once, in 2017. He has never had 500 at-bats nor hit 20 home runs in a major-league season, and his career on-base percentage is .293.

Buxton’s intrigue stems from his athleticism and potential, if healthy, to be a 30 homer, 30 stolen base, Gold Glove center fielder. If he hits, I’ve always thought Buxton could be similar to Eric Davis, who played for the Reds when I was general manager. But at what point does a player’s potential have to turn into production? At what point does a team give up on an injury-prone player? The Twins must answer those difficult questions, and the fact that he’s only 27 years old further complicates matters; they could “give up” on Buxton and watch him make All-Star teams in a different uniform. The Twins listened to trade offers for Buxton at the deadline, and if they can’t extend him, they’ll likely deal him. Buxton is high risk but also possibly high reward, whether he re-signs with the Twins or they trade him.

Zach Plesac, Amed Rosario, Myles Straw


Zach Plesac has the ability to be just as good as Bieber and Civale, he’s just lacked consistency. If he can get that improved and mature a bit – meaning no COVID party suspensions or taking off his uniform too aggressively – he has a chance to be a mainstay in the rotation. The potential is clearly there, he’s just a bit rough around the edges still, which should improve with time.

For Amed Rosario, this season has definitely been promising. His month of August was nothing short of incredible and he’s cleaned up his fielding as well. The only concern is can it be sustained? August was more of an outlier than fluke as he’s had a strong season at the plate, but there’s a lot of middle infield prospects who will be pushing for time in the near future.

Similarly, Myles Straw has looked solid since arriving in Cleveland. There’s a real chance he is the centerfielder of the future in Cleveland. However, his stats are really just a month sample. He’s doing much better with the Tribe than he did in Houston, but we need a larger sample size before we can commit to him being a cornerstone.

"Taking off his uniform too aggressively"....

And of course the same guy is on the mound for endless no hitters.

Damn that guy is a jinx!

just lacking consistency as well as maturity are fairly big steps to climb to being a top starter, but Plesac fits well into the 5 man corps they have for next year.
Rosario is a nice player who shouldn't be playing shortstop
Straw is fine for CF. They need some real bats around him.

The whole team is filled with "nice players" and JAGs.

Problem is replacing JAGs with better options is the goal of every front office.

When you're a fan of the team, it's tough not fall in love with present players and "hope" they get better.

"Moving on" is hard to do but it must be done.

I assume you'd give the Big Money to Jose to keep him. Other than him and Reyes there's no bat that is any better than major league average And lots that are far worse. 2 or 3 big hitters is enough if the lineup isn't packed with 200; 600 OPS guys

Jose Ramirez is a great bat no matter what he is paid. I'm sure fans would love to have Jose finish his career with the Guardians. The "money people" in the Front Office and Ownership are doing cost-benefit analysis all the time. Their view of a player is much different than ours. If the past is any indicator, they won't pay Jose what he could get elsewhere.

I think Jose will be moving on.

I suppose he will. With 2 years to go on his current affordable contract this would be the winter to trade him for maximum value which they did not do with Lindor.
If on the other hand they are serious about expanding the budget this would be a great time to sign him for life or something like it.

civ ollilavad wrote:I suppose he will. With 2 years to go on his current affordable contract this would be the winter to trade him for maximum value which they did not do with Lindor.
If on the other hand they are serious about expanding the budget this would be a great time to sign him for life or something like it.

I don't think there's any question this is the winter to look into either an extension for Josey or trade him. Guys at his level with 2 years left of team control maximize a haul.

Call me crazy but I see Josey as a small market guy. Not the type who particularly would like the limelight and he's happy where he is at. Look at the last contract he signed. So I do think if the Tribe offers him good money - not necessarily top money he could get elsewhere - he just might stay.

If that's not enough for him then please deal him at top value.

We might whine at this but look at Tampa Bay. They deal talent all the time and continue to win. Blake Snell last offseason and they continue to win. They do it because of organizational depth.

We deal Josey for a haul and add that to the depth we already have - and we are on our way to a more sustainable model. I do think Tampa is what the Tribe has in mind.

Edit - if you deal him or extend him at this point it's a win/win. Either benefits the team. If you wait like Lindor you end up lucky if you get a solid asset for him.

Cleveland Indians prospect Nolan Jones opens up about ‘humbling’ season



August 29, 2021: Columbus infielder, Nolan Jones (10), at bat during the baseball game between the Columbus Clippers and the Memphis Redbirds at Auto Zone Park in Memphis, TN. Kevin Langley/CSM(Credit Image: © Kevin Langley/CSM via ZUMA Wire) (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

By Zack Meisel 3h ago 7

The dejected walks back to the dugout, the discouraging glances at the box score and the big-league promotions that included seemingly every name but his were mentally taxing for Nolan Jones this summer.

But to return home after another hitless night, attempt to clear his head and instead be pestered with calls about his car’s warranty? Well, he wanted no part of that. Jones silenced calls from all unknown numbers, booting them directly to voicemail. The top prospect welcomed any peace of mind he could get.

Jones’ humbling year, as he described it — one marked by mental exhaustion as he attempted to escape a never-ending funk at the plate with Triple-A Columbus — culminated in an ankle sprain that will likely end his season. He’s visiting specialists this week to determine a recovery plan, but both Jones and team sources expressed doubt about whether he’ll be able to return to the lineup in the next couple of weeks.

“The timing was definitely not right,” Jones told The Athletic in a wide-ranging interview late last week. “I (had) started to feel good after a really long time of not feeling good.”

In late February 2020, manager Terry Francona surprised Jones, then widely considered Cleveland’s No. 1 prospect, with an invite to major-league camp. Jones walked into the clubhouse one morning at the team’s Goodyear, Ariz., complex, where a navy No. 95 uniform with his surname hung outside a locker on the far wall.

That experience was short-lived as the pandemic shuttered spring training a couple weeks later. Jones spent last summer at the team’s alternate site in Lake County, where he added corner outfield to his repertoire. As Jones inched closer to the majors, with José Ramírez occupying third base, he needed to learn a new position.

Jones, a second-round pick in 2016, started this season at Columbus and admitted it was impossible not to dream about earning a call-up to the big leagues. He just needed to perform, and the rest would take care of itself.

His first game: 0-for-4, four strikeouts. The next day: a double, two more strikeouts. Then, an 0-for-3 effort and an 0-for-5 showing. Two more strikeouts here, an 0-for-4 with three strikeouts there.

Through 21 games, Jones was batting .194 with a .639 OPS, one home run and 39 strikeouts in 87 trips to the plate. The struggles wore on him; he said he couldn’t help but dwell on one day’s at-bats as he prepared for the next batch.

“That’s when you get in big trouble,” said Jones, 23. “It’s forgetting and moving on. There’s a period after every game where you can think about your at-bats that day, pitches you saw, pitches you missed. And then at some point, you just have to flush it and move on.”

Jones, ranked the No. 75 prospect in the sport in Baseball America’s midseason update, said not playing in 2020 “was tough” and may have contributed to him feeling as though he never really settled in this season, never discovered a rhythm at the plate. He said pitchers tried to attack him with inside fastballs early in the season and his swing got “out of whack” as he attempted to protect that part of the zone. Jones stands 6-foot-4, so there can be a lot of long levers moving all over the place.

He worked with Columbus coaches Jason Esposito and J.T. Maguire, as well as Alex Eckelman, the organization’s director of hitting development, to tweak his swing and simplify his approach at the plate. That allowed him to better identify pitches and resist the urge to chase offerings out of the zone. Over time, he started to drive the ball to the opposite field more.

Jones’ strikeout rate returned to a more tolerable percentage after that brutal first month. His walk rate, always a bright spot on his stat line, remained healthy all season. He fared far better against left-handed pitchers than he ever has; he posted a .791 OPS against lefties and a .786 OPS against righties.

But when he examines his overall performance — he logged a .238/.356/.431 slash line — he can’t help but sum up the season as a learning experience.

“This year, I was humbled more than I have been in my career,” Jones said. “And I think it was huge for me. I struggled a lot this year. I had a really tough time with these failures, and I learned what I need to do to get out of these thoughts and feelings that I’m having when things aren’t going right.”

In addition to the hitting gurus, Jones worked with mental skills coaches. He had never struggled to this degree so he knew he needed to take advantage of the resources at his disposal. He watched teammates venture north on I-71 to Cleveland to join the big-league roster, but he knew he wasn’t contributing enough to warrant a promotion.

“It was a long time for me when confidence was down,” Jones said. “I didn’t believe in myself for a little bit, and then I had some really good conversations with a lot of people and I was really able to turn that around.”

Jones’ parents traveled to spend a couple of weeks in Columbus. His older brother, Peyton, visited for a while, too, all in a bid to restore the “have fun mentality” and help Jones not put so much pressure on himself, to shift his focus away from that 0-for-4 when he retreated home from the ballpark.

“I was trying to force getting out of that rut,” he said.

Peyton is a professional hockey player, a goalie who was called up to the Colorado Avalanche taxi squad last season. The brothers used to compete against each other in their backyard batting cage and shoot pucks on each other in their cement basement.

“We just wanted to beat each other — or beat each other up,” Jones said, “whichever came first.”


Jones insisted that, defensively at third base, he’s ready for the majors — he has worked extensively with former Indians infielder John McDonald — and said he’s comfortable enough in right field to make that an option if there’s an opening.

As for hitting, Jones performed his best this season in the two weeks before he injured his left ankle. He hopes to carry that stretch over to spring training as he eyes an eventual spot on Cleveland’s roster. He knows he must demonstrate he can be a reliable cog in the lineup.

“The higher you go, the more difficult it is to make changes and the more difficult it is (when you) fail,” Jones said. “If I was doing what I did at Triple A at the big leagues this year, it would have been harder for me.

“I can’t get to the big leagues before I really excel and prove that I’m one of the top players in Triple A.”

TFIR: All points well taken although we've thought some other past stars would settle for less in Cleveland.

But in general there's no question Cleveland and Tampa have a similar approach. Look at the pool of talent we amassed for Clevinger which could be on of our outstanding trades; not to downplay Reyes for Bauers even if the rest of the guys in that deal don't pan out; a premier closer for good guy Corey; some decent payback for Lindor [would've been far more the previous winter].

What we have lacked by comparison to the Rays is the strength of farm system. And that's what made the team great in the mid to late 90s: Belle, Thome and Ramirez all came up within a couple years. and Nagy. Then a second wave of Casey, Sexton and Giles were dealt for unequal value and the decline from great to good took hold.

Rocchio and Valera are very appealing kids now in Akron. But note our top prospect is rated about No. 35 and he [Tyler Freeman] missed most of this year; Rocchio is in the 50s. We need some Top 20 prospects to restock the team to compete.

I've not even included Jones on my list of big leaguers of the future. One point in the article above is very promising and surprising:

he posted a .791 OPS against lefties
If he's an equal opportunity hitter he can play everyday.
Still the question is how good an everyday player.

civ - as you know our system is DEEP and deep doesn't necessarily translate into having "top" rankings. And many, including Rocchio and Valera are down the pipe aways.

I think you realize Daniel Espino is a top pitching prospect period - rankings or not.

As a guy who follows minor leaguers through Dynasty fantasy baseball, kids in the latter part of the top 100 break in all the time and exceed guys ranked above them. So depth is pretty important in a system.

Obviously an influx from a Jose Ramirez deal would only build that tremendously.

In a perfect world though they sign both Josey and Bieber to long term deals and make them the center of the new version of the....Guardians!

Yep Espino is a real prospect.
Other pitchers are unproven but possible: Cody Morris in AAA, Logan Allen Jr in AA [yielded 3 homers yesterday I'm afraid], Ethan Hankins on the post-surgery list; Gavin Williams drafted this year.

Gabriel Arias performed very well as a very young SS in AAA so he's close and gets good defensive ratings.
Bo Naylor isn't ready for awhile but see today's Minor Matters is still very well regarded.