Cleveland Sports Forum

The Cleveland Indians added to their thin bullpen depth on Friday afternoon, claiming pitcher A.J. Cole on waivers from the New York Yankees.

The recently turned 27-year-old right-hander spent last season with the Washington Nationals and the Yankees, working in all but two of his 32 appearances in relief. The Yankees designated Cole for assignment on January 4 to make room on their roster for shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Once touted as a future starting rotation option on a loaded Nationals club, Cole failed to stick in limited opportunities over the last four seasons. A fourth round pick in the 2010 draft out of Oviedo High School in Florida, the 6’5” righty lasted just over a year in Washington’s farm system before he was traded to the Oakland Athletics in the six-player swap revolving around left-hander Gio Gonzalez in December of 2011.

His stay on the west coast was short, as after a season in the minors for Oakland, he was dealt back to Washington in January of 2013 with Blake Treinen and Ian Krol as part of a five-player, three-team swap that included the Seattle Mariners. He made his Major League debut in 2015, making one start and two relief appearances. He got longer looks over the next two seasons, making eight starts in each of those seasons and three more relief appearances in 2017 with mixed results. Elevated walk rates in each of those seasons slowed him down in those campaigns as he averaged nearly a strikeout per inning pitched.

Cole began 2018 with Washington, winning the fifth spot in the rotation out of spring training, but struggled in all facets of the game. He went 1-1 in two starts and two relief appearances, lasting just ten and one-third innings while allowing 15 runs (13.06 ERA), 16 hits (six homers), and six walks (an average of 5.2 per nine innings). Ten of those runs came in his season opening start against Atlanta, when he lasted just three and two-thirds innings. His spot was in jeopardy early, as the Nationals signed free agent Jeremy Hellickson late in spring, and once he was ready to contribute for Washington, Cole’s spot was no longer guaranteed.

Out of options, the Nationals designated Cole for assignment on April 20 and traded him to the Yankees on April 24 for cash considerations, reportedly $75,000 according to USA Today.

He served the Yankees initially as a multi-inning arm out of the ‘pen, working 16 such times for New York in his 28 overall appearances. His use fluctuated under first time manager Aaron Boone, who seemingly forgot Cole’s early success when he kept him off of the mound for a three-week period from the end of May to mid-June. His return to the mound in June (two perfect innings of relief with three strikeouts) led to a two-week stay on the 10-day disabled list with a neck strain. He pitched more frequently in July and August, but he was off of the big league mound for another two and a half weeks in September.

He went 3-1 with the Yankees with a 4.26 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP, and a career-best 11.6 K/9 rate. While his walk and homer rates were still a little high, he brought down his hit rate to just under his career average. His time with the Yankees brought some highs and lows, providing some hope for the future that he could contribute something to a big league bullpen. In his first six appearances for the Yankees, he allowed just one run over eleven innings. He posted a 2.70 ERA in ten innings in July, but those numbers jumped badly over the last two months of the season, when he posted a 5.56 mark in nine games and eleven and one-third innings in August and a 17.18 ERA in five September appearances over three and two-thirds innings.

In 54 career MLB appearances (19 starts), Cole is 8-9 with a 5.05 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. He has been significantly more effective against right-handed hitters than lefties, limiting the former to a .222/.293/.406 slash in 327 plate appearances as compared to a .317/.394/.580 line in 335 plate appearances against the latter. He has also seen more success when working in relief, owning a 4-1 mark in 35 games with a 4.31 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP, and a 10.1 K/9 rate compared to a 4-8 record in 19 games with a 5.48 ERA, a 1.58 WHIP, and an 8.6 K/9 as a starter. During his time in the minors (161 games over nine seasons), Cole has worked almost exclusively as a starter (155 times) with a 50-45 record, a 3.94 ERA, and a 1.31 WHIP.

Cole figures to be a relief candidate for the Tribe as they hope for a fourth straight season that a former member of the Yankees organization can slot in to fix the bullpen woes in Cleveland. Most notably, the Tribe acquired left-hander Andrew Miller at the trade deadline in 2016, with his acquisition helping to cement a dangerous relief corps during the team’s run seven games deep into the World Series. The Indians acquired Nick Goody following the 2016 season and he pitched well for the club in 2017 before injury cut short his season a year ago. Southpaw Oliver Perez was snagged last June after being released from the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate and his presence helped spearhead a much-needed turnaround in the results from the Cleveland bullpen.

With the addition of Cole, the Indians’ 40-man roster is now at 39 players.

This kid could be the next Josh Tomlin. In his 148 major league innings he's given up 31 home runs. Just what we need in the bullpen

That includes 9 in 38 innings during his stay with the Yankees. I don't want him.

No second chance for Cleveland Indians to trade Jason Kipnis in crowded second base market
By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com | Posted January 14, 2019 at 11:44 AM | Updated January 14, 2019 at 11:49 AM
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Jason Kipnis. (Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)


Jason Kipnis is still a Cleveland Indian
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians have traded a lot of players this winter, but the one who seemed the most logical to go is still with them.

That would be second baseman/outfielder Jason Kipnis, who is in the final year of his contract. The Indians tried hard to trade him after the 2017 season, but he was coming off a poor season and had two years left on his contract.

This winter they tried again. When the Indians were approached about possibly trading right-handers Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer, they tried to attach Kipnis and/or Edwin Encarnacion to the deal. They were eventually able to send Encarnacion to Seattle for Carlos Santana in an exchange of bulky contracts.

Kipnis, however, has proven to be a tougher sell. It's not only because of a second shaky season and the fact that he'll make $14.7 million this year. After a poor start, Kipnis rebounded by hitting .260 with 14 homers and 50 RBI over his final 83 games of the season.

But what has really made Kipnis hard to trade is a free agent market loaded with good second basemen. Lately they've been signing in a rush with D.J. LeMahieu going to the Yankees, Brian Dozier to the Nationals and Jed Lowrie to the Mets.

Earlier in the winter Ian Kinsler signed with the Padres, Daniel Descalso with the Cubs, Daniel Murphy with the Rockies, Jonathan Schoop with the Twins and Cory Spangenberg with the Brewers. Second basemen such as Josh Harrison, Adrubal Cabrera, Andrew Romine, Neil Walker, Brandon Phillips, Sean Rodriguez and Logan Forsythe are still looking for work.

So for the time being, Kipnis will be the keeper of the flame, one of the final reminders of that group of Indians who reached Game 7 of the World Series in 2016 and now is largely gone.








Francisco Lindor. (Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)


Cool your jets on a multiyear deal for Francisco Lindor
If you are an optimistic Indians fan, the fact that Francisco Lindor signed a one-year $10.55 million deal on Friday instead of going to arbitration could hatch visions of the two sides reaching a multiyear deal in spring training.

But don't count your chickens (or you Lindors) just yet. Avoiding arbitration and signing the kind of mega-watt extension it would take to keep Lindor in Cleveland past his required stay of three more years are two different undertakings.

While it would not be a surprise if the Indians approached David Meter, Lindor's agent, in spring training about an extension, you can be sure Lindor's camp is waiting to see what Manny Machado and Bryce Harper sign for this winter.

Lindor, meanwhile, can enjoy his raise. Last season he made $623,200. If you're counting at home, Lindor's raise of just over $9.9 million definitely put him in a different tax bracket.

It appears Trevor Bauer will be the only Indians player going the distance in arbitration. He's seeking a $13 million salary for 2019, while the Indians have offered $11 million.










First baseman-DH Carlos Santana (left) talks to a fan Saturday at Tribe Fest. (David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com)



Carlos Santana glad to be home
In Saturday's afternoon session at Tribe Fest, the Indians held a question and answer period with Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer along with newcomers Jake Bauers, Kevin Plawecki and Carlos Santana.

During the introductions, the biggest cheers were reserved for Santana, who really isn't a newcomer, but did spend last season in Philadelphia.

"Last year I missed Cleveland," Santana told the audience. I'm so happy to come back to my house."

To Santana, "house' means home.

Jim Rosenhaus, fielding questions from the fans, asked Santana about his ability to draw walks. In Santana's nine years in the big leagues, he's walked more than he's struck out in every season. For his career, he's walked 836 times compared to 673 strikeouts.

"Players ask me how do you do it?" said Santana, who played his first eight years with the Indians. "I tell them I don't know. I see the ball. If it's a strike, I swing at it. If it's a ball, I don't."

Rosenhaus asked Carrasco about his world tour in the offseason. He and his family visited five different countries.

Carrasco said the best stop was an African safari.

"As night we'd be sleeping in tents and five feet away you could hear the lions walking around the tent," said Carrasco. "And all I had was a whistle (to scare the lions or signal for help)."








Nick Markakis. (Curtis Compton, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)


Will the Tribe get some help in the outfield?
The Indians' outfield has been put under the microscope all winter. The conclusion is it needs help following the free agent losses of Michael Brantley, Lonnie Chisenhall and Rajai Davis and the potential free agent losses of Melky Cabrera and Brandon Guyer.

The Indians have two ways of doing that. They can trade a starting pitcher. Or they could wait and sign the best hitting outfielder available to a one-year contract sometime between now and opening day.

They could certainly still make a trade, but the longer they wait the more likely it is they try to sign an outfielder. There are plenty available candidates, but cost is a factor.

Here are some names, stats and salaries from last year:

*Nick Markakis, Braves: .297, 14 homers, 93 RBI, $11 million.

*Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies: .276, 16, 64, $5 million.

*Avisail Garcia, White Sox: .236, 19, 49, $6.7 million.

*Derek Dietrich, Marlins: .265, 16, 45, $2.9 million.

*A.J. Pollock, Rockies: .257, 21, 65, $7.75 million.

*Cabrera, Indians: .280, six, 39, $1 million.

*Adam Jones, Orioles: .281, 15, 63, $17.3 million.

*Robbie Grossman, Twins: .273, five, 48 RBI, $2 million.

Players like Markakis and Pollock are probably out of the Indians price range, but spring training is less than a month away and players have to play somewhere.












Closer Cody Allen (left) and catcher Roberto Perez. (Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)


Quick hits from the Indians
*Catcher Roberto Perez on trade of catcher Yan Gomes: "I was surprised when Gomes got traded. Then I was happy to get the opportunity (to play). It was sad to see Yan go. I had a great relationship with him. He's a great guy and a great teammate."

*Mike Clevinger on the AL Central closing in on the Tribe: "The Twins are looking pretty good. The White Sox are looking dangerous. We'll see how they round off their lineups.

"It's interesting how the Twins are doing the one-year deal with older guys. I think we're still going to beat them."

*Dan Otero on the bullpen: "It's no secret things last year didn't go as planned for us. You can make any excuse you want, look at any numbers you want, but as a group we didn't do well. I think we have some unfinished business in the bullpen and we'll be ready to go when spring training starts."

*Adam Plutko on catching situation: "Sure it's tough losing Gomes. Any time you lose an All-Star it's always tough. But Roberto is more than capable of handling it and I've heard nothing but great things about (Kevin) Plawecki and I've come up through the system with (Eric) Haase. So I know he's capable of handling it."

*Nick Goody on Tribe trades: "I'd like to see Andrew Miller and Cody Allen back. But that's above my pay grade. I'm happy to get Santana back. I hate to see Eddie (Encarnacion) and Yandy (Diaz) go. I loved Yandy, but we got Jake Bauers back. It's part of the game. Those guys are your friends regardless of what team they're on."

Cleveland Indians have talked to Padres, Reds about 3-team trade involving Corey Kluber
Updated 8:18 AM; Posted 8:18 AM



By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Will they or won’t they? The wheels keep spinning on whether or not the Indians will trade a starting pitcher in order to improve the rest of their roster before opening day.

The latest rumor has the Indians trading two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber as part of a three-team deal with the Padres and Reds. The Indians acquired Kluber in July of 2010 from the Padres in a three-team trade that included St. Louis.

The Indians have been entertaining offers for Kluber and Trevor Bauer all winter to fill the holes on a roster ravaged by cost-cutting trades and free-agent defections. This latest rumor was reported by Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin of the Athletic.

A source said this trade proposal was discussed a while ago, but didn’t gain much traction. Lin reported that no deal was imminent.

The Padres, according to Lin, are looking for a third baseman. If they could make a deal for Kluber, they would send him to the Reds for third base prospect Nick Senzel. So far, the Reds have been reluctant to trade Senzel, their No.1 pick in 2016.

It was reported earlier in the winter that the Reds and Indians talked about Kluber. Senzel was named as a possible return for Kluber with the idea that the Indians could possible play him in the outfield.


The Reds have added Tanner Roark and Alex Wood to the rotation, but they still need a lead-dog starter. They’ve added Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to the outfield, which should improve their standing in the rugged NL Central after four straight last-place finishes.

The reports did not say what the Indians would receive for Kluber, but they need outfielders and bullpen help. The Padres are loaded with prospects, but the Indians have set a high bar for the return on Kluber or Bauer. Kluber, coming off his first 20-win season, is under team control for three more years, including club options in 2020 and 2021. The Indians have two more years of control on Bauer.

The Indians must like three-team deals. In their biggest trade this winter they sent Edwin Encarnacion to Seattle for Carlos Santana and Yandy Diaz to Tampa Bay for Jake Bauers. They acquired Bauer in 2012 in a three-team deal with the Reds and Arizona.

All of these trades or proposed trades are about MONEY.

Kluber is under Tribe control for the next 3 years. They just don't want to pay him.

All the Tribe's moves this offseason did NOT make the team better on the field, which is all we fans should care about.

I'm trying to think about anything positive from any of the deals. There's not much. I like Carlos Santana and he offers more benefits than EE. It is possible that Jefry Rodriguez with a 100 mph arm could work out in the bullpen for Gomes but we're far worse off behind the plate as a result of that deal. Plawecki doesn't get us much farther.
No one special among kids we've acquired, Johnson an OF also picked up for Gomes is the highest rated prospect, about #15 on our list. Although Bauers was rated far higher when he was still officially a prospect and could turn out to be the most valuable player we acquired; at least the exchange of him for Yandy is not about $ but about trade unlike for unlike.
I am going to miss Erik Gonzalez, he was a very talented utility player who is good enough to start at several positions.
I will of course miss Brantley who was not a costly signing for the Astros.
There is not one aspect of the roster that has improved.

"LINEUP IF SEASON STARTED TODAY"

2018 Indians show up batting 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th
for Tampa

1. Kevin Kiermaier, CF
2. Matt Duffy, 3B
3. Tommy Pham, LF
4. Ji-Man Choi, DH
5. Willy Adames, SS
6. Yandy Diaz, 1B

7. Austin Meadows, RF
8. Mike Zunino, C
9. Joey Wendle, 2B

for Houston:
1. George Springer, CF
2. Alex Bregman, 3B
3. Jose Altuve, 2B
4. Carlos Correa, SS
5. Michael Brantley, LF
6. Yuli Gurriel, 1B
7. Josh Reddick, RF
8. Tyler White, DH
9. Robinson Chirinos, C

for Seattle:
1. Mallex Smith, CF
2. Dee Gordon, 2B
3. Mitch Haniger, RF
4. Edwin Encarnacion, DH
5. Kyle Seager, 3B
6. Domingo Santana, LF
7. Ryon Healy, 1B
8. Omar Narvaez, C
9. Tim Beckham, SS

Nationals:
1. Adam Eaton, RF
2. Trea Turner, SS
3. Anthony Rendon, 3B
4. Juan Soto, LF
5. Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
6. Brian Dozier, 2B
7. Victor Robles, CF
8. Yan Gomes / Kurt Suzuki, C

Pirates:
1. Adam Frazier, 2B
2. Starling Marte, CF
3. Corey Dickerson, LF
4. Josh Bell, 1B
5. Francisco Cervelli, C
6. Colin Moran/Jung Ho Kang, 3B
7. Lonnie Chisenhall, RF
8. Erik Gonzalez / Kevin Newman, SS

and our own lineup which runs out of reliable names less than half way through


Indians
The Indians' lineup will feature plenty of new names in 2019, but one familiar face will be back with the Tribe. After spending last season with the Phillies, Carlos Santana was traded to the Mariners briefly before coming back home to Cleveland in exchange for Edwin Encarnacion.

Despite the team's high turnover rate, Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez will return to the Indians' infield, providing leadership to the young roster. Both Ramirez and Lindor are coming off standout seasons, placing third and sixth in American League MVP voting, respectively. -- Mandy Bell

LINEUP IF SEASON STARTED TODAY

1. Francisco Lindor, SS
2. Jason Kipnis, 2B
3. Jose Ramirez, 3B
4. Carlos Santana, DH
5. Jake Bauers, 1B
6. Tyler Naquin, RF
7. Leonys Martin, CF
8. Jordan Luplow, LF
9. Roberto Perez, C

Actually, when you look at the batting averages [which of course overlooks Ramirez' and Lindors homers and Santana walks and Kipnis late in the season rise] the lineup looks borderline abysmal.

1 277
2 230
3 270
4 229
5 201
6 264
7 255
8 185
9 168

That means a team average of about 230. Probably less than borderline abysmal. I shouldn't have looked.

seagull wrote:All of these trades or proposed trades are about MONEY.

You could make this statement about the vast majority of MLB teams. Contracts and age dominate most trades situations.

As HB stated earlier, the system is quite annoying that way.

As for the Indians, I actually care about them getting better this season - but I also care about a team with bottom 1/3 of the league attendance (despite 91 wins) remaining viable and competitive throughout the years - not just this year.

I am an Indians fan this year - and I want a competitive team in coming years too. And that is what they are trying to do. And have done damn well up until now.

We are Tampa Bay North. As rusty has been saying.

Did I really say that ?

rusty2 wrote:Did I really say that ?

Lol please correct me if I'm wrong but I seemed to remember many posts regarding an awareness of the size of the Cleveland population and market.

I probably did.

All you young whippersnappers would like to see the Tribe competitive for years to com at the expense of "win now". Geezers, like me, haven't got the time or the patience to think long term.

The window is closing.

Winter is coming!

seagull wrote:All you young whippersnappers would like to see the Tribe competitive for years to com at the expense of "win now". Geezers, like me, haven't got the time or the patience to think long term.

The window is closing.

Winter is coming!

Not at the expense of win now - but balanced long term and short term. That's what front offices do.

As for the old age thing, I am an Indians fan. That means I care about the Cleveland Indians. I want what is best for them - franchise health - AND I want future kids (fans) to have a good product to follow and root for - which in turn contributes to the long term health and well being of the franchise.