Cleveland Sports Forum

impressed with the early work of Henry Martinez too

from Indians.com

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- When the Indians reported to Spring Training three weeks ago, there were plenty of uncertainties surrounding the potential roster. The club has reached its halfway point in camp and there are still plenty of decisions to be made, but we have gotten some answers.

On top of the guaranteed starters Indians manager Terry Francona has already named, the team signed Tyler Clippard and Hanley Ramirez to Minor League contracts, which could shake up MLB.com’s first projection of the Indians 25-man roster from the beginning of camp. Let’s take another look at how it could pan out.

Catcher (2): Roberto Perez, Kevin Plawecki
What changed? What seemed like a position battle entering camp now appears to be Perez’s job to lose. Francona has mentioned the importance of a catcher’s defense and ability to run a game and has said Perez is extremely prepared for both of those. It’s not that Plawecki can’t do that as well, but the Indians are more familiar with Perez, who has spent his entire big league career with the Tribe. [BUT IS PEREZ SO GREAT DEFENSIVELY? some forumites begged to differ last year]

First base (1): Carlos Santana
What changed? The acquisition of Ramirez could relieve Santana of DH duties, giving him a chance to be the front-runner over Jake Bauers for the first-base job. If Ramirez has a solid spring and makes the roster, Santana will be the first baseman.

Second base (1): Jason Kipnis
What changed? The only change that has happened with Kipnis at second base is that Francona has eliminated the possibility that Kipnis will be moved to the outfield. The second baseman finished out the 2018 season in center but was informed he’d be back at second for '19.

Third base (1): Jose Ramirez
What changed? Absolutely nothing has changed. Ramirez was told when he arrived in Goodyear that he will be the starting third baseman. Assuming he continues to have a healthy spring, that will not be changing.

Shortstop (1): Francisco Lindor
What changed? The health questions regarding Lindor are still there, but beginning to fade. The shortstop suffered a moderate calf strain right before Spring Training, but Francona and his staff seem more and more optimistic that Lindor will return quickly enough to make the Opening Day roster.

Outfield (4): Tyler Naquin, Leonys Martin, Jake Bauers, Greg Allen
What changed? The outfield is anything but set in stone, but the pieces may slowly be coming together. As long as Hanley Ramirez secures the DH spot, it’s likely Bauers will be the Opening Day left fielder. Martin is a guarantee in center and Naquin may be settling in right. Allen brings a lot of versatility, being able to back up at all three spots. The Indians could also carry either Matt Joyce or Jordan Luplow for more depth if Bauers ends up bouncing between the infield and outfield. [OR MERCADO? HE SURE LOOKS A LOT MORE USEFUL THAN THOSE LAST TWO?]

Designated hitter (1): Hanley Ramirez
What changed? Ramirez did not join the Indians until after the team reported to camp. This signing could be the answer the Tribe was looking for (for extremely little risk) if he’s able to prove he has some magic left in his bat this spring.

Utility (1): Max Moroff
What changed? Cleveland also signed Ryan Flaherty to a Minor League deal on Feb. 7, and he could be another utility option for the Indians this season. Given the fact that Moroff is out of options and can play all over the infield, he could still be the top candidate for the utility role. [CHANG? I SUPPOSE THEY'D PREFER HE PLAY EVERY DAY IN COLUMBUS]

Rotation (5): Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco, Mike Clevinger, Shane Bieber
What changed? No changes here. The one part of Cleveland’s roster that was a guarantee coming in to camp was its rotation, and it’s projected to be as dominant as ever.

Bullpen (8): Brad Hand, Adam Cimber, Oliver Perez, Dan Otero, Tyler Olson, Neil Ramirez, Alex Wilson, Tyler Clippard
What changed? Clippard was signed to a Minor League contract on Feb. 23. Both he and Wilson are the top non-roster candidates to break camp with the Indians. Although Hand was officially named the closer, the rest of the spots remain in flux.

Here’s the full rundown of the Indians’ 25-man roster projection:

CATCHERS
Roberto Perez
Kevin Plawecki

INFIELDERS
Carlos Santana
Jason Kipnis
Francisco Lindor
Jose Ramirez

OUTFIELDERS
Tyler Naquin
Leonys Martin
Jake Bauers
Greg Allen

DESIGNATED HITTER
Hanley Ramirez

UTILITY
Max Moroff

ROTATION
Corey Kluber
Trevor Bauer
Carlos Carrasco
Mike Clevinger
Shane Bieber

BULLPEN
Brad Hand
Adam Cimber [oops, I overlooked him on my last list]
Oliver Perez
Dan Otero [not a big fan but he's done ok]
Tyler Olson
Neil Ramirez [hope not]
Alex Wilson
Tyler Clippard

BAseball America is out with some season predictions.,
Believe it or not the Indians once again are predicted to win the ALC. Other division winners: NY and HOU in the AL. Red Sox and Angels as wild cards.
Nationals, Cubs and Dodgers in the NL, with ATL and Mil as wild cards, What Phillies don't make despite their signings?!
AL champ Houston; NL champ Dodgers
AL MVP Trout' CY Verlander runners up Sale and Cole

Twins and Chisox get votes for biggest surprise of 2019
Indians get one vote for most disappointing offseason:
"Cleveland kept its stellar rotation intact and still has all-world shortstop Francisco Lindor, but the club’s supporting cast was thinned by offseason departures. Michael Brantley, Josh Donaldson, Yan Gomes and Lonnie Chisenhall are gone from the lineup, while manager Terry Francona won’t have relievers Andrew Miller and Cody Allen to call on in the bullpen."

Indians get two votes for "division winner with biggest downside in 2019:
Kyle Glaser: Indians. Cleveland’s outfield and bullpen are among the worst in baseball and weigh down the club’s strengths. If Francisco Lindor’s calf injury lingers, they’re in real trouble. Their competition (the Twins) got better while the Indians got worse. That’s not a recipe for success.

Josh Norris: Indians. They seem like the easy choice here, seeing as their three projected starting outfield combined for just 1.1 offensive WAR in 2018—per Baseball Reference—with the bulk of that coming from the pre-trade version of Leonys Martin. They also will deal with how a recent calf injury affects stud shortstop Francisco Lindor.

BA's season preview for the team with the worst outfield in baseball:

Team Strengths: Cleveland built the American League’s best rotation by acquiring Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and Mike Clevinger as prospects, and now there are homegrown arms to supplement them. Shane Bieber has ably stepped in with Danny Salazar addled by injuries, and No. 1 prospect Triston McKenzie may debut in 2019.

Team Weaknesses: Tyler Naquin and Bradley Zimmer have not developed as hoped, leaving the Indians perilously short in the outfield. The group is now even lighter after Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall departed in free agency. A bullpen that had the majors’ fifth-worst ERA was also depleted by Andrew Miller and Cody Allen leaving.

What They Did About It: The Indians replaced Edwin Encarnacion and Yonder Alonso at designated hitter and first base, respectively, with Carlos Santana and Jake Bauers, but that didn’t address the team’s primary shortcomings. Jordan Luplow and Daniel Johnson were their only outfield additions, and Nick Wittgren was their lone bullpen addition not on a minor league deal.

Final Outlook: The Indians are more vulnerable than they’ve been in years, especially if Francisco Lindor’s calf injury lingers. Still, the overall weakness of the AL Central still makes them the favorite for a fourth straight division title.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- At the beginning of Spring Training, Indians manager Terry Francona said that camp can be divided into three groups: young talent making a first impression, players competing for a roster spot and the veterans who are preparing for a long season. During the first three weeks in Goodyear, the Indians have had a handful of players who have stood out in each of those categories.

Let’s take a look at eight players who have impressed so far this spring.

The future is bright

Daniel Johnson

The Indians’ No. 22 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has turned some heads in his first camp with his new team. Johnson was part of the trade that sent Yan Gomes to the Nationals on Nov. 30, and he has made a solid first impression with the Tribe, leaving Francona excited for his future.

Johnson has displayed some power, but his speed and arm strength have especially stood out. He will not break camp with the Indians, but he’s someone to keep an eye on in the farm system.

Oscar Mercado

Of all his tools, the scouting report says that hitting is Mercado’s weakest, but he’s shown potential at the plate thus far. Mercado has hit better than Francona expected, batting .409 (9-for-22) through 12 Cactus League games.

Because the Tribe’s No. 19 prospect has already demonstrated he has above-average speed and defense, Mercado’s hitting is the last tool he needs to lock down before getting called up to the Majors. He seems to be on the right path so far.

Ernie Clement

It’s a name that gets Francona excited every time it’s mentioned. The manager has been clear that statistics do not matter during Spring Training. Although Clement is hitting .318 (7-for-22) through 11 spring games, what he has really brought to the team is excitement, playing every inning as hard as he can.

“The way he’s gone about his business has everybody’s attention,” Francona said. “If you’re a young player, that’s what you’re trying to do is make a good impression.”

Henry Martinez

Martinez started last season in Class A Advanced, but he worked his way up to Triple-A Columbus, where he made 10 appearances. In four outings for the Indians this spring, the 24-year-old right-hander has attacked the strike zone and hasn't allowed a run.

“He’s been one of our real, I don’t want to say a surprise, but one of the real pleasures of Spring Training,” Francona said.

On the bubble

Jon Edwards

Edwards made nine appearances for the Indians in 2018 and is one of many pitchers competing for a spot in the bullpen. Through his first four spring appearances, Edwards has looked sharp, striking out seven in four innings.

Greg Allen

The outfield has been a main focus regarding the Indians during the offseason and early in camp. With the corner spots up for grabs, Allen, Tyler Naquin, Jordan Luplow, Brandon Barnes, Jake Bauers, Matt Joyce and Trayce Thompson are all competing for two open spots.

As the race continues to heat up*, Allen has proven his versatility, playing all three outfield positions and seeing the ball well at the plate, hitting .421 through his first 19 at-bats.

* "heat up" does that imply that half the guys on that list have done absolutely nothing to support their chances?

The locks

Leonys Martin

The 31-year-old center fielder went 9-for-22 (.409) through his first eight spring games with two home runs and three RBIs. Although Francona is not one to focus on batting averages in Spring Training, it’s hard not to notice the numbers Martin has been putting up since his return from a life-threatening illness.

Carlos Santana

Francona has said it’s almost like Santana never left. After playing for the Phillies in 2018, Santana, who played for the Indians from 2010-17, is back with the Tribe and has provided quite a bit of power through his first eight spring games. The veteran is batting .409 (9-for-22) with three homers, including one that was launched out of Goodyear Ballpark, and eight RBIs. [but he still probably wont' hit much for the first cold months in the North]

Toolsy Johnson has Tito, Indians dreaming big


By Mandy Bell @MandyBell02
March 9, 2019

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Daniel Johnson has been one of the Indians’ most talked about prospects since being acquired by the organization in the offseason. After manager Terry Francona has gotten a few weeks to get a glimpse of Johnson’s skill set, he can’t help but dream about what the young outfielder’s future could hold.

It was the end of November, and Johnson had just recently gotten home from playing in the Arizona Fall League. He had seen a list, put out by Baseball America, of prospects from each organization who are most likely to be traded during the offseason, and his name was listed under the Nationals. His three friends from the organization started texting him in a group chat, saying he was going to be dealt.

“I’m like, ‘Whatever. You always say that and then nothing ever happens,’” Johnson said.


Just 10 minutes later, his friends responded, saying he was traded. At first, Johnson thought they were joking and told them to stop. They responded with screenshots of tweets that reported he was going to Cleveland.

“After seeing that, it was, like, overwhelming,” Johnson said. “I started panicking, like, what do I do? I called my agent and was like, ‘Yo, I just got traded to the Indians. I don’t know what to expect. What do I do?’”

Once Johnson received confirmation from the Nationals that he was traded, he quickly realized the Indians were in need of outfielders, and, even though he hasn’t been above Double-A, he knew that he’d have a better opportunity to get to the Major Leagues with the Tribe.

“I was kind of backed up [in Washington], so after realizing that, I was more happy to come here,” Johnson said. “The big picture is always there, going to the big leagues. But I’m just trusting the process and just taking it one day at a time.”

Johnson's game-tying single
Johnson's game-tying single
00:18
Mar. 7th, 2019
When looking at the scouting report for the Indians’ No. 22 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, there’s a lot to be excited about. Johnson has plus-plus arm strength that allowed the 23-year-old to record 11 assists in just 92 games last year. The man his teammates call, “Jet,” a nickname they got from his social media username, “Jet Johnson” -- based on the television series, “The Famous Jett Jackson” -- also has above-average speed, swiping 22 bags in 2018.

“Speed is one thing you can’t teach,” Johnson said. “Either you have it or you don’t. I guess it can be developed over time, but when you have a lot of speed, it’s not something you can teach. … I’ve always had a strong arm, so being able to use it now, it’s great.”

Johnson has shown he has the speed and arm strength of a Major Leaguer, and has displayed some power at the plate, but he still has to prove he can hit consistently and can handle left-handed pitching. No, Johnson will not break camp with the Tribe, but through the first three weeks of Spring Training, he has shown enough potential at the plate to catch Francona’s eye and have him dreaming about what his outfield could look like in the near future.

“There’s so much to like about him,” Francona said. “Work ethic, the kind of kid he is. When you see him play well and you see, ‘Whoa, that’s what that could be.’ Now, they grow into consistency. They grow into being able to sit back on an offspeed pitch. But you can’t teach guys to hit a fastball. If they can’t get to a fastball, they can’t get to it. Guys that can get to a fastball, you can teach them.

“It takes time sometimes to be able to hit an offspeed pitch, or a breaking ball or even to be able to lay off. But a guy that can hit a fastball, it allows you to dream a little bit.”

Mandy Bell covers the Indians for MLB.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MandyBell02.

Debating the logic and feasibility behind Trevor Bauer’s 1-year contract plan … with Trevor Bauer

Zack Meisel 1h ago 4

GOODYEAR,​ Ariz. —​ Trevor Bauer​ has voiced his intention​ to sign a new​ one-year contract each​ winter​ once he​ reaches free​​ agency for the first time following the 2020 season.

In such an unprecedented scenario, he’d likely eclipse the record salary for a one-year free-agent deal ($23 million). But how many teams would actually dole out the sort of contract he’s envisioning? And what type of team — a rebuilding club? A team on the rise? An established contender? The Monstars? — would pursue him?

Bauer speaks (and tweets) candidly about his future and about the chances of the Indians trading him at some point before he reaches the open market. Still, I thought I could challenge him on his one-year contract idea. I questioned some of the logic behind it. And Bauer welcomed the debate.

First, let’s mention Bauer’s current situation. While we’ll spend much of this piece dissecting his future, which will likely take him away from Cleveland, he does still don an Indians uniform when he pitches, and he’s under the club’s control through next season.

He also was the subject of some trade rumors over the winter, which came as no surprise to him.

So when I look at it, it’s like, I know what our general payroll is. I see all the players who get more expensive. I see people depart from the team. I see what’s going on and I understand the reasoning behind them all, or I can find reasons behind, like, “I can see why they would come to this decision.” So in a logical way, I completely get it. Given the recent history of how it’s been run, it just doesn’t line up. It’s like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole in some ways. We’re not going to go spend, like, $500 million on one player. That’s just not the market that we’re in. I learned I have to be careful with what I say in interviews, because the (MLB Labor Relations Department) will try to bring it up in arbitration, like, “Hey, look, he said he’s only worth this.” So next year, when I make $700 billion as my salary — it’s just not a fit.

So on an emotional side, let me talk about that for a second. I love Cleveland. I’m very thankful for what the organization has done for me. I love the fans. I want to see Cleveland’s World Series drought end. I want to win. I like my teammates. Emotionally, I’m very passionate about the city and the fans and the people here. It’s just not the status of baseball anymore with free agency and the way teams are run. That’s not the current culture. So if you want to sit here and complain about how the world should be, fine. But I don’t like complaining about how the world should be, I like taking what the world is and finding ways to move forward in reality. I’d love to stay here. I really would. I’d love it if they didn’t trade me next year and I got to play another year here. I’d like to sign here every year in free agency. But I have a certain responsibility to other players. In a market sense, if I wanted to sign for $2 million in free agency, if that made me happy, fine, but I have a responsibility to all 749 other big-league spots, players this year and next year and years after to help move the market forward and bolster (average annual value) and stuff like that. Sometimes things don’t line up.

So, the one-year contract plan. There were a few holes I wanted to attempt to poke in the logic. Bauer said he wanted “to hear the other side of it.”

There are 30 teams, but on the surface, it seems as though Bauer would be limiting himself to contenders – and, really, contenders with a flexible payroll, a rare combination in today’s game. Teams have demonstrated an aversion to the luxury tax the last few years. Would a team destined for 90 losses say, “Hey, here’s $35 million for one year?”

They could trade me at the deadline and get some prospects. Now, you may not get top-tier prospects. Let’s say I make $45 (million) for one year. Well, let’s say I make $90 million for one year, that based on WAR and surplus value, that’s what I would be worth. Let’s say I make $90 million. Well, if you trade me at the deadline, you’re only paying two-thirds of that, so $60 million. Let’s say you get a first-rounder back. Well, teams are valuing first-rounders in the $50 (million)-$80 million range in value. Obviously, the prospect may not turn out or whatever, but if you assign that type of value to a prospect and then you can just basically buy another prospect for your system, why would a team not do that?

Joining a noncontender with the expectation that they’ll deal you to a contender during the summer seems like an odd route, though we’ve seen, on occasion, teams essentially pay for draft picks/prospects. Still, if the endgame is to pitch for a playoff team and said team is willing to sign Bauer, why close himself off to one year? What about a two-year pact? If it’s the right situation, and he’s going to a team you know is going to be contending …

What about three, if two?

Because of other things I want to do, other goals I have. The longer the term of the contract, the more risk that’s on the team for injury, for lack of performance, et cetera, which means the more protective they’re going to be of their asset, and rightfully so. You’re not going to sign someone for 10 years and then just do things you think might contribute to him getting hurt, so you don’t get any production. That doesn’t make any sense. I want to pitch every fourth day. I want to make 45 starts. I want to throw complete games. I want to win 300 games. That’s what I want to do. I think I can do it.

I’ve romanticized baseball in that form because that’s what I grew up with. Three hundred wins was the benchmark. Two hundred innings was the benchmark. That’s what the elite guys did. So that’s what I romanticize about baseball. The longer the term of the contract, the less likely that is to happen. So if I take all the risk on a one-year deal, both for my performance and my health, then why would a team not? They’re paying me X amount. They’re paying me $45 million or $50 million or whatever. The incentive is there for them to use me as much as possible and get as much out of me as possible.

OK, but let’s consider how the MLB offseason has evolved the past couple of years. Bauer will sign his first free-agent contract right around the time of his 30th birthday. Patrick Corbin, 29, signed the most lucrative free-agent deal of any pitcher this winter, a six-year contract worth $140 million. A year earlier, 31-year-old Yu Darvish landed a six-year, $126 million contract from the Cubs. But Bauer intends to forgo the long-term guarantee, and when talking about a midcareer starting pitcher restricting his offers to a single season — especially when the pitcher wants to start on short rest throughout the season — there isn’t really a precedent to follow.

Would teams really be lining up to sign him? If Bauer were a free agent this winter, who would have forked over that sort of deal?

What is Max Scherzer worth to the Brewers last year? In Game 7 of the NLCS, they can say, “We win. We have the trump card.” What was (Justin) Verlander worth to Houston (in 2017)? “We win.”

The biggest thing is aligning everybody’s incentives. So if the team is incentivized to use me more and I am incentivized by pitching more and being successful, then I can make more next year. I make myself more valuable. If I’m pitching well, then that’s good for the team. It gives us a better chance at winning a World Series. Everybody is pulling in the same direction. It’s not very often you find opportunities where all the incentives align.

Complicating the matter: Would teams have to plan ahead for him? How many teams would actually permit him to pitch every fourth day? Would a team need a certain rotation structure already in place to be able to trot Bauer out to the mound 45 times? This doesn’t seem like some simple endeavor that any team could accommodate.

Look at the Braves. The Braves have a lot of young starters that are coming up. Teams have a certain plan for how they want to use their young starters. “We want to see them progress to 150 innings. We don’t want them to jump from 120 in the minor leagues to 200 in the big leagues.” They have all these progression plans.

Let’s say you have a fifth starter who’s a young up-and-coming prospect. He’s going to be really good next year, but it’s his first year in the league this year and you want to protect his innings a little bit. So you sign me. Someone that I’m close with helped figure it out for me — I would profile out, I would make 44-45 starts. Your second and third (starters) would still make 32 starts. And then your fourth and fifth starters would make 26-28, depending on if everyone stays healthy. Let’s say it’s 28 and you knock four starts of six innings off of your back-end guys. That seems to make them more valuable. They get an extra day of rest. Most guys pitch better on an extra day’s rest. It helps them recover, gives them a little break. Maybe they get skipped one start in the middle of the season to help control innings.

There are definitely certain areas that, it makes a lot of sense. Now, for a team that’s out of contention that’s looking to flip me for prospects, a lot of times those guys don’t have veteran starters. They have young talent that they’re trying to bring up and build. So it makes sense in that aspect. You protect some of your young talent. You have me — assuming you think I know what I’m talking about and have value in being able to help and share information, that seems like a good fit.

And then, like, on the Dodgers, let’s say you put an ace on the Dodgers. Are the Dodgers not going to pay when they’re in their window and trying to win a World Series? Maybe not. Maybe. But look at the Yankees last year. What is Max Scherzer on the Yankees, what does their team look like?

There’s also an off-the-field component to this. A team pursuing Bauer must believe in his potential clubhouse presence. Bauer has acknowledged in the past that it takes him a few years to grow accustomed to his surroundings. Perhaps his accomplishments from last season and his improved rapport with teammates and fellow players across the league have made that less of an issue should he jump from team to team following his tenure in Cleveland.

I know the culture and the level. When I went from high school to college, I had to learn — it took me a year to learn school, routine, baseball, games, all this different stuff. I know the level now. I’m comfortable at the big-league level. It’s a lot easier, because I know the culture. I also have gotten a lot better at talking to people. I think the media stuff with Momentum will help that, because I’m going to get my personality out there and people are not going to have these perceptions of me. When I went into college and I was quiet and didn’t say a whole lot and just wanted to work, it got taken however it got taken. But now that my personality is going to be out there and everyone is going to see what I’m like in general, I think that’ll be a nonissue.

There are some stars of the game that, even if we could do it all over again, we’d still miss. Justin Turner is now a multi-time all-star, but it’s hard to figure out how we could have predicted it when he was a smaller, light-hitting utility infielder who was waived once and was a minor league free agent another time.

The story is similar with Tigers and now Red Sox star J.D. Martinez, who also went through waivers before completely retooling his swing to make himself a power-hitting star.

But in studying players with multiple all-star appearances who didn’t make a Top 100, we found players we missed which provided lessons to be learned. Two of our biggest misses we wish we could do over are leaving Paul Golschmidt and Jose Altuve off our Top 100 lists.

PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT, 1B, DIAMONDBACKS/CARDINALS

Goldschmidt blitzed through the minors, hitting .317/.407/.620 in 315 games before he reached Arizona. An eighth-round pick in 2009, many scouts and BA remained a little skeptical when Goldschmidt hit .306/.435/.626 in the California League in 2010. That was Goldschmidt’s last year of Top 100 eligibility.

Lesson Learned: Yes, Goldschmidt was a later-round pick and he was a better athlete than our 2010 scouting reports indicated. But mostly it was his first base profile and his fast climb through the minors that kept him from the Top 100.

How We’ve Responded: Pete Alonso can thank Goldschmidt and Rhys Hoskins success for his Top 100 placement. Alonso isn’t the athlete that Goldschmidt is, but like Goldschmidt, he’s a productive college first baseman with a track record of hitting in the minors. Since Goldschmidt, we’ve been more inclined to give extremely productive first basemen some benefit of the doubt.



JOSE ALTUVE, 2B, HOUSTON ASTROS

In the minors, Altuve looked more like a spray-hitting top-of-the-order hitter than the middle-of-the-order MVP. But he was one of the best hitters in the minors, hitting .327/.386/.481 in five minor league seasons. Most impressively, he hit .389 between high Class A Lancaster and Double-A Corpus Christi in 2011 in his breakout season as a prospect.

Lesson Learned: Altuve’s extremely short stature led to some concerns about how much impact he’d make at the plate in the majors even though scouts thought his defense at second base was solid. Altuve was a high-average, low-power hitter with excellent defense early in his MLB career. But he later developed power as well, turning into a franchise player that has helped turn the Astros into one of the best teams in baseball.

How We’ve Responded: Dustin Pedroia started to put to rest the idea of height being an issue for hitters among scouts, and Altuve has followed behind to largely finish off the idea. If a short hitter doesn’t drive the ball at all, it can still be a concern, but short but stout hitters can rake, as Pedroia and Altuve have demonstrated.

Padres second baseman Luis Urias is a player on the current Top 100 who benefits from Altuve’s success, as is White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal.

some projection of team defenses; rates ours third behind KC and Mike Trout/Simmons led Angels

3) Indians (+22)

Francisco Lindor remains among the best defensive shortstops in the bigs, and there's even hope now that the right calf injury that has sabotaged his spring won't keep him off the Opening Day roster, while Jose Ramirez is a plus fielder no matter whether he's playing second base or third. Assuming that Leonys Martin is fully recovered from last year's frightening infection, he's been a strong center fielder, collecting +23 Outs Above Average even without playing full-time over the last three seasons. If anything, this is more about all-around competence, as no position is projected to be worse than average.

Here are the comments on the apparently marvelous assemblage in KC:
The Royals have three of the top 20 projected defense players in Billy Hamilton, Alex Gordon, and Brett Phillips, and if you're realizing that's potentially the starting Kansas City outfield -- at least if Phillips beats out Jorge Bonifacio and Brian Goodwin, and Jorge Soler is mostly at DH -- you're starting to understand how Moore is hoping that this group is going to be able to use the massive Kauffman Stadium outfield to help his underwhelming pitching staff.
Remember, this is a Royals team that's used to seeing the likes of Lorenzo Cain and Jarrod Dyson roaming the outfield, and this group might just live up to that legacy, in no small part because Hamilton is that good. Elsewhere, newly signed catcher Martin Maldonado may be an upgrade, or at least "not a downgrade," from Salvador Perez, and a full year of Adalberto Mondesi should be an improvement over longtime shortstop Alcides Escobar.

what, him worry? It looks Kipnis has caught a case of Lonnie Chisenhall disease. Should be a busy season for Max Moroff or Ryan Flaherty or an earlier than expected prometon for Yu Chang or Ernie Clement.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- For the second time this spring, Jason Kipnis has been temporarily shut down after experiencing some right calf tightness. But, just like earlier this month, Kipnis did not seem too worried.

Prior to Thursday afternoon’s 9-3 win over the Rockies at Goodyear Ballpark, Kipnis was penciled in at second base, hitting second in the lineup, but he was scratched about two hours before first pitch.

“It’s stuff I’d play through during the season, but they don’t want anyone doing that during spring,” Kipnis said. “It’s nothing I’m worried about. Otherwise, I’m doing pretty good.”

Kipnis went 1-for-3 in the Tribe’s 9-3 victory against the Brewers at home on Wednesday and said he felt fine during the entire game. The second baseman said he wears calf sleeves and has been doing treatment on it. But he came in feeling pretty sore on Thursday, so the team decided to keep him out of the lineup for precautionary purposes.

“You work out in a gym, especially guys in cold weather all offseason, and you come here and your body has to get readjusted to the different movements,” Kipnis said. “Sometimes you might put on a little muscle and the ligaments can’t hold that, so it gets a little strain or sore. But it’s almost like a season that’s abbreviated where the middle of Spring Training is kind of midseason where your body is really getting used to everything and kind of at its lowest, but you start building it up and working out.”

As of now, it appears as though Kipnis will be day to day and likely won't miss much time. He said there was no grab or pop that would’ve caused more concern. “Your eyes are always on Opening Day and the season that matters the most,” Kipnis said. “So anything that takes away from that, you kind of shut down and make sure that’s the most important part.”

OK, I think it may be time for the Tribe to start looking around for a better strength and conditioning coach. Maybe one that knows how to stretch out a calf or something.

Live Indians Q&A with T.J. Zuppe

2h ago
Following the Dolan interview, in which he very rationally explained the payroll situation, fans still seem to be directing all their vitriol and frustration at ownership. The Indians payroll is much more a product of their market and baseball's financial structure (i.e. no salary cap). It seems like fans have a really hard time grasping this reality. The Dolan's aren't perfect, but have fostered a stable and strong management structure that has found ways to win with 30-60% less money than the big market teams. I feel like the hatred directed towards the Dolan's is extremely misplaced, yet so pervasive. Have you and Zach ever thought about digging deeper into the realities and drivers of the Indians payroll situation?

3

T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Daniel B. More on that coming in the next few weeks. I will say I think multiple things can be true ... I think you can understand the realities of the Indians' situation, realize why they will never spend like a major market and appreciate their steady hand, empowering the people they hire to make good decisions. I also think you can be disappointed by the way this offseason went and not be pleased with them cutting $20 million in the middle of a strong competitive window.

4
John S.
2h ago
Stop drinking the Koolaid, Daniel. The Dolan's are master politicians and are not being truthful. While they show you the shiny object in one hand, the other hand clutches a knife.

2
Daniel B.
2h ago
As a fan it was extremely deflating to see them slash payroll when they have the best Indians rotation I'll ever see and two MVP candidates, but I can't direct that frustration at ownership if they were suffering huge losses the last two years. I think it's more rational to direct frustration at the inherent inequities of baseball's financial structure. The Indians are simply behaving like all other small market teams. To expect ownership to continuously absorb huge losses is asinine.

David R.
2h ago
@Daniel B. I can't find the article anymore because I have reached my article limit with Crains Cleveland but basically the article got very detailed into the Indians different revenue streams and discussed how the team ranks around 15th in revenue while also being around 15th in payroll. Basically, the Indians were spending right in line with their revenue in 2017 which was a level Dolan called unsustainable. Don't believe a word he says.

John S.
2h ago
If they are truly losing money, they should prove it to the fans. Show the numbers. There are a lot of people in the know that believe they are, at best, greatly exaggerating the financial situation, and others believe they are bald face liars. I believe #2.


T.J. Z.
1h ago
@John S. More transparency would be nice. I get why the organization believes people will be mad regardless, but selfishly, I'd like to know more about their spending. Right now, it's total guess-work and speculation, which leads to wild theories and fan unrest.

2
Michael J.
2h ago
In the spirit of the new proposed rule changes, if you had the power to change one rule (or implement a new one), what would it be?

I think I'd put the DH in the NL.

1

T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Michael J. Sure, watching pitchers hit is brutal. Their numbers are NSFW. Hate it. DH forever.

But my rule change is way more sinister. If a hitter breaks his bat in the middle of a plate appearance, he is not allowed to replace it. He must finish the sequence with whatever he's got left in his hands. *evil laugh*

4
Andrew L.
2h ago
Theory on the Dolan “Section C plane ride”:

I find it extremely hard to believe that the owner of a MLB team is so financially pinched that he can’t afford a better plane ride, (moreover a ride on a team plane, but I really don’t know how that works). Do you think it’s possible that he got that seat specifically to try and show Cleveland fans that the organization is really struggling. Kind of a “look at how much we’re struggling financially, I can’t even afford a better ticket”, to try and alleviate the pressures he’s getting about spending money? Basically, he got that seat with the intention to tell the press about it to make himself look less cheap and more of a dedicated owner.

I realize this definitely is a stretch, but a funny theory nonetheless.

3

T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Andrew L. I love conspiracy theories. The crazier the better. That said, I've seen Paul take similar flights for years. Maybe he just really likes the stale pretzels they serve us.

1
David R.
2h ago
Hey T.J.

Any update on you guys getting a sit down with Dolan? I read the fluff piece written by Anthony and don't think we got any serious answers. I 100% agree with Andrew that the C middle seat was a ploy for the story and find it extremely hard to believe the Dolans have lost money almost every year. It would be nice to see some harder questions answered.

1

T.J. Z.
2h ago
@David R. Yes, more on that coming in the next few weeks.

2
Mark M.
2h ago
Is Mercado making squad since Joyce not making opening day roster?


T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Mark M. I still think the most likely scenario is he opens the year at Columbus, but he's been extremely impressive. I have more on his offseason swing changes coming in the next few days. He put in a ton of work, which is accented when that translates into performance.

2
Jeff W.
1h ago
Should I be as excited as I think I am about watching Bieber this year? Spring training is so difficult because I hate getting my hopes up on numbers/stats.


T.J. Z.
1h ago
@Jeff W. Yeah, but knowing certain things can make it worthwhile. For Bieber, it's watching how hitters react to his changeup and what that does to his other pitches. I think he's going to take a jump similar to the one Clevinger took in 2017.

2
Tony W.
2h ago
Any news on what the catching split will be like?

PS love the Godcast. Was disappointed that you guys kind of forgot about him in the last episode when talking about the outfield. I've got high hopes for his season.

1

T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Tony W. No official split assessment has ever been given, but I think it's safe to assume it will be something like 65-35 or even 70-30 in favor of Perez. Then, they will adjust off of that based on performance.

Tony W.
2h ago
Meant to say Allen in my post but instead typed "him", keeping it mysterious.

David A.
2h ago
What impact do you think having Carlos Santana back will have on team morale and in the clubhouse?


T.J. Z.
2h ago
@David A. Santana absolutely loves being here and is super comfortable. I don't know that you can just expect that means it will be reflected in his numbers, but if he's typical Carlos Santana, that would mean the world to this offense.

1
Quincy W.
1h ago
Do you think Jon Edwards has a bullpen spot locked down?


T.J. Z.
1h ago
@Quincy W. 10 punchies in 6 1/3 innings. 0 runs. I'd say that's pretty damn close to a lock.

1
Doug M.
1h ago
How many non-roster guys do you think will make the 25 man roster?


T.J. Z.
1h ago
@Doug M. Hmmm, prob something like 4-5 at most?

Doug M.
1h ago
That seems like a lot to have to take off of the 40 man roster


T.J. Z.
1h ago
@Doug M. Yeah. Which is why I don't think it would go any higher. Safer bet is probably something like 3. Going over the 40, they could probably make some tweaks. Maybe Salazar to the 60. A few guys are DFA candidates. It will make for an interesting final week, for sure.

1
Doug M.
1h ago
Who wins the utility infield role?


T.J. Z.
1h ago
@Doug M. My guess is Moroff. I think Ryan Flaherty's fate is tied to Lindor's status.

1
Quincy W.
1h ago
Which wild outcome would surprise you more - Jake Bauers hits 30 homers or Shane Bieber wins 18 games?


T.J. Z.
1h ago
@Quincy W. I don't care much for wins, but I'll say Bauers hitting 30 would be more surprising. Wouldn't shock me, however, if he slugged 20 homers and stole 20 bases.

1
Quincy W.
1h ago
@T.J. Z. Wins aren't my marker of a pitcher's success either, just curious. Thanks

Patrick P.
2h ago
Please don’t tell me Barnes will make the team as a utility guy. Also agree with you on naquin, time to put up or shut up.


T.J. Z.
1h ago
@Patrick P. Well, only because you said please.

1
Mark J.
1h ago
How long do you think Tito will allow Perez to remain the preferred catcher while maintaining a sub 0.150 batting average, I'm concerned he will lean on his veteran loyalty despite perez's continual lackluster batting. I hope for the best for Perez, I'm just a worrier...


T.J. Z.
1h ago
@Mark J. Some of that depends on Plawecki, too. If neither guy is hitting, they'll certainly stick with the elite defender. And, of course, if Haase starts hitting bombs at Triple-A, that will make things interesting, too.

1
Tom R.
2h ago
What are people around the clubhouse saying about Hanley? Are they encouraged by his swing and progress so far?


T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Tom R. More than his spring results, they wanted to get an up-close-and-personal look at how he looks physically, if he's in good enough playing shape, and maybe most important, they wanted to assess his bat speed. They seem to be pleased by what they've seen so far.

1
Alex K.
2h ago
Do you think the front office would have approached the offseason differently if they knew they wouldn't be able to get someone in August? I don't think their strategy was bad to save their limited funds and wait and see what upgrades are available in the summer, but now with the rule change it seems like fewer teams will be sellers.

1

T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Alex K. I don't think so. I'm not sure that rule is ideal considering how well they've found helpful pieces in August in years past, but it seems the salary mandate from above would have been there regardless.

Quincy W.
2h ago
Two questions - any word from the Indians on how they feel about Trayce Thompson? Not reading a lot into Spring Training results, but right-handed outfielders are a need, of course.

Your best guess: the opening day roster features 8 relievers OR 5 outfielders?


T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Quincy W. I think they'll go with five outfielders. That's my guess. Thompson is certainly among those with a chance at grabbing one of those spots. They seem to really like him, raving about his tools and noting that he finally appears to be healthy.

1
Justin L.
2h ago
Would guess you're saving it for an article or the Godcast, but thoughts on Kluber possibly not starting the season opener? More symbolic than anything else and everyone will make it a bigger deal than the team, right?

1

T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Justin L. I think they are going to be extremely mindful of Kluber and Carrasco's workload at the start of the season. I think that's why they wanted to put Bauer between them, because they know he can throw 150 pitches on opening day if they let him. So, the only thing I read into it, for now, is that they're trying to position that pair to be stronger in the second half and down the stretch, and limiting them early may be a way to do that.

Nathaniel W.
2h ago
Hi T.J. - We talk a lot about the state of the team currently which I believe everyone understands. Can you give your take on the state of the organization and how, if at all, they are set-up for success over the longer term with their prospects and controlled contracts?


T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Nathaniel W. Their lower minors are loaded. I don't think enough has been said about the job they've done in recent years of acquiring some incredible talent that is still a few years away. They're in a weird spot. I think we all can agree they needed to add some youthful pieces. Their rotation is beyond masterful. But I'm not sure enough has been done this offseason to make the most of the remaining years of Lindor. The organization certainly appears to be positioned for some sustained success, so this is a complicated topic that probably needs way more detail than I can provide in here.

1
Nathaniel W.
2h ago
@T.J. Z. Thanks for the details. I agree with not enough has been said about what the organization has been able to do for the lower levels. That could have to do with exactly your point about maximizing Lindor's time. No one wants the 'we will be good in 4 years' comment when we have multiple superstars, but continued success only proves to heighten enthusiasm. Thanks again.

Reston A.
2h ago
Do you think this spring has shown that the Indians have a better farm system than we thought?


T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Reston A. Well, the best parts of the Indians farm system are the lower levels. I will say I've been far more impressed by Daniel Johnson and Oscar Mercado than I ever planned to be, and I think both will be extremely helpful pieces at some point in the coming years.

Doug M.
2h ago
Mercado or Thompson? Joyce is out.

Doug M.
2h ago
Assuming 5 outfielders


T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Doug M. Between those two? I'd say Thompson, just because I'm sure they want Mercado to get regular at-bats to continue refining his offseason adjustments. But, if he doesn't make it, I think Mercado will be up impacting the major league club soon. They've come away extremely impressed.

T L.
2h ago
Any thoughts on whether the Indians are exploring trade possibilities to try to acquire Nick Williams or Aaron Altherr from the Phillies as possible OF additions, now that the Phillies have surplus OFs?


T.J. Z.
2h ago
@T L. Sure, teams keep a close eye on rosters at the end of spring for that sort of thing. I bet they'll keep a close eye on relievers that could become available, too. Someone's roster crunch can be somebody else's treasure.

Elizabeth A.
2h ago
Where does Adam Plutko stand? Will they keep him stretched out as a starter at AAA or use him as a reliever if needed out of the big league bullpen?


T.J. Z.
1h ago
@Elizabeth A. Probably join the guys getting stretched out at Triple-A. Rodriguez and Hu are also getting stretched out. Plutko is first up in their next line of starers.

Brett N.
2h ago
How surprised are you when you still see people complaining that Athletic articles aren’t free? I am very happy for you to take my money for the work you’re doing. But please be the voice of reason with your fellow beat writers and their obsession with chain restaurants whose WAR is probably around -0.3


T.J. Z.
1h ago
@Brett N. Ha, happy to have you as a subscriber. As for food, I'm a big believer in love what you love and don't let anyone else tell you how to feel.

Cody K.
2h ago
Do you have a feeling the ownership is a little bit nervous with obj coming to Cleveland that the fans will care less about the Indians and pretty much care all about the browns?

Adam B.
2h ago
Pretty sure most people in CLE already cared about the Browns more, even when they've been terrible for so long.


T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Cody K. No, because they should have already felt that nervousness long before the Browns ever made that trade. If there is one thing this organization has proven over the years, good or bad, they are not reactionary.

Doug M.
2h ago
If Bauer's gets the left field job and Leonys Martin starts in center, will the only platoon be in right field?

William H.
2h ago
Curious too how many reps Bauers is getting in the outfield and what his potential is there?

Doug M.
2h ago
If Hanley Ramirez makes the team Bauers will be in left for sure.


T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Doug M. In that scenario, probably, at least at the start of the season. Martin won't be part of a strict platoon, but he's also been much better against righties. I wouldn't be surprised if he sits against tougher lefties.

Scott T.
2h ago
Is the front office and manager surprised at how badly Luplow has struggled? In your opinion is he looking at starting at AAA?


T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Scott T. It's tough. Spring stats, good and bad, are so worthless, but it's all we've got. I don't think they plan on forming their entire opinion on 10-20 spring games. That said, I think it's opened the door for someone like Trayce Thomson or Oscar Mercado to have a shot at the OD roster.

Adam T.
1h ago
We're never going to see an effective Danny Salazar again, are we? The Indians silence on him this spring is deafening.


T.J. Z.
1h ago
@Adam T. They really don't care if he pitches at any point in the first couple of months. If he comes back in the second half and gives them some dominant relief innings, they'll be more than pleased. But ... we'll see.

Jeff M.
1h ago
I’ve said for a year that I never expect Danny to see the MLB field with the Indians again. I hate it

Jason S.
2h ago
Do players or coaches care about the outcome of spring games? Is there any competitiveness at all?


T.J. Z.
2h ago
@Jason S. As in winning and losing? Not really. But you better believe the fringe guys fighting for a roster spot care a lot about how they perform.

Huddle up! Browns QB Mayfield takes turn as Brewers 1B coach

By CARRIE MUSKAT

15 minutes ago

PHOENIX (AP) — Baker Mayfield wasn’t going to pass up this opportunity.

Fully aware the Milwaukee Brewers wanted to protect him, Mayfield knew he wouldn’t get into a spring training game during his two-day stay with the NL Central champions. But they let the Cleveland Browns quarterback get real close — a surprise stint as the first base coach for three innings Saturday.

As the split-squad Brewers came to bat in the bottom of the fourth, that’s when third base coach Eddie Sedar suddenly handed Mayfield a batting helmet and stop watch and told him to take over.

Did his baseball pals give him any advice?

“Pay attention,” Mayfield related. “Watch out for guys ripping one down the line.”

Mayfield is friends with Christian Yelich and joined the NL MVP and the Brewers on Friday. The 2017 Heisman Trophy winner took batting practice and showed off his arm strength by throwing passes to some of the team’s staff.

“I thought he did great,” Yelich said of Mayfield’s BP session. “It was a lot of fun. He’s got a pretty good swing.”

As the first base coach, Mayfield deftly handled a foul ball by Milwaukee’s Travis Shaw that ricocheted off the Brewers dugout in the fourth. But Mayfield bobbled a foul carom off the bat of Yelich in the sixth.

Mayfield quickly learned not to get too comfortable in the coach’s box.

“I don’t know why they have it painted right there,” Mayfield said. “It’s not regulation size and it’s too close. I’m looking over at Eddie at third base and he’s in the outfield.”

Mike Moustakas, though, might want Mayfield to hang around some more. The Brewers star hit a ball into the gap in right-center field in the fourth and Mayfield waved him on, pumping his arm as Moustakas reached second safely on the double.

In the sixth, Mayfield missed a chance to give Moustakas a high-five after the infielder hit a two-run home run. Mayfield then went to the Brewers dugout and leaned over the railing to celebrate.

“I run everything out until I see it go out so it’s hard for me to hit the first base coach on a high-five,” Moustakas said. “I wish I would’ve now. I left him hanging.”

Said Mayfield, proudly: “All I know is Malibu Mike was 2 for 2 when I was coaching first base.”

That was about as close as Mayfield got to a hit.

“He’s a professional athlete,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “He looks like a ballplayer and he’s played plenty of baseball. We played a game (on Friday) in batting practice, a points game, and he was in it until the final round. He acquitted himself very well defensively, offensively for sure. And in the clubhouse. He did a nice job.”

The Brewers outfitted him perfectly with a No. 6 Brewers jersey. Someone updated it on Saturday with white tape saying “16 percent body fat.”

“I didn’t put that there,” Yelich said.

Mayfield and Yelich met at a gym in Westlake Village, California, when the quarterback was prepping for the NFL combine and 2018 draft. Mayfield did play third base at Oklahoma, but he’s better known for leading the Sooners to the College Football Playoff semifinals twice in three years.

“He’s a great athlete and has a little bit of a baseball background,” Yelich said. “I’ve seen him swing before — I wasn’t too surprised that he did well.”

Shaw, an Ohio native, likes Mayfield for what he’s done on the football field.

“I’m a big Browns fan,” Shaw said. “I’ve suffered long enough.”

Mayfield led the Browns to a 7-8-1 record last season after they went 0-16 the year before.

The Rockies’ starting pitcher, incidentally, was Jon Gray, who also attended Oklahoma. Mayfield imagined how it might’ve been to face him in the batter’s box.

“It would’ve been (fun) — OU on OU,” Mayfield said. “I’ve never met him. They have his picture all over campus.”

Said Gray: “I love the player he is. He’s a favorite player of all the members of my family.”

Shaw wanted to make sure they protected the NFL star.

“I think he wanted to (get in a game), but he’s the quarterback,” Shaw said. “He’s just a cool dude. That’s my team so I’m a big fan.”

Singer Garth Brooks and comedian Will Ferrell both have had token appearances in spring training games but they were doing so to help charities. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who played two seasons in the minors with Colorado, hit an exhibition game for the New York Yankees.

“There’s a dangerous precedent if somebody brings their friend in and puts him in a game,” Counsell said. “I know he’s Baker Mayfield, but one of the players is basically bringing his friend in and he gets to play in the game. (Mayfield) is here to have fun.”

Mayfield did just that.

“I’ve always loved baseball, dreamed of playing it professionally and now I’m part of the Brewers,” Mayfield said. “I love it.”

Did he think he might get an at-bat?

“I don’t think the Browns would be very happy about that,” Mayfield said.

As long as Shaw got Mayfield’s autograph on his Browns helmet, he’s good.

“I’m going to get him to sign it before he leaves,” Shaw said.

Cleveland Indians Arizona Scribbles: Mike Clevinger’s memories, Oscar Mercado’s hot bat – Terry Pluto


Mike Clevinger pitched at the training complex in Tempe, where it brought back memories of his comeback from arm surgery. (Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer)


By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

TEMPE, Arizona – Scribbles in my Cleveland Indians notebook as they beat the Angels, 7-2:

1. The Tribe’s Mike Clevinger was pitching against the Angels, the team that picked him in the fourth round (135th) in the 2011 draft. He was mostly a relief pitcher at Seminole Community College in Sanford, Florida. A year later, Clevinger had Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery.

2. Clevinger found himself thinking about all that as the Tribe faced the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. He looked good, allowing two runs (one earned) in four innings, fanning four.

3. “I remember almost living at this complex recovering from Tommy John (surgery),” Clevinger said after his outing. “When the Indians traded for me, I was only throwing 88-to-93 mph. And I had no idea what I was doing.”

4. In 2014, Clevinger had a 1-3 record with a 5.37 ERA at Class A Island Empire when the Indians traded for him, sending Vinnie Pestano to the Angels. Pestano was also dealing with arm issues.

5. At the time of the trade, it was a yawner for Tribe fans. Clevinger seemed a galaxy away from the big leagues. He was 23 and still in Class A. The Indians liked his strong arm and figured they could try him in the bullpen if he failed as a starter.

6. In 2015, Clevinger opened the season at Class AA Akron, where he was 9-8 with a 2.73 ERA for the Rubber Ducks. Suddenly, he was on the Tribe’s top 20 prospect list and heading eventually to Cleveland.

7. Now 28 with long flowing hair and a 95 mph fastball, Clevinger is rated among baseball’s top 100 players by ESPN. He has a career 28-17 record and 3.35 ERA for the Tribe since arriving in the majors in 2016.

8. “It’s been a wild turn.” said Clevinger. “I got drafted when I was 21. I got a little signing bonus, then I got dumb. Then I got hurt. Then it hit me that if I was ever doing anything in this game it was going to take a lot more hard work and dedication.”

9. Pestano pitched only 21-1/3 big league innings after the Indians traded for him. His last appearance in the majors was with the Angels in 2015. He pitched with some independent pro league teams in 2016 and 2017. Pestano had arm problems and the Indians believe he never was the same after pitching in the 2013 Spring Baseball Classic.

10. Oscar Mercado doubled in a run with a sharp grounder down the third base line. He also had another hit, raising his spring average to .410. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder glides as he runs, being one of those fluid, natural athletes.

11. He also overran a ground ball single to center, then made a poor throw to home plate. This was one of the few mistakes he’s made this spring. Manager Terry Francona has praised him several times.

12. I doubt the 24-year-old Mercado will open with the team. The Indians will want him to play regularly to open the season in Class AAA, unless something happens. But if he stays hot, and if Jordan Luplow (batting .107) continues to struggle, maybe Mercado makes the team as a right-handed hitting outfielder.

13. It’s possible the Tribe could keep 28-year-old Trayce Thompson as a back-up right-handed hitting outfielder. He’s also had a strong spring, batting .321 . All this can change if the Indians sign outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, as they have been talking to him. Gonzalez batted .276 (.796 OPS) with 16 HR and 64 RBI for Colorado last season.

14. Good bullpen news: Alex Wilson (2.45 ERA), Jon Edwards (0.00 ERA) and Adam Cimber (1.23 ERA) all threw scoreless innings. Francona is looking for his version of the 2017 Bryan Shaw from someone in that group, a right-hander who can pitch a lot in the seventh and eighth innings.

15. Cody Allen has a 2.57 ERA in seven innings with the Angels. The former Tribe closer is expected to have that same job with his new team.

Cleveland Indians 2019 season preview: Ownership has limited Cleveland's potential to rock

The Indians are expected to win another divisional crown, but are they a serious World Series contender?

The Cleveland Indians are expected to claim their fourth American League Central title in a row this season, en route to what should be a seventh consecutive winning campaign. Add in All-Star Game hosting duties, and this should be a fun season in Cleveland -- one that could, theoretically, culminate in the franchise's first World Series victory since 1948.

Unfortunately, it won't be as fun as it could be. Cleveland is coming off one of the sport's most disappointing offseasons. There's no doubt the team remains the favorite in the Central, but its quarter-measures have left reduced chances at winning the pennant.

Probable lineup

Leonys Martin, CF
Jason Kipnis, 2B
Jose Ramirez, 3B
Carlos Santana, DH
Jake Bauers, 1B
Tyler Naquin, RF
Kevin Plawecki, C
Matt Joyce, LF
Eric Stamets, SS

Bench:

Roberto Perez, C
Max Moroff, UTL
Jordan Luplow, OF
Greg Allen, OF

The glaring omission here is shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is expected to miss the beginning of the season due to a strained calf. With him, Cleveland has two MVP-caliber performers, in him and Ramirez. This group isn't inspiring without either. Cleveland figures to run a series of platoons throughout the season, particularly in the outfield. Santana returned as part of a cash-swap with the Seattle Mariners involving Edwin Encarnacion. Bauers is another trade addition -- one who could see action at first base and in the corner outfield. He has a good eye but the Rays could never help him tap into his full power potential. Keep an eye on the catching situation. Perez is a good defender and horrendous hitter; Plawecki is injury-prone, yet has a 97 OPS+ over the last two seasons. One non-roster invitee not referenced above who could break camp with the club: Hanley Ramirez.

Probable rotation

Corey Kluber, RHP
Carlos Carrasco, RHP
Trevor Bauer, RHP
Mike Clevinger, RHP
Shane Bieber, RHP

Here's the strength of this team. Kluber, Carrasco, and Bauer could each conceivably challenge for the Cy Young Award. Clevinger, meanwhile, has a big arm and demonstrated last season he can be an above-average workhorse. Cleveland has floated Bieber in trade talks, but his pitchability and poise gives him the chance to be a fixture in a big-league rotation. Top prospect Triston McKenzie could debut before the season ends. Adam Plutko, Cody Anderson, Danny Salazar and Chih-Wei Hu could get the nod here and there as need be, too.

Probable bullpen

Closer: Brad Hand, LHP
Setup: Adam Cimber, RHP; Tyler Clippard, RHP
Middle: Jon Edwards, RHP; Alex Wilson, RHP
LOOGY: Oliver Perez, LHP
Long: Dan Otero, RHP

Say this if nothing else, Cleveland has a lot of options to sort through in its bullpen. Hand is, by far, the best of this bunch. Wilson and Clippard are coming off solid seasons, though neither profiles as a true late-inning reliever anymore -- Wilson lives on the ground, Clippard through the air. Nick Wittgren, Nick Goody, James Hoyt, and Justin Grimm each have previous big-league experience and could find themselves in the fold. Prospects Nick Sandlin and James Karinchak are also likely to join the ranks before the season ends.

A cold winter

To be clear: Cleveland didn't bottom out. The team's Opening Day payroll is slated to be around $116 million, higher than many small-market teams. Still, it's a reduction from the past two seasons, down about $18 million from the end of last season -- when the franchise finished the year with the 16th-highest payroll in baseball. That dip comes at a time when the extra coin could've helped.

Instead Cleveland's ownership forced the front office to trade starting backstop Yan Gomes, weigh dealing a starting pitcher, and permit a number of veteran free agents (Josh Donaldson, Michael Brantley, Andrew Miller, and Cody Allen) to leave to greener pastures. Despite a shaky outfield and bullpen, Cleveland didn't sign a single free agent to a big-league contract.

You can argue Cleveland stretched the past two seasons and should be commended for that, but why stop now? Trevor Bauer is a free agent after 2020; Corey Kluber and Francisco Lindor are after 2021. Odds are, at least one of the three will be dealt before they're allowed to walk. This season, then, could be the last chance Cleveland has at maximizing this core -- after the winter, you can't say the team is doing everything it can in order to make the most of it.

Easy favorite

Despite everything said above, Cleveland remains the favorite in the Central -- and by a safe margin. FanGraphs has Cleveland down for 92 wins, or 10 better than the Twins. Baseball Prospectus has Cleveland in at 96 wins, 14 more than the Twins. Injuries and over/underperformance can and will change that, but it's clear the projection systems don't think there's going to be much of a race in the Central.

Where things fall apart for Cleveland is envisioning this squad trying to beat two of the Yankees, Red Sox, and Astros in order to earn entrance into the World Series. Anything can happen in five to seven games, but it's a hard sell.

Mystery boxes

The funny thing about Cleveland's offseason is that it's easy to see some of the cheap gambles paying dividends. We mentioned Wilson and Clippard in the bullpen section, but let's roll through some of the hitters.

***Plawecki has proven he can hit. If he can stay healthy, and perhaps work on his receiving, he should spend most of the season as the primary backstop.

***Ball-tracking metrics suggest Joyce had a better season last year than his raw numbers suggest. He's always hit right-handed pitching, and manager Terry Francona is skilled at running a platoon. Bet on a bounce-back.

***Cleveland is the best team in the majors at altering hitters' launch angles. Luplow and Bauers, then, could tap into more of their raw pop. At minimum, Luplow should prove to be an improvement over Brandon Guyer. Bauers could be the long-term answer at first base or DH. (If not, Cleveland could give time to Bobby Bradley. who has maximized his power, albeit with ample issues of his own.)

***Ramirez disappeared last season after being released by the Red Sox. As with Joyce, his ball-tracking metrics were much better than his numbers. Ramirez even posted a new personal-high in exit velocity, in large part by leading the majors in miles per hour on groundballs. Who knows if he'll offer anything.

And so on. Cleveland has a brilliant front office and has shown the ability to get the most from role players, which bodes well for at least one or two of the above to outpace expectations. That doesn't excuse ownership cheaping out completely -- imagine if this team had signed Yasmani Grandal, or had retained Donaldson, or ... -- but it should make the club look better in the long run than it looks right now.

Question marks

Hey, if we're going to highlight what could go better-than-expected with the Cleveland lineup, it's only fair to highlight some potential risks, too.

***Kipnis looked better in the second half last season, but the larger sample over the last two years suggests he might be a well-below-average hitter now. Generally, players don't pull out of multi-year slumps as they're entering their age-32 season. We hope he does, for his sake.

***Martin hasn't played in a regular season game since a life-threatening bacterial infection ended his 2018 season in August. Again, we hope he's back to normal, but it's understandable if he's not as sharp as hoped.

***Naquin actually has a 105 OPS+ in his nearly 600 career big-league plate appearances. He's been a negative over the last two seasons, however, and there's sufficient reason to expect those career marks to dip further.

***Remember all those guys we mentioned as mystery boxes who could overperform? Yeah, there's also a chance they underperform. This lineup, as constructed, is going to have serious boom-or-bust potential.

Hope for the future?

Cleveland doesn't have a great farm system. There aren't many youngsters coming up who will make sizable impacts on this season. Still, Cleveland has a number of interesting prospects who could see their stocks improve greatly over the coming year. Some names to keep an eye on: righty Luis Oviedo, outfielder George Valera, third baseman Nolan Jones, lefty Sam Hentges, and righty Ethan Hankins.

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The Cleveland Indians have a well-known need for outfield help. On Saturday, they added a three-time All-Star to the depth chart, agreeing to terms with Carlos Gonzalez on a minor-league deal. Gonzalez will make $2 million if he makes the club.

Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez does indeed have a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians, sources tell ESPN. It will pay him $2 million if he makes the major league roster, which, with the Indians’ current outfield, is very likely.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 16, 2019
The 33-year-old Gonzalez had spent the past 10 seasons with the Colorado Rockies. During that time, he won three Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards. More recently, Gonzalez has struggled to find his stroke. The past three seasons have seen him post a 99 OPS+ and average 18 homers per campaign.

To be fair to Gonzalez, it's likely Cleveland will platoon him which should result in better overall numbers since he's a far superior hitter against right-handed pitching. Consider that he hasn't posted an .800 OPS against lefties since 2013; meanwhile, he's posted an OPS of .826 or better against righties in each of the past four seasons.

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