Last year Perez ranked near the bottom of every defensive category. I posted them here. Amazing turnaround.

Pretty safe to say, and pretty much all agree, that regular playing time can change things dramatically.

Team knew what they were doing trading Gomes. They got to play Perez, arguably now (numbers back it) the best defensive catcher in baseball), saving the Gomes money and get back nice young pieces too!

Yasiel Puig, Orville Redenbacher and the Indians’ outfield plans

Zack Meisel 7h ago 20

CLEVELAND — Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff were sitting in Terry Francona’s office the night of July 30, watching what seemed like Quentin Tarantino’s spin on an ordinary trade deadline.

As the Indians, Padres and Reds placed the finishing touches on their three-team deal, the mood in the manager’s office at Progressive Field morphed from gratified to horrified.

The Indians’ brain trust watched, helplessly, as Yasiel Puig, one of the pieces headed their way, launched himself into the middle of another melee between the Reds and Pirates. Details of the deal were simultaneously trickling out into the public sphere, and one of the headlining players was earning a suspension in real time.

“We were sitting in Tito’s office watching the brawl,” Antonetti said.

“Eating popcorn,” Chernoff added.

“Choking on popcorn,” Antonetti quipped.

When Puig arrived in Cleveland with a freshly dyed red mohawk, Francona requested the two most proficient months of the 28-year-old’s career. Puig and Franmil Reyes helped to balance the Indians’ lefty-leaning lineup, but Reyes was the jewel of the trade for Cleveland; he’s under team control through the 2024 season. It always seemed as though Puig was strictly a rental.

That’s far more than likely still the case.

Isn’t that right, team president?

“I have no idea,” Antonetti said. “We wouldn’t close the doors on anything. And Yasiel did a really good job in his time with us. We’d be open to a variety of things. But where that leads, I’ve got no idea.”

Puig was worth 1.2 fWAR last season, a tick higher than Mike Freeman’s value. Consider Puig’s slash line the last five years:

2015: .255/.322/.436
2016: .263/.323/.416
2017: .263/.346/.487
2018: .267/.327/.494
2019: .267/.327/.458

He’s been incredibly consistent, just … not incredible. In 2019, he posted a 101 wRC+ and a 100 OPS+, which, in simpler terms, indicates he was essentially a league-average hitter.

What is that worth on the icy, unforgiving open market? Other impending free-agent corner outfielders include: Nicholas Castellanos, Marcell Ozuna, Brett Gardner, Alex Gordon, Corey Dickerson, Avisail Garcia and, if the Angels decline his $14 million option, Kole Calhoun. It’s not an impressive group.

Puig certainly carries some value. He can hit. He can run. His arm strength can strike fear into any pensive baserunner. But he’s five years removed from his last season with 3+ WAR. He produced 2.9 WAR in 2017, but since then, his walk rate has tumbled 4 percent, his strikeout rate has increased 4 percent and his power has dipped.

He probably isn’t going to receive that five-year, $100 million pact for which he once seemed destined. He definitely isn’t earning anything remotely close to that from the Indians, if anything at all. Their first priority is likely a stopgap solution at second or third base.

In 49 games with Cleveland, Puig posted a .297/.377/.423 slash line. He hit 22 home runs with the Reds, but he socked only two home runs in 207 plate appearances with the Indians, which was perplexing — even to him. When José Ramírez slugged a homer on each of his first two swings Sept. 24 after being sidelined for a month, Puig said: “I couldn’t believe it, because we’ve been playing for a month and (I haven’t) hit a home run and he’s coming in hitting two homers, one (from) the left side and one (from) the right side.” He did collect 15 doubles and three outfield assists, while basically begging runners for a chance to add to that total.

“We obviously all saw the moments on the field where he was a catalyst for us,” Antonetti said, “and there were a couple of those moments where it left you scratching your head. On balance, he did a great job of coming into our team and making an immediate contribution and I think it really speaks to, and you guys saw it, the culture of our clubhouse and some of the leaders we have on our team and how they embraced him and how they helped him fit in and helped them find a way to contribute in a constructive way.”

Puig provided plenty of entertainment, even if it kept his coaches’ blood pressure at unsafe levels. He waved at the Twins’ defenders as he dashed around the bases, his way of telling them not to bother attempting to throw him out. He hesitated before heaving the ball back to the infield, trying to tempt runners into a futile, 90-foot sprint. He twirled his bat, crouched to the ground to take a pitch, hugged third base after a head-first slide and startled others in the clubhouse with his postgame screams.

“I think we knew coming in that at times there would be times during a game where his emotions might get the best of him,” Francona said. “Fortunately, I mean, there have been no altercations or anything like that. He’s made a couple throws that were ill-advised.

“I mean it when I say I thoroughly enjoy him. He’s an easy guy to like.”

But is there a spot for him? Let’s say Oscar Mercado has nailed down center field duties for 2020. The Indians spent much of their exit interview with Reyes last week discussing their plan for him to shift to the outfield next year.

“I don’t think he’s ever going to be the fleetest of foot. My goodness, he’s a big man,” Francona said. “But if you’re consistent and you make the average play and you don’t hurt your ballclub out there, sometimes that’s good enough — because guys that hit 40 home runs don’t grow on trees.”

Now, that doesn’t mean it’s written in Sharpie that Reyes will start 162 games in right field. Jordan Luplow will start in one of the corners against every left-handed starter, and Francona hinted that he wanted to grant Luplow more opportunities to prove he can hit righties, too. The Indians also have Greg Allen, Daniel Johnson, Bradley Zimmer, Jake Bauers and Ka’ai Tom potentially in the mix. Assuming the Indians tender him a contract, Tyler Naquin should return from knee surgery at some point before summer arrives.

Those aren’t necessarily more effective options than Puig would be, but they are options, and this isn’t a club that tends to spend unnecessarily (unless Danny Salazar is involved).

Puig raved about the rapport he built with Ramírez, Reyes and Francisco Lindor. He joked around with Mercado and Roberto Pérez. He praised Carlos Santana for his guidance, especially after Puig failed to run out a ground ball in Minneapolis in September. When asked what his priorities were when pursuing a team this winter, Puig said: “I want to look for some team that has the opportunity to go to the playoffs.”

Puig said he was energized by the trade, since he leaped from a non-contender to the thick of a postseason push. The Indians fell short, though. Was it Puig’s only shot at working in Cleveland in October, or will he be back for more?

“I’d love to,” he said. “I did the best I can here and now (we’ll) see what’s going to happen. … If I can stay here, that’s fine. I’ve loved to play with this team the last two months.”

He'd have to take something ridiculous like 1 year at $5 million.

No way he does that and I wouldn't blame him. The Tribe doesn't need him enough to offer more.

And they have much more pressing priorities. To repeat the article:

(In addition to Luplow) The Indians also have Greg Allen, Daniel Johnson, Bradley Zimmer, Jake Bauers and Ka’ai Tom potentially in the mix. Assuming the Indians tender him a contract, Tyler Naquin should return from knee surgery at some point before summer arrives.

Assuming Mercado is full time center field, that list is for corner outfield only!

Who will be the airheads, this year, that believe their agents or their own inflated images of themselves and turn down offers but eventually have to settle for much less than they were originally offered.

Love those stories.

The past 2 offseasons the market has drastically changed - especially for veteran position players.

Carlos Santana cashed in JUST before this happened. Those types of contracts to solid veteran hitters are now out.

Then he got to come back too.

It's good to be Carlos.

2015: .255/.322/.436
2016: .263/.323/.416
2017: .263/.346/.487
2018: .267/.327/.494
2019: .267/.327/.458

He’s been incredibly consistent, just … not incredible. In 2019, he posted a 101 wRC+ and a 100 OPS+, which, in simpler terms, indicates he was essentially a league-average hitter.

So why does he have this reputation as being a big deal? Only two years OPS above 800 and his highest 833. Who needs him?

Naquin's OPS 792 beats Puig's and is a good fielder and far cheaper.
Reyes was 822 and has a much scarier bat.

Sizing up the Indians’ 2020 payroll: Is there cash to spend, and if so, how should they spend it?


By Zack Meisel 4h ago 31
CLEVELAND — There are two questions clouding the details contained in the Indians’ offseason blueprint.

1. Will the change in ownership structure, with John Sherman leaving to take over in Kansas City, have any ramifications on the Indians’ payroll?

“I have no expectation that it will change the way we operate at all,” Chris Antonetti said. “That’s what Paul (Dolan) has communicated to us.”

2. Will there be trimming of the payroll this winter, similar to what unfolded last offseason?

“We’re not to the point yet where we’re focusing on what our payroll will be,” Antonetti said. “We have to work through the offseason to get a sense of what that will look like. I don’t think it will change the way we build our roster. We’ve been pretty consistent in how we think about building our team and that will start with players that we acquire and develop and I think when you look at our season this year and our success, we expected there to be a period of transition and we tried to patch it through with some veteran guys but we actually got better when we transitioned young players to our roster.”

OK, then. That clears up … not much. Obviously, this won’t be a team in hot pursuit of premier free agents Gerrit Cole or Anthony Rendon. And, really, there aren’t a ton of glaring holes on the roster. But what can we expect this winter?

Let’s examine what the payroll looks like at the moment, if the team might have any financial wiggle room and how it might best use any loose change upon which it stumbles.

Already on the books
Carlos Santana: $16.83 million
The Mariners will pay the other $4 million of Santana’s salary. His contract includes a $17.5 million club option for 2021.

Carlos Carrasco: $10.25 million
Carrasco signed a four-year extension last winter that will keep him under team control through the 2022 season, with a team option for 2023.

José Ramírez: $6.65 million
If the Indians exercise Ramírez’s two bargain-rate options, they’ll control him through 2023.

Brad Hand: $7.583 million
The Indians also hold a $10 million option on Hand for 2021.

Roberto Pérez: $3.625 million
The Indians hold team options on Pérez for 2021 ($5.5 million) and 2022 ($7 million).

Oliver Pérez: $3 million
Pérez’s vesting option kicked in when he made his 60th appearance in 2019.

Corey Kluber: $17.5 million
Antonetti revealed earlier this month that the team intends to exercise Kluber’s 2020 club option. They’ll hold an $18 million option on him for 2021.

Now, let’s add in buyouts owed to Jason Kipnis ($2.5 million) and Dan Otero ($100,000).

Total: $68 million

The arbitration guys
Francisco Lindor: $16.7 million
Lindor and the Indians settled for $10.55 last winter, the shortstop’s first year of arbitration eligibility, rather than determine his salary through a hearing.

Mike Clevinger: $4.5 million
Clevinger has emerged as the ace of the Indians’ rotation and he’ll turn 29 in December. This would seem like a logical time to strike an agreement on a long-term deal. If not, that salary wouldn’t be difficult for the team to stomach.

Kevin Plawecki: $1.5 million
Plawecki is a popular figure in the clubhouse, and beyond Eric Haase, the Indians don’t have much catching depth in the upper levels of the minors. Otherwise, this would seem like a possible non-tender situation.

Nick Goody: $1.1 million
Goody rebounded from an injury-plagued 2018 to record a 3.54 ERA, while limiting opponents to a .201 batting average.

Nick Wittgren: $1.3 million
Wittgren posted a 2.81 ERA in his first season in Cleveland, with 60 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings, a nice find in February that only cost the Indians 28-year-old minor leaguer Jordan Milbrath.

Tyler Naquin: $1.8 million
Naquin will likely miss the start of next season. Why not just non-tender him? It’s not an unfair question, but given that such a decision must be made in advance of when the club would likely seek an outfield upgrade, it seems like a safe bet that the Indians will reach some sort of agreement with Naquin.

Total: $26.9 million (via MLB Trade Rumors arbitration estimates)

The non-tender candidates
Danny Salazar: $4.5 million
As Michael Scott once said: “Fool me once, strike one. But fool me twice… strike three.”

He’s certainly due for a healthy season — if only that were how this worked. The Indians (or, if they were prudent, an insurance company) paid Salazar $9.5 million the last two years. He rewarded their patience with four innings.

Cody Anderson: $800,000
Now this is a guy who’s due for a healthy season. If all else fails, Anderson might as well run for mayor of Goodyear, Arizona, given how much time he’s spent in the desert the last few years.

A.J. Cole: $800,000
Cole posted a 3.81 ERA in 25 appearances this season, then suffered a shoulder impingement and vanished. It’s certainly possible the Indians opt to keep him, but they might prefer not to guarantee money to a reliever who is out of options.

How to spend that cash
That places the club at about $95 million before filling out the remaining 12 spots on the roster. That will cost, at least, in the neighborhood of $7 million, using league minimum salaries.

So, if the Indians opened the season today, their payroll would likely sit at about $102 million.

2017 Opening Day payroll: $124.1 million
2018 Opening Day payroll: $134.9 million
2019 Opening Day payroll: $119.6 million

Well, well, well. How the turntables have … (that’s enough “The Office” references for today). So long as ownership doesn’t impose another payroll decrease, the Indians should have some cash to spend this winter.

1. Find another infielder

This is the top priority, whether the front office fills the void via trade or free agency. Ramírez agreed to play either second base or third base next season, so Antonetti & Co. have some flexibility. The free-agent class could include Eric Sogard, Brian Dozier, Jonathan Schoop, Starlin Castro, Brock Holt, Asdrubal Cabrera, Mike Moustakas and Todd Frazier. Perhaps Didi Gregorius will shift from shortstop. Oh, and there’s Kipnis.

2. Bolster the outfield

There are a bunch of options, but Oscar Mercado in center field seems like the only sure thing, in terms of placement on the field. The Indians would like Franmil Reyes to play some outfield. They would like Jordan Luplow to prove he can hit right-handed pitching half as well as he can pulverize southpaws. They would have liked it if Bradley Zimmer had agreed to play winter ball. With those question marks, plus Naquin’s injury and Daniel Johnson’s lack of a track record, would it hurt to have another reliable outfielder in the fold?

3. Grant Clevinger and/or Shane Bieber an extension

Clevinger, as detailed above, makes a ton of sense as an extension candidate. Bieber does as well, though the Indians probably have more time on that front since the 24-year-old isn’t even arbitration-eligible for two more years. These maneuvers could be completed without inflating the 2020 payroll too much.

A Lindor extension, on the other hand, would hike up the bottom line. Paul Dolan told The Athletic in March that “probably the day when we do a deal like [a 10-year, $300 million contract] is when somebody else is doing $1 billion deals with somebody else.” Perhaps he has softened that stance? Perhaps Lindor would be interested, which hasn’t always been the case in the past? This wouldn’t erase the need for the Indians to add to their infield and outfield, but it’s urgent in its own way.

Meisel’s Mailbox: Who will be the next young Indians pitchers to crash the big-league party?
By Zack Meisel 5h ago 9
CLEVELAND — The Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas revealed odds for each team to win the 2020 World Series. The Indians stand at 14/1, tied with the Nationals, and behind the Astros, Dodgers, Yankees, Braves and Red Sox.

For now, as the Indians’ World Series drought passes the 71-year mark, Clevelanders must sit back and watch as either Michael Brantley and Joe Smith or Yan Gomes and Asdrubal Cabrera claim championship rings.

Let’s open the mailbox and answer your questions.

Who’s the next Zach Plesac or Aaron Civale? In other words, a relatively under-the-radar pitcher that helps next year unexpectedly. — Scott T.

Logan Allen, acquired from San Diego in the Trevor Bauer trade, was a top-100 prospect entering the 2019 season, so we’ll omit him for this exercise. And Triston McKenzie, despite not even making it to the mound this year, has been on everyone’s radar, so we’ll exclude him, too.

Instead, we’ll focus on three starters: Eli Morgan, Scott Moss and Adam Scott.

Morgan: The Indians have drafted a player from Gonzaga each of the last three years. Morgan could give the big-league club a second pitcher from the school, provided Tyler Olson makes the team next year. Morgan isn’t on any top prospects lists, but he owns a 3.08 ERA in three minor-league seasons. He fits the profile of the other young starters who have contributed in recent years: He doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but he keeps a pretty low walk rate and home run rate, and he averages more than a strikeout per inning.

Moss: The 6-foot-6 left-hander came over from the Reds in the Bauer deal. He boasts a 3.28 ERA in four minor-league seasons. This year, his walk rate jumped to 4.8 per nine innings, but his strikeout rate swelled to 11 per nine and he only allowed 99 hits in 130 frames. He also surrendered only eight home runs. So, a different season from what he had been accustomed to, but the results were a 2.96 ERA, including a 1.26 ERA in six starts with Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus.

Scott: Another lefty with a solid walk rate and strong strikeout rate, Scott was a fourth-round pick out of Wofford in 2018. He posted a 3.73 ERA between High-A Lynchburg and Akron this year, his first full season in the system. In 2018, he made only 16 relief appearances, though the results were dazzling: a 1.85 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 34 innings.

Who do you think has most trade value among Plesac, Civale and Plutko? — Bob R.

Well, Plutko has the least, and he could be in for a stressful winter/spring, because he’s out of minor-league options. Where does he fit in a rotation that includes Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Mike Clevinger and Shane Bieber, plus Plesac and Civale (and maybe Jefry Rodriguez or Allen)? Plesac and Civale are younger and have higher ceilings, so they naturally carry more trade value. How much value, of course, is the question.

If I were an opposing team, I’d be more intrigued by trading for Civale. Teammates have compared him to Corey Kluber. Even Kluber told me he can see the resemblance. Civale wielded great command, he hit 95 mph on the radar gun and the stoic righty seems to operate with the same wiring and 9-volt batteries with which the robotic Kluber functions.

What are the chances that the front office works out a deal for Jason Kipnis to stay? Realistically, what type of offers do you think he will receive from other teams? — Mike C.

Kipnis seems destined to fall into the group of guys who will land a one- or two-year deal somewhere to serve as a stopgap solution. Coincidentally, that’s what the Indians might be seeking, too, though Kipnis made it sound all season like he didn’t think the team would pursue him in free agency.

Kipnis’ wRC+ (an all-encompassing offensive statistic, in which 100 is league average) the last three years: 82, 89, 80. That sure seems like the new normal for a guy who will turn 33 in early April.

José Ramírez rewarded the front office with some flexibility since he’s willing to shift to second base. It wouldn’t be a surprise to hear the Indians linked to names such as Jonathan Schoop, Eric Sogard, Brian Dozier, Brock Holt, Starlin Castro, Howie Kendrick, Mike Moustakas, Scooter Gennett and Asdrubal Cabrera.

They could also opt to fill the void via trade. I’d rank an infielder as the top priority this offseason, just ahead of another outfielder. I think they have enough young arms to fill in the pitching gaps — there’s a stampede of relievers heading toward Cleveland — though I wouldn’t be against a trade for an established hard thrower for the late innings, just in case Brad Hand’s tired arm becomes narcoleptic.
(Jason Miller / Getty Images)

Could Bobby Bradley get traded this offseason? There really isn’t room for Carlos Santana, Franmil Reyes, Jake Bauers and Bradley all on the major league roster, though all of these guys probably should be in the majors in 2020. — Michael J.

I’m not sure Bradley or Bauers have much trade value at the moment. They’re both young, but unproven first basemen aren’t exactly highly coveted commodities. Bradley is rather one-dimensional and we aren’t sure yet how that dimension will play against big-league pitchers who will toss him breaking ball after breaking ball until he demonstrates he can hit them consistently. And Bauers submitted an uninspiring season that ended with another heart-to-heart in the manager’s office. Sure, either guy could be paired with a pitcher in a trade, but I’m not sure either moves the needle too much at this point. That said, there’s definitely a logjam, which probably factors into the decision to assess Reyes in the outfield, and the Indians need some answers on both guys.

Did Bradley Zimmer refuse to play winter ball? After being out most of two years with injuries and never having established himself as a major-league hitter, shouldn’t playing be a priority? — Tom W.

According to Terry Francona, he did, and the manager didn’t shy away from hinting that it could mean Zimmer starts next season at Triple A. That’s not ideal for a soon-to-be 27-year-old.

“He was adamant that he needs to go home and have a normal offseason of work,” Francona said, “not to get away from work, but to not play baseball. We expressed to him that he’s missed basically a year and a half of at-bats and that at some point we may be asking him to go get more. We just wanted to be on the same page. Does it mean he can’t make the team? No. But it could happen that way and we just wanted to be upfront with him about that.

“I think the year took a toll on him. He said he needed to get away a little bit and go home. We understand that. We just feel the need to be always upfront and honest with our guys even when it may not be what they want to hear.”

In other words, Zimmer has an uphill climb toward an Opening Day roster spot.

Does the team’s desire for Reyes to play RF give us any insight into their off-season plans? It seems like a strange move: it’s not like the team has a lot of organizational depth at 1B/DH, and Reyes will be a defensive liability in the outfield. Does it signal a pursuit of a 1B/DH in free agency? Or a strong commitment to Bobby Bradley? Or something else I’m missing?! — Andrew C.

It’s just a way to add some flexibility. The outfield is a bit of a grab bag as things stand, so if Reyes can play out there — and he by no means needs to play 162 games in right field — it can give them options. Otherwise, there isn’t really an opening for Bradley to contribute, and I’m not sure where Bauers would fit (not that he’s convinced anyone he deserves daily at-bats).

We know Oscar Mercado will man center field, and Jordan Luplow will cover a corner spot against lefties (and Francona indicated he wants to learn if Luplow can hit righties). That leaves at least one corner spot vacant (and sometimes two), with Bauers, Greg Allen, Daniel Johnson, eventually Tyler Naquin and maybe Ka’ai Tom as options. Reyes graded out poorly in right field last season, but if he can work himself into being even an average defender, it boosts his value and the team’s versatility.

Who’s the second baseman? — Colin W.

No, as the bit goes, What’s on second. Who’s on first.

(Top photo: Carrie Giordano / Getty Images)

When I thought recently about the acquisitions of Logan Allen and Scott Moss, a pair of lefty potential starters, in the Bauer for everyone deal, it seems a lot like the acquisition last season of a group of nearly ready for major league OFs [Mercado, Luplow, Bauers, Johnson] to fill a gap in the system. Tribe has not produced a lefty starter in awhile and Adam Scott is the only guy near the top now among the homegrown. Allen and Moss add to the supply.
Only problem with those 3 lefties that Zach notes in his article is that their names are really easy to merge and mix up.
Logan Allen Adam Scott Moss

I had to sort of chuckle on the Bradley Zimmer/winter ball thing.

At first, I was kind of miffed that he would say no to it.

But I figured...if I am Bradley Zimmer what are my chances of making the Indians out of spring training next season even IF I go to winter ball??? Pretty much zilch.

Go to Columbus and see what happens. That's the way it would happen anyways.

Francisco Lindor, the Cleveland Indians and a ticking clock

Zack Meisel 58m ago 9
CLEVELAND — It was a bizarre scene, with Francisco Lindor’s curls dyed blue and the shortstop routinely referring to reporters as “brother” and refusing to talk about past postseasons.

Instead, in his first gathering with the media of 2019 — just a few scribes at the table in the media workroom in Goodyear, Ariz. — Lindor detailed his calf injury and answered questions about his future. And there were some eyebrow-raising comments.

When asked whether he would sign a long-term deal to remain in Cleveland, Lindor first replied: “Who knows? Can you afford to pay me? If you pay me, I’ll stay.”

After a pause, Lindor continued, saying he was focused on arbitration over the winter, not an extension.

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

In two years, Lindor will file for free agency for the first time, a perennial All-Star on the open market, where 29 other teams can lure him with near-limitless supplies of cash. That is, unless Lindor and the Indians strike an agreement on a long-term extension. Or, the Indians trade him to another team that inks him to a new contract.

The Indians either need to win a World Series with Lindor or cash in on his value. The tricky part of this is that the front office sees no change in the Indians’ mode of operation: They consider themselves contenders in 2020 and beyond, backed by a pitching development pipeline that continues to pump young talent into the club’s rotation.

So, that leaves the Indians with three (maybe four) options. And timing is of utmost importance. As Lindor’s days of team control dwindle, so, too, do his trade value and his incentive toward signing an extension.

“You know what security is?” Lindor said that February morning at the Indians’ complex. “My family. I’m good. I don’t need anything else. I’m good. Money is good. I could buy a lot of things right now. I’m good, brother.”

Sign him to a mega-contract
The obstacle: ownership

Lindor’s 2019 salary, agreed upon before a potential arbitration hearing, was $10.55 million. When asked why he settled, rather than proceed to a hearing, Lindor said: “Did you see the number? It’s pretty good. I’ll take it. I’m blessed to play this game and get paid for it. It’s a blessing. My agent did an outstanding job and the Indians came up with the right number that we thought was good for what the market was dictating for me.”

Can the Indians again come up with the right number, but one much greater?

Here are the 10 most lucrative contracts in baseball history, with the player’s age at the time of signing in parentheses:

Mike Trout, Angels: 12 years, $426.5 million extension (27)
Bryce Harper, Phillies: 13 years, $330 million free-agent deal (26)
Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins: 13 years, $325 million extension (25)
Manny Machado, Padres: 10 years, $300 million free-agent deal (26)
Alex Rodriguez, Yankees: 10 years, $275 million extension (32)
Nolan Arenado, Rockies: 8 years, $260 million extension (27)
Alex Rodriguez, Rangers: 10 years, $252 million free-agent deal (25)
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: 8 years, $248 million extension (30)
Albert Pujols, Angels: 10 years, $240 million free-agent deal (31)
Robinson Canó, Mariners: 10 years, $240 million free-agent deal (31)

The largest deal the Indians have ever handed out: Three years, $60 million to Edwin Encarnacion.

Lindor is eligible for free agency right around the time he turns 28. Arenado seems like a convenient comparison: Both players can carry an offense and provide Gold Glove defense.

Arenado fWAR last four years: 5.9, 5.7, 5.7, 5.0
Arenado wRC+ last four years: 128, 132, 130, 126
Arenado DRS last four years: 8, 5, 20, 20

Lindor fWAR last four years: 4.4, 7.6, 5.7, 5.5
Lindor wRC+ last four years: 114, 130, 116, 109
Lindor DRS last four years: 9, 14, 5, 17

(wRC+ measures a player’s offensive output, with 100 being league average. DRS measures a player’s defensive runs saved.)

Would Lindor sign an eight-year, $260 million extension with the Indians? Will he ever have the chance to accept or decline such an offer?

It’s difficult not to reflect upon Paul Dolan’s choice of words earlier this year when answering whether he could envision himself ever signing a player to a deal in the 10-year, $300 million range.

“Probably the day when we do a deal like that is when somebody else is doing $1 billion deals with somebody else,” Dolan told The Athletic.

He did add, though, that, while he isn’t “bothered by the fact we can’t chase the high-end” free agents, “where it is painful is when you have one of your own that you can’t keep because the market for them is set by larger markets.”

Dolan noted how the Padres will soon have a significant portion of their payroll tied to one player, Machado. That would be the case if the Indians and Lindor reached a long-term agreement, too. Granted, that would require Lindor being interested in sticking around for the long haul. There has been no evidence, to this point, that he is ready to forgo his eventual foray into free agency.

“We obviously would love Frankie to be here for his entire career and for as long as possible,” Chris Antonetti said earlier this month. “I think Frankie really likes it here, too. He has always communicated that. We’ve never heard anything different than that. Hopefully, with that as the foundation, there would be an opportunity for us to align on something, but we just haven’t been able to yet.”

Sign him to a semi mega-contract
The obstacle: Lindor

Lindor wasn’t moved by the Indians’ offer, reportedly in the $100 million range, three years ago. He has endorsement deals, a hefty salary and he received a $2.9 million signing bonus when the Indians drafted him out of high school.

Before Harper and Machado signed in the spring, Lindor said: “I hope they max every single penny that they can get. It’s good for everybody. I back them up. I’m with them.”

Perhaps the league’s labor situation will factor into Lindor’s thinking. Maybe he’ll want some extra security before a potential work stoppage or before the collective bargaining agreement undergoes a facelift, especially given how peeved players are at how free agency has stalled in recent years.

Still, odds are, Lindor can get a mega-deal in two years, with teams aiming to outbid each other for his services for the ensuing decade. So what’s his motivation for not waiting, when he’s already waited this long? If he signed a shorter-term extension, he could test the free-agent waters at the age of 32 or 33, but by that point, Lindor’s range might decrease. His bat speed might dip. He might be better suited for second or third base. He’s better off signing one, lengthy deal — perhaps even one with an opt-out clause or two — rather than try to squeeze in a pair of short-term pacts.

Trade him
The obstacle: finding the proper return at the proper time

Imagine the Indians hold on to Lindor this winter but sputter at the start of next season. They repeat their dismal showing from April/May 2019, and this time, a midsummer renaissance seems unlikely. If the Indians don’t feel as though they can reasonably vie for a pennant, they might consider it a waste of a year of employing Lindor. After all, he stands to lose a healthy chunk of trade value once he enters his contract year. Just ask the Orioles, who settled on a feeble return for Machado. As long as an opposing team can deploy Lindor for two playoff runs (a year and a half of play, essentially), Lindor will maintain plenty of trade value. But if the Indians limp through the first half of 2020, they’ll corner themselves into having no choice but to trade him or else risk failing to cash in on his full worth.

Earlier this month, Antonetti didn’t sound like someone desperate to deal his All-Star shortstop, but it would be no surprise if Lindor’s name frequently surfaced at the winter meetings in San Diego in December.

If they are to trade Lindor, they have to nail it. How does a contender trade its best player and remain a contender? It might be possible, but it’s certainly no easy assignment. Is there any return that wouldn’t completely dash the Indians’ championship hopes in 2020? If they traded Lindor this winter, would they reinvest the financial savings in a replacement? This can’t be a repeat of when the Indians dealt Roberto Alomar to the Mets for a package of uninspiring prospects (pour one out for Alex Escobar’s knee) and then signed Ricky Gutierrez to a three-year contract.

Any team seeking to trade for Lindor would need a bevy of young talent and status as a contender, and it would make sense if that team thought it could entice Lindor to stay beyond 2021. Two years of Lindor could supply the Indians with a haul. A year from now, it might be in the Indians’ best interest to simply keep him and pray his presence fuels a postseason run, rather than trade him for a package similar to what Baltimore received for Machado. Of course, the Indians also might decide that’s in their best interest for the next two years anyway.

There is, after all, a fourth option here: keep him.

The Indians could have a PR nightmare on their hands no matter what ultimately unfolds. If Lindor eventually leaves via free agency, fans will likely blame ownership for not gifting the homegrown superstar access to the family trust fund. If the team trades Lindor, it would likely put a damper on the buzz surrounding the team. The fan base has endured a championship drought soon to extend past the 71-year mark and has watched star players leave for greener pastures or be traded before they can arrive at the decision to do so.

But the Indians don’t have to do anything. They could simply keep Lindor, make two runs with him at ending the franchise’s league-long title hex and then attempt to push forward if he skips town. And in the meantime, they could put forth the idea that such is the plan in an effort to maintain leverage in trade talks.

“Frankie’s one of the best players in the game,” Antonetti said. “That’s clear and he’s demonstrated that over the past few years. He has every reason to expect that he should be compensated that way. What that means for us in team building, we’ll continue to try to find ways to make that work and stay engaged with him, thinking about ways of how we solve the problem of keeping him here for the rest of his career. Whether or not we can line up on that, I have no idea.”

Also published today: Jason Lloyd on Francisco Lindor and the franchise-altering decisions facing the Indians.

Lloyd: Francisco Lindor and the franchise-altering decisions facing the Indians
By Jason Lloyd 1h ago 1
CLEVELAND — There is a clock that continues to tick above the Indians and everyone knows by now the game is over in November 2021. That’s when Francisco Lindor, one of the greatest players of his generation and one of the finest talents in this team’s history, will be known as a former Indian. Unless, of course, it happens sooner.

The ending feels inevitable now. The two sides haven’t had meaningful dialogue on an extension in years, and with Lindor “this close” to free agency and the potential for a $350 million payday, there isn’t much incentive for him to sell short now.

That leaves the Indians with a difficult choice: maximize their window of contention or maximize the value of the asset? As one player told me in March, imagine how much the Indians could get if they put Lindor on the market this winter when he still had two years before free agency?

“Reach into any farm system in baseball,” he said. “And pull out anything you want.”

Cleveland’s ability to construct one of the league’s top pitching staffs ensures they should at least be in the division hunt for the foreseeable future. But the closer we get to November 2021, the harder it will be to avoid the looming decision on Lindor.

Indians president Chris Antonetti indicated we aren’t there yet, that the team isn’t at the point where it has to entertain the idea of trading Lindor. It’s worth noting that the Indians began listening to offers on Trevor Bauer when he had two years of control left and ultimately traded him with 1 1/2 years remaining. The equivalent would be to start listening on Lindor now and dealing him at the deadline next season. But Antonetti said that’s oversimplifying things, and perhaps it is since they were dealing from a position of strength with Bauer and their starting rotation. Plus there’s the issue of Bauer’s polarizing personality. None of that applies to Lindor.

Ultimately, though, the Indians traded a player they knew they weren’t going to be able to keep beyond his arbitration years. That seems true of Lindor now, too.

“We’ve had plenty of players here that have played out the entire terms of their contract and we didn’t trade him,” Antonetti said. “A lot of that has to do with factors outside of that individual player, what’s going on with your team, how competitive we are, what’s in front of us, what our alternatives are.”

The last real star who played out his contract and left was Jim Thome. Even with Thome, the organization stood better odds of retaining him than they do now with Lindor. Since Thome left, the Indians have traded CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez and now Bauer before losing them as free agents. They were clearly out of contention when they dealt Sabathia, Lee and Martinez. They were contenders when they dealt Bauer, and they expect to be contenders again next season.

That’s why keeping Lindor for one more year and making another run at the postseason in 2020 certainly makes sense, although it could ultimately cripple the return the Indians command if and when they finally do trade him.

The Orioles faced a similar dilemma with Manny Machado. Their best chance at an extension with him was 2013 shortly after Paul Goldschmidt agreed to a deal with the Diamondbacks. But extension talks fell apart and Baltimore knew it wasn’t going to keep him beyond his arbitration years.

Nevertheless, after the Orioles lost the wild-card game to the Blue Jays in extra innings in 2016, former general manager Dan Duquette never seriously considered trading Machado that winter because ownership was still focused on contending.

“Nobody likes to swallow hard and digest that it’s time for a rebuild,” Duquette said by phone last week. “That’s a very difficult decision for everyone. That’s not a first choice for any of the constituents that support a major-league team. It’s not the first choice of ownership, fans or players. It’s a tough pill to swallow when you’ve had a competitive team and you’ve had a run.”

That’s where the Indians are now. A Lindor trade wouldn’t necessarily trigger a rebuild, not with the young controllable talent still on the roster. But it certainly makes winning a championship more difficult, at least in the short term.

The Indians have no one internally capable of filling that void. It would have to come from a trade and most likely involve an unproven commodity. That doesn’t seem to interest Antonetti.

“We’re fully expecting to be a really good team next year,” Antonetti said, “and we have every expectation that Frankie’s going to be a huge part of that.”

When the Orioles fell apart in the final month of the ’17 season, a rebuild was inevitable and Duquette began listening to offers on Machado the following winter. By then, he was entering his final year of arbitration and teams knew he was going to be a rental. Duquette was disappointed by the low offers. He thought he was close on a deal at the winter meetings, but the other team backed out. The Orioles were forced to begin the season with Machado on the roster.

“The offers weren’t robust,” he said. “Here’s the thing, and you saw it reflected at the recent deadline in July when the Yankees and others didn’t make significant trades: They held on to the assets. In the new basic agreement, the younger players have more value than clubs take into consideration.”

Ultimately, Duquette dealt Machado at the deadline last season for a package of five prospects headlined by Yusniel Diaz, who spent the season in Double A. Diaz is a good prospect, but he isn’t elite. The Indians could ultimately wind up with a similar package for Lindor.

“We played the cards we were dealt,” Duquette said. “Time will tell. Ownership knew the writing was on the wall, but sometimes you can catch fire. To me, that’s better than the alternative of a significant teardown.

“I love to watch Machado play. He’s one of my favorite players. Guys like him don’t come along every day. He’s a good kid. He likes to play ball. You trade a winner like it, it takes 30 years to find another one that good.”

Also published today: Zack Meisel on Francisco Lindor, the Cleveland Indians and a ticking clock.

Five suggestions the Cleveland Indians should follow before the 2020 season



By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians 2019 season has been over for a while. It ended on Sept. 29 in a loss to the Nationals. That would be the same Nationals who face Houston on Friday night in Game 3 of the World Series with a 2-0 lead.

Is it painful that the Indians and Nationals each ended the regular season with 93 wins, but one team went to the postseason as a wild-card entry, while the other went home? Maybe a little, but painful news is nothing new to Indians fans.


The same can be said for these kind of stories. How many times have we quickly slammed the door on the previous season and turned our eyes toward the horizon of next year? The calendar and the nature of the game require it regardless of winning the sixth most games in the AL and not being eliminated in the division or wild card race until the final four games of the season.

Joe Noga: Five moves the Indians should consider making this offseason

Of course, if the Indians didn’t end the season on a five-game losing streak we could be talking about something different today. But they did and so here goes another “what do the Indians have to do to get better for 2020” story.

We’re going to try and handle that big question with these five suggestions. No sweat, right. Here we go:

Indians shortstop Franisco Lindor.
cleveland.com

Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

No.1: Find a solution to the Francisco Lindor question

The four-time All-Star shortstop has two years left with the Indians before he becomes a free agent and chases a Bryce Harper and Manny Machado type contract. It’s clear he’s not going to get that kind of contract from Indians ownership so this would be the ideal time to trade him to reap the best return.

The contender that gets Lindor, a face-of-the-franchise player, would have him for two years and have more money to possibly sign him to an extension than the Indians. If the Indians wait until mid-season in 2020 or 2021 to trade him, they’ll be dealing at a discount.

No front office wants to make this kind of decision before its ready to do it. The Twins, who knocked the Indians out of first-place in the AL Central this year with 101 wins, could lose a big chunk of their starting rotation to free agency this winter. The Indians could conceivably reclaim the division next year if they keep Lindor.


Tribe executives Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff don’t have a set pattern when it comes to these situations. They traded Trevor Bauer in July and he had a full year of control left. The year before they let Michael Brantley play out his contract in Cleveland and walkaway through free agency. They didn’t even make him a qualifying offer.

Trading Lindor this offseason would certainly fill a lot of holes on this roster for the present and future. But it is a fluid situation. A lot will depend on what the Indians are able to do this winter. It’s not like they had a bad season. If Lindor is the opening day shortstop in 2020 -- and I suspect he will be -- his stay in Cleveland could be determined by the Tribe’s record at the July 31 trading deadline.

Brad Hand
Getty Images

Indians closer Brad Hand. (Ron Schwane, Getty Images)

No. 2: Get some help for closer Brad Hand

By almost any account Brad Hand is a good closer. He converted 34 of 39 save chances this year, including opening the season with 22 straight saves. But he slumped in the second half and he’s been pitched a lot over the last six seasons.

Hand ranks second in relief appearances with 283 between 2016 and 2019. Former Tribe set-up man Bryan Shaw is first with 285 and Shaw has struggled since leaving the Indians after the 2017 season and signing with the Rockies.

In strikeouts for relievers Hand ranks first with 405 from 2016 through 2019. That means he’s not getting a lot of outs early in the count, which leads to more pitches being thrown.

It’s unrealistic to think the Indians could return to the three-closer arrangement they had in 2018 with Hand, Cody Allen and Andrew Miller. But if the Indians could add an established set-up man, a guy who could exchange roles with Hand now and then, it could help.


Jason Kipnis Shoe Toss 2019
Second baseman Jason Kipnis greets Cleveland Indians fans and gives away game worn cleats and bats along with autographed hats and balls outside Progressive Field. (Joe Noga, cleveland.com)

No. 3: Find an infielder to fill the hole created by Jason Kipnis’ departure

The Indians have already said that they won’t exercise second baseman Jason Kipnis’ club option for 2020, which will make him a free agent at the end of the World Series. They’ve also said that All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez has agreed to play second or third depending on how the Indians fill the hole created by the loss of Kipnis.

They have internal candidates such as Mike Freeman, Yu Chang, Christian Arroyo, Tyler Freeman and Ernie Clement. The one thing that Kipnis gave the Indians on a regular basis was power. He averaged just over 15 homers a year in eight plus seasons with the Tribe. It’s not clear if the team’s internal candidates can do that.


If the Indians chose to explore the free agent pool, there should be plenty of players available who can give their lineup some pop.

Indians right-hander Corey Kluber.
cleveland.com

Indians right-hander Corey Kluber. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com)

No. 4: Don’t trade a starting pitcher. . .at least not yet

The Indians already did that when they sent Bauer to Cincinnati on July 31, but there were mitigating factors at work there. Bauer, like Lindor, wasn’t going to sign a mulityear deal and he was in line for another big arbitration award.

Still, the early-season injuries to Mike Clevinger and Corey Kluber tested the Tribe’s pitching depth. As did Carlos Carrasco’s being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. Out of that came contributions from Jefry Rodriguez, Zach Plesac, Aaron Civale and Adam Plutko. Out of those four pitchers, Plutko was the only one the Indians had a handle on what to expect.

This spring the Indians are counting on Kluber making a comeback after making just seven starts and Carrasco reclaiming his job in the rotation. It’s true that the Indians have plenty of arms behind them in Shane Bieber, Clevinger, Plesac, Civale, Plutko, Rodriguez and lefty Logan Allen. But it’s hard to imagine the Indians trading pitching before the find out what Kluber and Carrasco are capable of doing.


Indians center fielder Oscar Mercado.
cleveland.com

Indians center fielder Oscar Mercado. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

No. 5: Stop the platoon madness and find an everyday power-hitting outfielder

It’s no secret that manager Terry Francona would like to carry a 12-man bullpen. Thirteen would be better.

But over the last few years in Cleveland that’s been hard to do because the Indians have outfielders all over the place. You’ve heard of a closer by committee, the Indians have an outfield by committee. The days of having Kenny Lofton in center, Albert Belle in left and Manny Ramirez in right are ancient history.

Brantley, before he left through free agency, brought some calm to the chaos, because Francona just put him in left field and let him play. Yasiel Puig gave Francona two months of tranquility in right field -- OK, that’s probably stretch -- this year after being acquired from Reds for Bauer. But he’ll join Kipnis in the free agent pool at the end of the World Series so who will play where in the outfield is undetermined.


Depending on what happens this offseason, Oscar Mercado could go to spring training in 2020 as the closest thing to an every day outfielder that the Indians have. Mercado made his big-league debut on May 14 and appeared in 82 games, including 77 starts, in center field.

Mercado also made 20 starts in left field and seven in right field. Which should surprise no one.

Yes, certainly upgrade the bullpen depth. I'd dump most of the guys they have besides Hand and I suppose Wittgren and Karinchak and start over.
Don't trade a starter, yet, but seriously consider Carrasco moving into a bullpen setup role.
Infielder? Not sure why Freeman is on the list having only played in Lynchburg and not Jones who's spent a half season in Akron. I'd do a 1 year FA deal for a 3B or perhaps a 2B
Everyday OF? Luplow hit lefties extremely well; Tito has said they'll give him a chance to play daily. I think he deserves that. Reyes will play daily in RF or as DH. Tito prefers [me too] not to have some clumsy slugger as the DH who can never play in the field. I'd rather rotate that among the extra OF and IF.
Lindor: well that's the big issue.