Cleveland Sports Forum

In the season end press conference Tito said they view Carrasco as a starter. He won’t be in the pen next year.

For what he is paid, for sure a starter if at all possible.

By the very end Carrasco had his stuff back. Just no time to build his arm back up.

Cleveland Indians: Making my own prospect list; who can help in 2020?
Updated 9:07 AM; Today 5:30 AM
HELP COMING!
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Cleveland Indians relief pitcher James Karinchak could be a huge bullpen boost in 2020. Photo by John Kuntz / cleveland.com

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By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
ABOUT PROSPECTS

The Indians have two finalists for the Gold Glove this season. Consider where they were drafted:

1. Shortstop Francisco Lindor, the No. 8 pick in the 2011 draft.

2. Catcher Roberto Perez, the 1,011 pick in 2008. That’s NO MISPRINT. He was selected in the 33rd round, No. 1,011.


Odds are first-round picks – especially those in the top 10 – are far more likely to become impact players in the Majors than others drafted in later rounds. As for 33rd-round picks, you are far more likely to find a $100 bill on the street than another Roberto Perez at pick 1,011.

But once in a great while, it happens.

For the Indians to continue to contend, the farm system has to remain productive.

It saved the Tribe this season. A few months ago, I wrote about the 2016 draft. That delivered All-Star MVP Shane Bieber (pick No. 122), Aaron Civale (No. 92) and Zach Plesac (No. 611) to the Tribe.

As I assemble my special list of prospects, you won’t find their names. Bieber is expected to be in the rotation with Mike Clevinger, Carlos Carrasco and Corey Kluber. Civale and Plesac will battle for the fifth spot. And as we saw last season, pitchers get hurt.


But in terms of the draft, the names of 61 pitchers were called before Bieber in 2016. The 24-year-old Bieber already has a 26-13 record and 3.72 ERA in two seasons with Cleveland.

The first pitcher selected in 2016? It’s Ian Anderson, who had a combined 8-7 record, 3.38 ERA in Class AA and AAA for the Atlanta Braves.

The next pitcher selected in 2016? It’s Riley Pint, who has battled injuries and has a 3-20, 5.71 ERA in the minors for the Colorado Rockies. He has never pitched higher than Class A. Both were high school pitchers.

The draft is hard, and I believe it’s especially dangerous when you select high school pitchers in the top few rounds.

COMING BACK
The Plain Dealer

Triston McKenzie appears to be healthy after missing 2019 because of a back and pectoral history. Photo by Chuck Crow / Plain Dealer

ABOUT BRADY AIKEN AND TRISTON McKENZIE

Remember Brady Aiken, a high school pitcher who was the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft by the Houston Astros? The lefty failed to sign when a medical report showed he had a chance to have an elbow injury. The Astros lowered his bonus.

He then blew out his elbow and had Tommy John reconstructive surgery. He went back into the 2015 draft. The Indians have had success drafting pitchers coming off Tommy John surgery (Vinnie Pestano and Plesac).

They took Aiken. They worked on rehabbing him. But Aiken has not come back.

In 2017, he was 5-13 with a 4.77 ERA at Class A Lake County. He walked 101 in 132 innings, striking out 89. The Indians kept him in their Goodyear training facility in 2018 to strengthen his arm. He never pitched a minor league game.

In 2019, he pitched twice at Lake County, walking six and heaving two wild pitches in 2/3 of an inning. It was back to Goodyear.


Now, I was told the 23-year-old is taking a break from baseball. He may return in 2020. But his mechanics are a mess. He lost his 95-mph fastball. Most of all, his confidence has taken a big hit.

McKenzie was another high school pitcher, the 42nd pick in the same 2015 draft as Aiken.

He has been highly rated by Baseball American and others. But the righthander missed all of last season with a back and pectoral injury.

There is a huge difference between Aiken and McKenzie

When healthy, the 6-foot-5, 170-pound McKenzie has been promising: 26-16, 2.68 ERA in the minors. He’s only 22. Other teams ask about him in trades. The Indians are upbeat about him pitching next season.

It’s hard to know what is next for Aiken.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
cleveland.com

Daniel Johnson played in the MLB All-Star Futures Game. Photo by Joshua Gunter / cleveland.com

MY “KNOCKING ON THE DOOR” LIST

This is not the standard MLB.com or Baseball America prospect list. They look at the entire organization, and they will highly rank players who are years away from the Majors.

My list is of players who could help the Tribe at some point in 2020. Remember, I already have Civale and Plesac in the Majors.

For example, I love Tyler Freeman, the No. 71 pick in 2017. Freeman batted .306 (.778 OPS) with 3 HR and 44 RBI at two Class A teams. He’s only 20, but could be the team’s shortstop in 2021 or 2022. But he’s not on the “Knocking on the Door” list.

Nor are Jake Bauers, Jordan Luplow, Greg Allen, Bradley Zimmer and Oscar Mercado. They have a lot of big league experience.

This list will contain some well-known names and some surprising names.

1. James Karinchak: He throws 97 mph with a devastating 12-to-6 curveball. Fanned eight in 5 1/3 innings with the Tribe in 2019. He’s whiffed 186 in 103 minor league innings with a 2.73 career ERA. Should be bullpen ready.


2. Nolan Jones: Another gift from the 2016 draft, where he was the 55th pick. Jones just had thumb surgery, but he’s expected to be OK for spring training. He batted .272 (.851 OPS) with 15 HR and 63 RBI between Class A and AA. He’ll probably open the year at Class AA Akron, but who knows. The 21-year-old could rise late in the summer.

3. Kyle Nelson: A teammate of Bieber’s at UC-Santa Barbara, the lefty reliever opened the 2019 season in Class A and ended up in Class AAA. He was 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA for Columbus. His career minor league record is 13-7 with a 2.07 ERA. Lefty relievers are desperately needed.

4. Daniel Johnson: Acquired in the Yan Gomes deal with the Washington Nationals, Johnson batted .290 (.868 OPS) with 19 HR, 77 RBI and 12 steals between Class AA and AAA. The 24-year-old outfielder will push Bauers and/or Allen for a roster spot – if not in spring training, later in the season.


5. Jefry Rodriguez: He also came from Washington in the Gomes deal. He had a 1-5 record and 4.63 ERA as a spot starter with the Tribe before suffering a minor arm injury. The 26-year-old righty is expected to open the season at Class AAA, but he could help the Indians later in the year.

6. Cam Hill: He was a hot bullpen prospect in 2017. He had Tommy John surgery in 2018. He had a 4-2 record and 4.74 ERA at Class AAA Columbus in 2019. He fanned 36 in 24.2 innings. Often, a pitcher comes back strong two years after the surgery. He has been one of my favorites since seeing him in 2017 spring training.

6. Yu Chang: For years, other teams have asked for Chang in deals. It feels as if he’s been with the Tribe forever, but he’s only 24. He had a hand injury last season. He joined the Tribe late in the season and batted only .178 (.560 OPS) in 28 games. He can play three infield positions and has some power. Patience is required.


7. Bobby Bradley: Much like Chang, Bradley feels like he’s a forever prospect, but he’s only 23. He batted only .178 (20 strikeouts in 49 at bats) when promoted last summer. Bradley hammered 33 HR, batting .264 (.912 OPS) at Class AAA – where he also struck out 153 times in 402 at bats. Once again, patience is required. One day, he will hit a lot HR in the Majors

The inspirational tale behind Carlos Carrasco’s humanitarian efforts

Zack Meisel Oct 25, 2019 7
CLEVELAND — Five years ago, Carlos Carrasco and his daughter, Camila, visited kids at the hospital. It was Camila’s first interaction with cancer patients, and when they returned home, she grabbed a pair of scissors and started to chop her hair.

“Just give it to the kids,” the 4-year-old told her dad.

Carrasco and his wife glanced at each other and their eyes welled up with tears.

“We held her right there,” Carrasco said, “and everything started from there.”

Prior to Game 3 of the World Series on Friday night, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred will honor Carrasco with the Roberto Clemente Award, bestowed upon the player who best represents the sport through “extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.” Carrasco is the third Indians player to earn the recognition, along with Jim Thome (2002) and Andre Thornton (1979). He has been the Indians’ nominee for the award each of the last five years.

“Baseball is not forever,” Carrasco said Friday morning. “I know at some point we stop playing baseball, but I want all those people and fans to remember me as a good human being and what I did on the field and off the field, too.”

Carrasco grew up in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, and he routinely points to the outside help his family received to make ends meet as a catalyst for his own charitable motivations. Once he found his major-league footing — and when he realized the example it could set for his children — Carrasco launched his off-the-field endeavors.

“I have five kids,” he said, “so I want them to see that so they can help a lot of people in the future, too.”

He started his own foundation in 2016. He and his wife, Karelis, have traveled the globe, and they make sure to include some form of charity work at each stop. They have helped build schools in Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and India. Last winter, when they weren’t enjoying breakfast with giraffes or listening to lions dash across the plains in the middle of the night, they were donating New Balance bags, T-shirts and shoes in Africa. In all, he donated $70,000 to families from the African villages.

Education is a common theme with Carrasco’s contributions. Ohio Guidestone’s Stepstone Academy named its school library the Carlos Carrasco Major League Reading Corner. He recently read “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie” to second graders before they all decorated sugary treats. Carrasco donates two $10,000 scholarships each year for single mothers to attend school. He sends another $5,000 to U.S. veterans each year.

Every other Sunday during the offseason, the Carrascos prepare and distribute 500 lunches to the homeless from the front porch of their Tampa home. In May, Carrasco donated $300,000 to Casa Venezuela Cucuta in Colombia, along with boxes of food, medicine and medical supplies.

He has focused much of his recent efforts on his native Venezuela. He shipped $25,000 worth of toys to kids in Valencia, a few hours from his hometown. He sent 100 boxes of protein, medicine and diapers to a pair of nursing homes in Carora and Maracaibo. Each year, he covers the cost — $66,000 total — of two containers of medical supplies, and he donates $400 per day and another $200 per month to pay for a refugee camp at the border of Venezuela and Colombia, where his extended family hands out meals every day.

“When I get to read (Clemente’s) story, I say, ‘I just want to be like him,’ ” Carrasco said, “because that’s the way that I love to help the community and that’s the way that I am and those are the steps that I want to follow.”

And then, of course, there are the hospital visits. In early June, Carrasco was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. Initially, the gravity of the situation and the medical jargon seemed overwhelming. He turned to his wife and his closest teammates for help. They encouraged him to remain strong and optimistic and assured him he would be OK.

A few days later, Carrasco and his family toured Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, visiting leukemia patients. A week later, Carrasco brought the kids bobbleheads. He signed autographs. And he relayed to them everything those in his inner circle had assured him.

“I went to the hospital to say, ‘If I can do it, they can do it too,’ ” Carrasco said, “because I was out of baseball a little bit. But when I went to the field and started pitching, I pretty much told them, if I can do it, they can do it too. So never give up and just keep it strong. Just to see them on a different day when I go to the hospital and see them smile — that (keeps) me more happy to do it. Pretty much I want to go there every day, but I had to go to the stadium to do my stuff. But I love to do that and just to bring a smile to the kids.”

Carrasco joined his teammates on the field during the All-Star Game for the Stand Up To Cancer segment. He’ll be present for that tribute again on Saturday, during Game 4 of the World Series at Nationals Park. But first, he’ll receive recognition on Friday for everything he has provided off the field, even while battling his own hardships.

“It’s something that I’ll never stop doing,” Carrasco said, “no matter what (happens), no matter what I’m going through. There’s nothing to stop me from contributing to the community.”

Terry's list excludes Ka'ai Tom. It's beginning to look like the Indians are going to let him go in the Rule 5 draft despite an awesome season in Akron and Columbus. He won't be as good as Santander anyway

He'd have to work at it to be worse than Santander..

so Santander didn't actually put up the numbers I thought I saw for the Orioles? Guess I had him mixed up with Mike Trout

How Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, the 2019 rookies and others might fit into the Indians’ 2020 rotation plans

Zack Meisel 4h ago 3
CLEVELAND — Shane Bieber began his offseason with a vacation in Italy, a well-deserved respite following a dream season. In the span of a few months, Bieber evolved from the Indians’ No. 5 starter to an All-Star Game MVP and potential Cy Young Award finalist.

And now?

“There’s a pretty good chance he’s going to be (in) our five-man rotation next year,” Terry Francona said, with the slightest hint of sarcasm.

Well, there’s one piece to the Indians’ 2020 pitching puzzle.

For years, the rotation has served as the foundation of the Indians’ roster. Long ago, when dinosaurs and woolly mammoths roamed the concourse at Progressive Field, Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jiménez anchored the pitching staff. In 2019, Bieber and Mike Clevinger emerged as the pillars of the rotation while Corey Kluber shooed the injury bug, Carlos Carrasco pursued a plan to conquer leukemia and Trevor Bauer came unglued before being dealt to the Reds. In their absences, Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac proved they belong in the big leagues.

So, does that leave the Indians with a deep, talented starting pitching crop heading into 2020 or with an abundance of question marks? The Indians ranked sixth among the league’s 30 teams in starting pitcher ERA (3.81) and third in the American League, behind only the Astros and Rays, whose “starters” often only covered an inning or two. The Indians ranked sixth in the majors in strikeout rate (9.5 per nine innings) and fifth in WAR (second in the AL, behind Houston).

All of that despite Kluber and Carrasco combining to make only 19 starts, Bauer being jettisoned to Cincinnati and Clevinger spending two months on the shelf. No one would have been surprised had that sort of scenario translated into a 90-loss campaign.

The Indians used 11 starting pitchers in 2019, not including Tyler Clippard’s three cameos as the bullpen day ringleader. In 2018, Cleveland relied upon only seven starters.

“We’re always panicked about pitching depth,” Indians GM Mike Chernoff said. “And a year like this confirms why we should be panicked about it. I think we do feel really good about the strides a lot of guys took. You never know how a guy’s going to transition to the big leagues. We saw some guys that weren’t really on the radar quite yet be able to handle it. Especially when you turn the page to next year and you think about guys like Carrasco and Kluber coming back into that rotation, now that just builds out the depth even further.”

Corey Kluber
The Indians intend to exercise Kluber’s $17.5 million option for the 2020 season. Francona routinely preaches “turning a negative into a positive,” so expect to hear plenty of commentary over the next five months about how Kluber’s lost season could serve as the ol’ blessing in disguise.

Kluber piled up 1,136 innings (including the postseason) from 2014 to 2018, more than any other big-league hurler. Max Scherzer ranked second with 1,125, and Jon Lester third with 1,067.

In 2019, Kluber totaled 35 2/3 innings.

“He’s able to do some things in his delivery that maybe he wasn’t able to,” Francona said. “You start accumulating all those innings, and with that come bumps and bruises and nicks and things like that. Good pitchers and good players, they keep playing. They figure out a way. But over the course of time, his arm was getting lower, his back knee was getting a little lower. You just keep competing, but it does things to your pitches.

“Yeah, we missed the heck out of him, but come next year, I bet you he has a chance to be the Kluber that we’ve seen and relied on … because of having a little bit of a layoff.”

Corey Kluber, his contract and silver linings

Carlos Carrasco
The plan, for now, is for Carrasco to rejoin the rotation in 2020. He returned to the mound on Sept. 1 following a three-month absence and pitched in relief over the final four weeks of the season. He threw as many as 30 pitches in an outing. Carrasco said last week he feels great.

“I, personally, continued to get goosebumps every time he took the mound,” Chris Antonetti said. “To think about what he went through over the course of the season, and then just for him to persevere and have the courage to fight through things and get back out there was inspiring for all of us. It not only uplifted our team, but to see the impact it had on our fans and community, too.

“As of right now, we’re planning for him to come back and be an anchor in our starting rotation. We have no reason to think otherwise, but obviously we’ll stay in close contact with Carlos and his caregivers to make sure nothing changes.”

The inspirational tale behind Carrasco’s humanitarian efforts, which earned him the Roberto Clemente Award

Shane Bieber
In 2018, Bieber spent spring training in minor-league camp. A few months later, he made his major-league debut. In 2019, he treated spring training as an audition even though he had a firm grasp on the No. 5 spot in the rotation. At the end of the year, Bieber had logged a team-high 214 1/3 innings.

Next spring, he can exhale. In their exit meeting with the 24-year-old, the Indians told Bieber they’ll likely ease him into the Cactus League schedule.

“My guess is Bieber will come back stronger than ever, and he’ll probably figure out a way to be even better next year,” Francona said.

Bieber described 2019 as “an extremely fulfilling season.”

“I didn’t think I had the greatest start,” he said, “and then to be able to refine everything and become more consistent, and then just the way the whole All-Star thing happened and a lot of things just turned out a lot better than expected. So I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities this year, and fortunately, I was able to make the most of them.”

From walk-on to workhorse: The blossoming of Bieber Fever

Mike Clevinger
Once Clevinger bid farewell to his final shoulder and ankle aches, he blossomed into the Indians’ ace. From July 3 until his last start of the season — a glorified spring-training clunker with the club’s B-squad supporting him in Game 162 — Clevinger posted a 1.76 ERA while limiting the opposition to a .588 OPS. He averaged seven innings per start and 11.8 strikeouts per nine. Oh, and he throws in the upper-90s now.

“I wasn’t really worried about numbers,” Clevinger said. “We were on a run, and I just wanted to play in the playoffs. I think all of us, the ones who have been here the whole time, have, every year, been to the postseason. You don’t want that (streak) to come to an end. That was the big, driving motivator was I wanted to pitch in October. … It’s going to give me more motivation all offseason, and I hope it does for the rest of this clubhouse.”

Clevinger is eligible for arbitration this winter for the first time and, especially given his age — he’ll turn 29 in late December and isn’t eligible for free agency until he’s 32 — he’s a sensible candidate for a contract extension.

“This kid’s future is so bright,” Francona said.

The rookies
Civale didn’t allow more than two earned runs in a start until his 10th and final outing of the year. How many other pitchers in Indians history had accomplished that in their first nine starts? Zero. In those nine starts, Civale surrendered only two home runs. His final numbers: 2.34 ERA, 3.40 FIP, .216 opponent batting average.

Plesac posted a 3.81 ERA in 21 starts, including a dazzling debut at Fenway Park, where he outdueled David Price. He had logged only three starts at Class AAA Columbus prior to his promotion to the big leagues.

“They looked like they were supposed to be here from the get-go,” Clevinger said. “I’m really excited to see them get to work and really kind of know they have their name in the running for a spot, and not trying to worry too much about where they’re going to be.”

Barring a trade, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Civale, Plesac and others fighting for one vacant rotation spot in the spring.

The rest of the crew
Adam Plutko racked up 109 innings for the Indians in 2019, and while neither his numbers (4.86 ERA) nor his fastball (91.1 mph) will blow anyone away, the team did emerge victorious in 14 of his 20 starts. He provided stability during a season of pitching upheaval. That said, he has exhausted his minor-league options, so he’ll be a player to monitor this winter and next spring.

Jefry Rodriguez made a handful of effective spot starts early in the season before he suffered a shoulder injury. During his recovery, he refined his throwing mechanics, and the Indians are intrigued by what he might be able to offer next season.

Logan Allen was widely regarded as a top-100 prospect entering the 2019 season, including No. 74 overall by MLB Pipeline. In 2018, at the Padres’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, he registered a 2.54 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning and a .589 opponent OPS. This year, he pitched for the Padres, Indians and both organizations’ Triple-A clubs, and the results were not as encouraging (5.85 ERA, 10.4 H/9). Granted, he’s only 22.

That’s nine pitchers with at least a bit of major-league experience who should vie for attention next year. There’s also top prospect Triston McKenzie, who missed the entire season with a lat injury and a pectoral strain; he’s expected to arrive at spring training sans restrictions. The Indians will have to add him to the 40-man roster, and Chernoff said this “is a big offseason for him and then a big spring training.”

Perhaps the Indians will deal from their wealth of arms to address some weaknesses in the lineup. Then again, they needed every ounce of that depth in 2019.

“When you think about the major steps forward that some of our young pitchers have taken in the past two years,” Chernoff said, “whether it’s Bieber, who wasn’t in spring training the year before, or Plesac and Civale this year, the same thing. Or even Clevinger, the steps forward he took last year and really even improved on this year — I think it’s obviously a huge organizational success in that way, and I think it sets up a foundation for the future for us.”

All of that despite Kluber and Carrasco combining to make only 19 starts, Bauer being jettisoned to Cincinnati and Clevinger spending two months on the shelf. No one would have been surprised had that sort of scenario translated into a 90-loss campaign.

True dat

Kluber piled up 1,136 innings (including the postseason) from 2014 to 2018, more than any other big-league hurler.

COREY KLUBER
SP, CLEVELAND INDIANS

Indians exercised RHP Corey Kluber's $17.5 million option for 2020.
President Chris Antonetti said last month that the option would be picked up and now the club has officially made the move. Kluber was limited to just seven starts in 2019 due to a fractured arm and strained oblique, but bringing back the two-time Cy Young winner for $17.5 million was a no-brainer.

Nov 1, 2019, 1:38 PM ET

Will Jordan Luplow, Jake Bauers or Daniel Johnson emerge for Cleveland Indians? Hey, Hoynsie
By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com


Hey, Hoynsie: Who do you think emerges from the group of Indians' outfielders Jake Bauers, Daniel Johnson and Jordan Luplow to help out the most next year? I hate to judge the Yandy Diaz deal in the first season and believe Bauers has the tools. Do you think it's a matter of him maturing and getting his head straight? – Bob, Canal Winchester, Ohio.

Hey, Bob: It sounds as if the Indians had a Come to Jesus meeting with Bauers at the end of the season. The Indians love his bat speed and he's a good first baseman. But they want him to be more consistent in his work before and after games. Perhaps that will help him avoid the long dry spells and strikeouts that hurt his offensive game.

Right now I'd say Luplow has the best chance of the three to emerge in 2020. His problem, if it can be called that, will be getting enough chances against right-handed pitching to prove he's more than a platoon player. But facing a steady diet of left-handers in the big leagues is a lot better than playing every day in the minors.

It’s unfair to put Johnson in that group right now because we haven’t seen him in the big leagues yet. He’s coming off a strong season at Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus in which he slashed .290/.361/.507. Johnson hit 34 doubles, seven triples and 19 homers, while posting a .863 OPS.


Hey, Hoynsie: The Tribe in recent years has played very good baseball. And, yet, fans now seem to stay home in droves, while complaining that management is too cheap to spend money to field a better team. Are ticket prices too high? Was the 1990's attendance phenomenon simply a one-time-only thing? Has fan attention been diluted by the rise of the Cavs and potential resurgence of the Browns? Do people have so many entertainment choices now that the business of attracting fans to the ballpark is fundamentally changed regardless of the quality of the product on the field? -- Don Hurtt, Lafayette, Ind.

Hey, Don: There's no easy answer to your questions. There has been a population drop in Cleveland proper over the years and Indians officials believe the "perfect storm" of the 1990s won't be repeated. There is lingering anger directed toward ownership, but that's the same in almost every big-league city.

The organization has worked hard to make Progressive Field fan friendly to all generations, but wide screen TVs make it much easier for fans to watch games from their living room while the Tribe plays in the chill of March, April and May.

In the last 11 years, the Indians have passed two million in attendance once (2017). That's the norm, not an aberration.

The Tribe continues to be wildly popular on SportsTime Ohio. The 2019 Indians drew the second highest ratings (6.55) in the big leagues. They finished just behind St. Louis at 6.6. The rating system means that an average of nearly 92,000 households in Northeast Ohio watched the Tribe whenever it played.


Indians right-hander Shane Bieber went 15-8 in his second big-league season in 2019. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com)



Fan thanks the Tribe for an entertaining 2019 season

Hey, Hoynsie: Since nine of the 10 playoff teams end the season by losing their last game, a true fan has to look at the whole season because baseball is so unique. Given that, I thank the Tribe for an excellent and entertaining season, much more so than 2018. We received more (given the injuries) than we had a right to expect. Looking forward to 2020. –- Michael Hoffman.

Hey, Michael: A baseball season should consist of elation, frustration and discovery. The 2019 Indians had all of that.


Shortstop Francisco Lindor. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

Will Tribe trade Francisco Lindor before he becomes a free agent?

Hey, Hoynsie: Should the Indians trade Francisco Lindor before he leaves as a free agent? They received nothing for Michael Brantley, who is close to a .300 lifetime hitter. Could the Indians have signed Brantley to a qualifying offer? – Terry Rogers, Fort Myers, Fla.

Hey, Terry: Unless the Indians are overwhelmed – and that's the only way they'd trade Lindor – I get the impression they'll keep him for at least one more year. They feel they have a chance to win the AL Central next year and their chances of doing that are better with Lindor.

But if you’re going to be pragmatic – and that’s not much fun – the Tribe’s return for Lindor this offseason would probably be bigger than at any time between now and when he becomes a free agent after the final game of the 2021 World Series.

The Indians never offered Brantley a qualifying offer when he became a free agent after the 2018 season. So the answer is no. And even if they did, he may have turned it down.


Lefty reliever Tyler Olson. (Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

Are matchup relievers on the endangered species list?

Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think the new rule that pitchers will have to face three batters when they enter a game will impact the number and kind of pitchers manager Terry Francona keeps in the bullpen for 2020? Does it mean the end of the left-on-left reliever? – Jim, Newton Falls.

Hey, Jim: Right now I don't know if that rule is official or not. I'm sure we'll find out more this winter. If it is official, it will definitely come into play when a team builds a bullpen. And it will definitely make matchup relievers prove to their managers that they're not a one-trick pony – that they can get both lefties and righties out.

As for Francona, he’ll have to adjust his managerial style, no doubt. He loves the matchup aspect of running a game.




Indians first baseman Carlos Santana. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com)

What do the winter meetings hold for the Indians this year?

Hey, Hoynsie: What do you expect the Indians will do during the winter meetings? Will they make another big deal or go for free agents to help solve their position problem? – Leonard Cole, Glenville.

Hey Leonard: I doubt you'll see them make a big deal like they did at the meetings last year. As they were headed for the airport at the end of the meetings in Las Vegas, they completed the three-team deal that brought Carlos Santana, Jake Bauers and cash to Cleveland for Yandy Diaz.

I think they’ll concentrate on finding an infielder to replace Jason Kipnis and maybe look for an outfielder that can play every day at one of the corner spots. They could fill those needs through free agency.


Lonnie Chisenhall. (Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

Would the Indians consider bringing back Lonnie Chisenhall?

Hey, Hoynsie: Any chance the Indians give Lonnie Chisenhall an invite next spring? If he's healthy, he could possibly platoon with Jordan Luplow. – Jim, Youngstown.

Hey, Jim: You never say never, but I think the Lonnie Chisenhall train has pulled out of the station at Progressive Field for good. Chisenhall didn't play one game for the Pirates last season because of a broken finger and injuries to his right and left calves.

In his last two seasons with the Indians, he played in 82 and 29 games, respectively, because of calf injuries. The Indians have a boatload of left-handed hitters to platoon with Luplow. In fact, Luplow could get a chance to play every day next year.

That is a question that never came to my mind

"Would the Indians consider bringing back Lonnie Chisenhall?"

The question should be Why would the Indians even consider bringing back Lonnie Chisenhall?

Glass.

We saved several million on Luplow's contract compared to Chisenhall's deal with the Pirates; and Pirates could have saved millions by not doing either of those deals. Not the only reason Huntington was let go [see: Cole, Gerritt; Meadows, Austin; Glasnow, Tyler] but boy he sure doesn't know how to value his own talent!

Looking up some comments on the stupid Archer deal, I came across this comment posted just before this year's trade deadline:

According to many a media report, every team today is aiming for a haul like Glasnow, Meadows, and Baz. The Blue Jays allegedly envisioned an Archer-trade return for Marcus Stroman. Cleveland could fantasize about an Archer-trade payoff for Trevor Bauer.

it could turn out that well; Reyes is a long-term keeper slugging OF; Allen is a top 100 prospect starter; Moss looks like a depth starter/reliever; kid in Rookie ball is a possibility; and throw in a couple months of pretty decent Puig.