Cleveland Sports Forum

Pluto is unhappy


Many reasons to agonize over Tribe’s loss to Yankees, but one stands out – Terry Pluto

CLEVELAND, Ohio – There will be lots of agonizing analysis about the Indians being eliminated from the Wild Card playoffs in two games by the Yankees.
Fingers of blame will be pointed in so many directions that some of us may end up using our toes to indicate a culprit. But one stands out like a sore thumb.

Consider the Tribe opened the series with likely Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber on the mound in his home park. The Indians had the American League’s premier pitcher rested and primed for the Yankees.Four pitches into his first playoff game, Bieber had allowed two runs. He staggered through 4 2/3 innings, shelled for seven runs.

Other things went wrong in that opening 12-3 loss to the Yankees, but it began with Bieber.

Now consider the final inning of Game 2. The Indians had a 9-8 lead in the ninth inning. All-Star Brad Hand was on the mound. He was 16-for-16 in save situations this season. Unlike Bieber, Hand wasn’t hit hard. A couple of ground balls up the middle for singles. There was a high chop that Hand dropped.

But in the end, Hand gave up two runs, the 9-8 lead becoming a 10-9 loss.

DON’T PITCH, DON’T WIN

Here’s my point, at least when it comes to the pitching staff: The series opened with the seemingly untouchable Bieber starting and it ended with the reliable Hand in position to keep the Indians alive in the best-of-3 series.

Both failed. In fact, the Tribe’s pitching was a disaster. The team with baseball’s best pitching in the regular season had an 11.00 ERA in two games against the Yankees. They walked 15 in 18 innings. They served up seven homers.

There are other areas to criticize the Indians, but the fact is they blew it, and it was their biggest regular-season strength that was the glaring weakness.

Carlos Carrasco received a raw deal with the rain delays mishandled by MLB. In the top of the fourth, Delino DeShields probably should have caught what became a triple to center by New York’s Aaron Hicks. But Carrasco then walked the next two hitters to load the bases. That ended his night after three innings.

Then rookie James Karinchak had a meltdown, serving up a grand slam to former Indian Gio Urshela. Karinchak had allowed only one homer in the regular season. It was the first postseason for Bieber and Karinchak. The same for rookie Triston McKenzie, who allowed two runs in his 1 1/3 innings.

OTHER FACTORS MATTERED

None of this is to excuse Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana and Franmil Reyes. They combined for a dismal 1-for-23 performance at the plate. This was the first postseason for Reyes, so that is a factor. But Santana and Lindor played on the 2016 World Series team. They also were with the Tribe in the 2017 and 2018 playoffs. And they were awful.

Lindor had the only hit, a double. But he looked lost in many of his eight at-bats, fanning three times. In his last 60 plate appearances of the regular season, he batted .188 The All-Star shortstop looked distracted and shaken at the plate.

As for Santana, he was 0-for-8 with three strikeouts. Looked lost. Looked like he did most of the regular season, when he batted .199. It’s like the 2019 All-Star either grew old alarmingly fast at the age of 34 or forgot how to hit.

The Indians scored three runs in the opener. Probably not good enough to win, but three runs usually kept things close with Bieber on the mound.

In Game 2, they kept coming back. They scored nine runs. Josh Naylor and Jordan Luplow had some big hits.

We can talk later about what all this means for the Indians in 2021 in terms of trades and budgets.

Bottom line for the playoffs: The reason was the pitching collapsed when the Indians needed it the most.

Look, bottom line, they should have won game 2 in so many ways. In so many ways they pissed away a game they had.

Game 1 was what it was.

Another bite of October ends with the same bitter taste for the Indians


By Zack Meisel Sep 30, 2020 123
CLEVELAND — The baseball first bounced in the dirt in front of home plate, then a second time as it whizzed past a contorted Brad Hand, who watched it skip toward second base and trickle into the outfield.

On the 361st pitch of the game, and in the 265th minute of the game, the Indians seemingly watched their season disintegrate in slow motion, their fielders relegated to bystanders as a go-ahead single up the middle rendered moot each of their countless furious comebacks.

The result became official when Austin Hedges, the club’s third catcher, who logged one hit in 12 at-bats after arriving from the Padres midseason, offered at an Aroldis Chapman 98 mph fastball, the 388th pitch of the longest nine-inning game in major-league history. Another bite of October for the Indians — only because the calendar flipped in the later innings — ended with that same bitter taste.

That’s eight consecutive postseason losses. That’s 10 straight defeats when staring elimination in the face, dating back to Game 6 of the 1997 World Series. The World Series drought, the league’s longest, will reach its 73rd year. The names and faces have changed. The result has not.

And now, the franchise wades into a winter of uncertainty. There will be endless conversation about Francisco Lindor’s future, about cost-cutting measures, about the manager’s health and about the team’s nickname. We’ll get to all of that.

“You want to cash it in when you come to the playoffs,” Sandy Alomar Jr. said. “We couldn’t. We fell short.”

In a zany marathon that persisted for four hours and 50 minutes on top of a pair of rain delays — one that included no rain — the Yankees simply mounted one more rally than the Indians. It was the antithesis to anything the Indians participated in during the regular season, with Cleveland’s hitters stringing together key hits and their typically sure-armed pitchers issuing walk after walk.

It was wacky playoff baseball at its best, the sort of back-and-forth affair that forces nonsmokers to rush to the gas station for some Marlboros. The win-probability chart resembled the heart rate monitors of those living and dying with every ebb and every flow.

“A lot of highs, a lot of lows,” Nick Wittgren said. “It is a roller coaster. That game is literally the definition of a roller-coaster ride right there.”

The Yankees led the league in walk rate. The Indians ranked second in the league with only 2.6 walks per nine innings. On Wednesday, Cleveland awarded the already imposing New York lineup 12 free passes, tied for the most in a game in postseason history. Five of those base runners eventually scored.

The team founded on pitching, the team that boasted the AL’s best ERA, withered in the spotlight. The Indians surrendered 22 runs in the two games against the Yankees.

During the regular season, when Cleveland scored three runs or more, it went 29-6. That formula flopped on consecutive nights this week. Shane Bieber and Brad Hand both selected rotten times for their first significant hiccup of the season.

“Frustrating. That’s the perfect word,” Wittgren said. “Just frustrating.”


Josh Naylor made a not-so-graceful dash to the plate. (Joe Sargent / Getty Images)
So, Josh Naylor’s unparalleled playoff feat — he became the first player in the sport’s history to record a hit in each of his first five postseason plate appearances — became merely a footnote. José Ramírez’s extra-base-hit barrage went for naught. His final 14 hits this season were all doubles (10) or home runs (four).

The Indians will now watch the rest of the postseason unfold from afar. They can wonder about how it might have turned out differently had they not stranded Ramírez at third after he reached the base with no outs in the fifth and the game tied and Gio Urshela tugging at his hair. Or had Delino DeShields not bolted in toward Aaron Hicks’ liner and then slipped on the slick outfield grass when trying to reverse course. (That play had a 99 percent catch probability, per Statcast.) Or had James Karinchak, who allowed one home run all season, not served up a grand slam to Urshela, the former Cleveland frog who morphed into the prince of New York. Or had Hand, who converted all 16 of his regular-season save opportunities, not fallen short in perhaps his final ninth inning as an Indian.

All season, the team played with little margin for error, relying on its flourishing pitching and just enough timely hitting to eke out wins en route to a 35-25 standing. It navigated through its manager’s absence, through a midseason protocol breach that reached its resolution with a blockbuster trade and through a historically inept outfield.

The Yankees granted it ample opportunity to claim Game 2 and force a winner-take-all spectacle at Progressive Field on Thursday evening. Instead, Zach Plesac, like Bieber two years ago, will wait his turn for his first playoff start.

There was a John Adams impersonator stationed outside of the left-field gates, the steady beat of his drum drowned out by the fake crowd noise and gusting wind. Police corralled two uninvited visitors in the bleacher seats who didn’t get the memo that only cardboard cutouts, photographers and immediate family members were permitted in the stands.

The game had it all, a cornucopia of bizarre and surreal elements that seemed to perfectly cap such a strange, atypical season. At the end of a physically, mentally and emotionally draining night, the only familiar feeling for the Indians was the disappointment that accompanies another October shortcoming.

Indians takeaways: The payroll, Terry Francona’s future, Francisco Lindor, more


By Zack Meisel Oct 6, 2020 24
CLEVELAND — When Major League Baseball pressed the pause button in mid-March, Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff were first tasked with arranging for every player and coach in the organization to return home safely.

When an uncertain summer morphed into an unprecedented season, they juggled reports from the club’s alternate site and presided over a team that lost its manager and two other coaches, traded away a front-line starting pitcher after he and a fellow hurler breached team protocols, stumbled through an eight-game losing streak, rebounded to finish with a 35-25 record and then fell short against the Yankees in the wild-card round.

So, maybe it’s no surprise that during breakfast one recent morning, Antonetti’s daughter pointed out an increase in gray hairs atop the head of the Indians’ team president.

“You didn’t have many before this started,” she said.

“There was no playbook for what we encountered this year,” Antonetti said Tuesday in his annual postmortem interview with reporters. “So much has happened over the course of the season. I know we only played 60 games, but it felt like 260.”

And now, it’s on to an offseason that could include a trade of the club’s star shortstop, some difficult, financially motivated roster decisions and the ongoing process to replace the team nickname. Here are the five most pertinent takeaways from Tuesday’s session with Antonetti and Chernoff.

1. Terry Francona’s future
The headline: The Indians expect Tito to be ready to go for the 2021 season

The quote: “(The coaching staff) was one of the places in which we faced a lot of adversity this year. We had a group of guys that really stepped in and did very different roles and found a way to help to contribute and succeed, despite some newness to their responsibilities. We’ll have to take some time to work through that. We’ll need to work through things with Tito and then probably have the first conversation with Brad Mills and reconnect with him and see where that takes us.” — Antonetti

The takeaway: Francona returned to his Tucson home to complete his recovery from gastrointestinal and blood-clotting procedures. How the coaching staff will shape up around him next season remains to be seen. Mills and Ty Van Burkleo opted out of the 2020 season. Sandy Alomar Jr. and Mike Sarbaugh shifted from base-coaching roles to positions in the dugout. Will everything simply go back to the way it was before the pandemic?

2. Dollars and sense
The headline: Prepare to hear plenty this offseason about the team managing its roster and its finances

The quote: “The reality of the finances in baseball for 2020 was the industry lost billions of dollars. And as a team, we lost tens of millions of dollars, more than we expected. So that puts us in a really difficult financial position that will take us years to recover from. … I wouldn’t want to get into the different mechanisms on the accounting of it, but it’s substantial. It’s a real, cash loss that we have to borrow a lot of money to be able to fund.” — Antonetti

The takeaway: Antonetti said the club’s “financial reality is daunting.” And regardless of what anyone might think about the payroll or the value of the team or why ownership would continue to possess a franchise if it constantly loses money, the fact is, the Indians’ payroll is going to decrease this winter.

The team has yet to make final decisions on Carlos Santana ($17.5 million club option), Brad Hand ($10 million club option) or any of its potential free agents. Those will come toward the end of the month. Antonetti stressed the team does “not anticipate rebuilding,” and really, much of that is because that effort has already taken place on the fly, through the trades of Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer and Mike Clevinger, in addition to the continued development of capable starting pitchers.

The pitching staff, young and inexpensive, is essentially in place for the foreseeable future. Only Carlos Carrasco and Nick Wittgren are expected to earn more than the league minimum in 2021. That gives the team, as Antonetti described, “a really good platform” to remain competitive next season and beyond.

The lineup on the other hand, has plenty of holes and will need to be addressed. Is there a position player outside of José Ramírez and Roberto Pérez anyone can confidently write into the 2021 lineup in Sharpie?


Terry Francona and Chris Antonetti. (Frank Jansky / Getty Images)
3. The Francisco Lindor quandary
The headline: What can they obtain for him on the trade market?

The quotes: “He’s one of the best players in the game, he’s one of the best people in the game, he’s one of the best ambassadors in the game. He understandably expects to be compensated as such. We understand that. We’ve made a lot of attempts over the course of the last few seasons with Francisco and his agent trying to find common ground on that, where we can compensate him as one of the best players in the game but still also be able to build a championship team around him, because ultimately that’s what is most important.” — Antonetti

“I think we can afford any individual player. It’s less about that. It’s about, how do we build a team that’s capable of contending? And how do we allocate resources in a way that gives us the best chance to win as many games as possible?” — Antonetti

The takeaway: It’s the peanut-inhaling, trunk-twirling elephant in the room. If the Indians receive a sufficient offer for Lindor this winter, logic dictates that they’ll deal him. Antonetti said the team doesn’t feel as though a trade is the only option. The Indians could deal him during the 2021 season, or even let him walk in free agency. If they can acquire a helpful package for him this winter, though, that would fit their framework of balancing the present and future.

Antonetti said they have not yet decided whether they can attempt one final Hail Mary and resume negotiations with his camp. He included that the pandemic “has added an entirely unexpected layer of complexity to trying to plan for what the future may look like.”

4. Strangers in the outfield
The headline: There’s no easy answer here

The quote: “The outfield was probably one of the weaker spots on our team this year. And we struggled to find the right mix of guys. It was frustrating for those guys and obviously for us. We had seen a number of those players perform well in the past, and yet we couldn’t get that group clicking at the same time and on all cylinders this year. I think we have a really strong group of prospects and players, we just couldn’t find the right mix for this year. But we’re hopeful about their future.” — Chernoff

The takeaway: Um, yes. It was certainly one of the weaker spots on the roster. Indians outfielders combined to post a .194/.270/.300 clip in 2020, a slash line that prompts the sort of screams reserved for the next few weeks at places like 7 Floors Of Hell and Blood Prison.

Expect to see more of Oscar Mercado, Jordan Luplow, Daniel Johnson and Josh Naylor. Chernoff even praised Jake Bauers and said the team considered promoting him to the big-league roster on several occasions this year. As for a slam-dunk, proven solution to one of the spots, that might have to come via trade. Delino DeShields and Tyler Naquin are arbitration-eligible.

5. The status of the top prospect
The headline: Nolan Jones is still the club’s third baseman of the future, but …

The quote: “We have talked to him a little bit about the possibility of adding some positional versatility. He’s out at our fall programming in Arizona now and will mix in potentially at some other spots. Obviously with José at third and as Nolan gets closer to the big leagues, that’s something that could make sense.” — Chernoff

The takeaway: They have initiated a conversation with Jones about taking reps in the outfield and/or at first base. Chernoff said Jones, who was a shortstop in college, “turned himself into a really good defender” at third. Jones has worked tirelessly with former sure-handed infielder John McDonald.

But would they shift Ramírez to second to create a spot for Jones in the infield?

“He’s going to be an MVP candidate, again, as a third baseman,” Antonetti said, “and I think we view it as we’re really fortunate to have him there.”

This will be a topic to monitor. The loss of a typical minor-league season further complicates matters, as the Indians (and all teams) attempt to assess and update the timeline for each prospect. Will the team deem Jones or Tyler Freeman or Gabriel Arias or Owen Miller ready to contribute in 2021, even without a normal year of development in 2020?

“What we’ll challenge ourselves to do,” Antonetti said, “is try not to make generalizations or throw up our hands on it, but really dig in at a player level and think about where they are in their development (and) what we could expect for them next year.”

Certainly nothing startling there
Nolan Jones position shift seemed inevitable and now is the time to start thst
I'd prefer Mercado to open 2021 in Columbus and relearn how to play baseball
Did I see Bobby Bradley's name in there? No

For the Cleveland Indians, after a draining season comes a bigger challenge – Terry Pluto Talkin' Tribe
Updated 9:28 AM; Today 6:11 AM

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio - “I know we played 60 games, but it felt like 260.”

That’s what Chris Antonetti said at the Tribe’s post-season press conference. The team president said that despite his team having a 35-25 final record and making the playoffs.

The stress level for the front office and coaching staff was high. It began with COVID-19 wiping out the start of the traditional season.

Then Terry Francona was a hit with major health issues.




“It was getting a little hairy," admitted the Tribe manager in his post-season press conference.

Francona said he spent four days in an ICU unit. He also said his blood clots came back “three times” after he had several surgeries for gastrointestinal problems.

“I have been under anesthesia 9-10 times (since March),” said Francona. “It beats you up a bit.”

Francona managed only 14 games. Hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo opted out because he had some pre-existing condition. Bench coach Brad Mills went home to be with his family after the death of their 18-month old grandson.

Francona said Antonetti was often at Cleveland Clinic checking on him,

In the meantime, coach Sandy Alomar was tossed into the role of acting manager. He also didn’t know when (or if) Francona would be back during the season.




Finally, there was the stress of the virus, not wanting anyone to catch it and become seriously ill. That was on one level.

Another level of anxiety hit every few days when members of the organization were tested. If some positive tests for the virus came back, how would that impact the schedule?

As Antonetti said, “It was challenging knowing at any moment the season could be dropped (cancelled because of the virus).”

Antonetti praised the front office, coaches, players and support staff for “coming together as an organization to overcome incredible challenges.”






WHAT ABOUT TITO?

The plan is for Francona to manage in 2021, but does anyone know if that will happen?

“If I’m going to heal appropriately, I’m going to need to get stronger,” he said. “They said it took me a year to get this screwed up, it’s not going to get fixed overnight.”

Francona said he had blood clots about 18 years ago and spent seven weeks in the hospital. The 61-year-old baseball lifer has been through many health problems, but has continually bounced back.

Francona said he still needs hip surgery.

“That’s a pretty big surgery and I need to be able to do it without risk," he said.




He said they would look at the hip issue in January, “I’d love to have my hip feel better...but I also don’t feel like getting blood clots again.”

He’s hired a physical therapist.

“When you’re the manager, a lot of people depend on you,” said Francona. “I felt guilty because I wasn’t there...I want to hold up my end of the bargain.”

The Indians will wait as Francona recovers. They still have Alomar on the coaching staff, unless he is hired to manage elsewhere.

Alomar was a class act throughout the season, stressing how it was “Tito’s team.” He said several times how Francona was missed.

Alomar does want to manage and is ready to do so. He should at least be considered by some other teams, but also said he doesn’t want “any token interviews.”




That’s a legitimate request for a baseball man of his stature.




OBSTACLES PILE UP

Antonetti outlined a bleak financial picture for the Tribe.

“Baseball was an industry that lost billions of dollars,” he said. “As a team, we lost tens of millions, more than we expected...It’s a real cash loss...and we had to borrow a of money to be able to fund it."

Several other teams are in that position, but the Indians have been cutting payroll since the end of the 2018 season.

“We have had to actively manage our roster for over the last 18-24 months and we’ll do it again in the off-season,” Antonetti said.

The Indians don’t know if there will be fans in the stands next season because of the virus. Even with a vaccine, will fans want to be a part of crowds?

My sense is the Tribe is preparing for the worst. It’s why Antonetti was so candid when talking about the team’s finances.

Most Tribe fans know Francisco Lindor can expect to be traded. The Indians won’t pick up the contract options for Carlos Santana ($17 million) and Brad Hand ($10 million). Unless he comes at a bargain price, it’s doubtful Cesar Hernandez will return.


I wouldn’t be surprised if the Tribe trades Carlos Carrasco, who has two years worth $12 million annually left on his contract. The Indians need outfielders. They have young and cheap starting pitching.

The 33-year-old Carrasco had. 3-4 record and a 2.91 ERA in 12 starts. He has bounced back from leukemia and was healthy this season, having the second-lowest ERA of his 10-year career.


While Antonetti said no decisions on contracts have been made, it’s easy to see major changes coming.





CAN THEY DO IT AGAIN?

The Indians have had the best record in the American League over the last eight years. General Manager Mike Chernoff an Antonetti insisted they can keep winning even in this environment.

I asked Francona why he’d want to manage in what will be a major rebuild with younger players, making his job harder.




“When you have good young pitching, that’s the best place to start," he said. “I know we’ve had our share of challenges getting production out of the outfield. We want to improve there. But when you don’t pitch, it’s hard to be successful.”

Even if they trade Carrasco, the Indians will return with a starting rotation of Shane Bieber, Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac and Triston McKenizie as their top four.

Candidates for the fifth spot would be Adam Plutko and Cal Quantrill along with starters such as Scott Moss, Logan Allen and Sam Hentges from the farm system.

The core of lineup will have to be carried by the bats of Jose Ramirez and Franmil Reyes. They need young players such as Josh Naylor, Oscar Mercado and Daniel Johnson to produce.

It would be a bonus if power-hitting Bobby Bradley could produce. He averaged 28 HR a year in the minors from 2015-19, but also strikes out at an alarming rate.

There are a lot of unknowns about the Indians heading into 2021.




Will Francona be healthy enough to manage? Who will play the outfield? Can the Indians find a way to sign some veterans cheap as the free agent market is likely to be soft for many players.

Francona said Antonetti and Chernoff “have earned the right for me to have confidence in what they’re doing.”

But this could be the biggest mountain to climb for the front office and Francona, who have been together for eight seasons.


“Sometimes the challenges are tough," said Francona. “But that doesn’t mean you back away or give up...I enjoy going through challenges with people I respect and care about. I always feel we’ll figure it out together.”

“When you’re the manager, a lot of people depend on you,” said Francona. “I felt guilty because I wasn’t there...I want to hold up my end of the bargain.”

This and quite a few other quotes there lead me to believe Tito will be back.

Really is quite easy to keep winning the Central/having
a great record. Would be a better indicator if
if Mlb went to a more balanced schedule.

Trades, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Carrasco and more trades: Meisel’s Mailbox


By Zack Meisel Oct 16, 2020 22
CLEVELAND — Before the October calm transitions into an offseason storm, let’s open the mailbox and answer some questions.

Who is the most likely player to start Opening Day 2021 who did not start a game in 2020? — Douglas F.

The most likely candidate would be a position player who isn’t in the Indians organization at the moment, someone acquired in a trade for Francisco Lindor or a starting pitcher or a prospect.

If we restrict the answer to a current member of the organization, the top contenders would be Nolan Jones, Bobby Bradley, Jake Bauers and Owen Miller. Had there been a minor-league season in 2020, Tyler Freeman and Gabriel Arias might have received consideration, but neither middle-infield prospect has reached Double A.

The Indians might prefer Jones start the season at Triple-A Columbus after such an abnormal year (and so they can manipulate his service time). They haven’t seen much of Miller yet, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he headed to Columbus as well. Bradley and Bauers could vie for a vacant first base gig if Carlos Santana doesn’t return. Since Bauers can also play corner outfield, and there figures to be an opening there as well, he’s the choice for this exercise. But by no means should that suggest that the odds of him starting on April 1 are favorable.

What are the important offseason dates with regard to club/player options, Winter Meetings, when the hot stove might heat up, MLB TV network negotiations … basically anything related to the financial/roster situation of the team? — Cody T.

Following the conclusion of the World Series, teams have a few days to exercise or decline players’ 2021 club options. For the Indians, that includes Carlos Santana ($17.5 million; not happening), Brad Hand ($10 million; maybe if they think they can trade him, but otherwise doubtful), Roberto Pérez ($5.5 million; I’d think so, though the acquisition of Austin Hedges was so odd) and Domingo Santana ($5 million; they’re more likely to sign the league’s top seven free agents than exercise this).

The deadline for extending qualifying offers to potential free agents is five days after the end of the World Series. No, the Indians won’t be submitting one-year, $18.9 million proposals to Oliver Pérez or César Hernández or Sandy León.

Shane Bieber will claim his AL Cy Young Award on Nov. 11. José Ramírez will learn of his AL MVP Award fate on Nov. 12. The top rookies and managers in each league will be unveiled earlier that week.

After incessant debate and campaigning, the most significant voting results will be revealed on Nov. 3, of course: the Gold Glove winners.

Teams must set their 40-man rosters by Nov. 20 in anticipation of the Rule 5 draft, which will take place three weeks later. Teams have until Dec. 2 to tender a contract to arbitration-eligible players. Expectation across the league is that we’ll see a record number of non-tendered players, which will create an overflowing free-agent class.

The annual Winter Meetings are scheduled for Dec. 6-10 in Dallas, but, well, it’s hard to envision the league permitting several thousand people to pack a hotel lobby like a sardine can during a pandemic. That said, for years, Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff have been practicing social distancing during the meetings by converting their hotel suite into a rarely abandoned bunker stocked with granola bars and water bottles.

As for the hot stove, early on, there will likely be an overwhelming number of cuts and trade rumors involving high-priced commodities. Free agency could move at a Melky Cabrera-like pace, given the expected surge in supply and the lack of demand.

There will be no Tribe Fest in 2021, the team announced this week. The Indians’ first spring training game is slated for Feb. 27 against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark. The Indians and Tigers are scheduled to battle on Opening Day on April 1 at Comerica Park.

Who do you think is the best match for a Lindor trade this winter? I think it’s the Braves if they’ll make Christian Pache or Drew Waters available, especially if they don’t end up winning a World Series this year. — Michael J.

Sure, the Braves could make some sense. The Mets, Dodgers, Marlins, Angels, Phillies, Yankees, Reds or Blue Jays could be a match. There’s always room for a Mystery Team during hot stove season, too.

There’s a lot for teams to weigh. First, do they need a shortstop? Are they comfortable paying (an immensely gifted) one a salary north of $20 million? Are they comfortable parting with a skilled young player or two or three?

And the variable in all of this: Would acquiring Lindor this winter provide a head start for a team aiming to retain him for the long haul? Or is this strictly a one-year rental before Lindor sparks a free-agency bidding war?


Daniel Johnson, opening day right fielder? (Ken Blaze / USA Today)
Do you have any insight as to why Daniel Johnson got such limited exposure in 2020, especially considering the abysmal performance of everyone else out there? And will he get a fair shake in 2021? — Chip P.

That one never made much sense to me. At minimum, he should be in the mix for a platoon role in 2021. He and Jordan Luplow could form an effective pairing. Perhaps Johnson will prove he deserves daily at-bats regardless of the pitcher’s handedness.

Johnson received only 13 plate appearances in 2020. The year before, split between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, he posted a .290/.361/.507 slash line. He fared better against righties, but he still logged a .780 OPS against lefties. His splits were much more pronounced in 2018. If the Indians don’t feel inclined to pay Tyler Naquin around $1.5 million in arbitration, Johnson seems ready to contribute.

What are you going to do this offseason without all of the usual stash of Marriott points? — Matt W.

Daydream. And cry.

What are the Indians going to do with their Columbus, Akron, Lake County and Mahoning Valley franchises? — Robert B.

Antonetti said recently that the league has instructed the organization to plan to have four, full-season minor-league affiliates (Columbus, Akron, Lynchburg and Lake County). They will also maintain their daily baseball activities at their complexes in Arizona and in the Dominican Republic. For the last year, there has been plenty of talk about minor-league contraction and conversion. The agreement between MLB and MiLB expired on Sept. 30.

Based on this year’s economic situation, I fully expect the payroll to take a hit. I wouldn’t be surprised to see payroll down by close to $30 million. That said, with the lack of minor-league playing time, I’m worried about bringing young guys up to start after essentially sitting for a year. A Bradley/Bauers/Naylor, Chang/Miller, Freeman and Ramírez infield concerns me for 2021. I believe a Lindor trade would net a young, everyday outfielder and (call me optimistic) alleviate many questions in the outfield.

That said, should I be worried with such a youth movement right after a season of no minor-league ball? And I know we won’t break the bank, but adding a FA rental like Jonathan Schoop or Jurickson Profar, or bringing Hernández and Santana back (on the cheap) would seem to make the transition a bit easier, no? — Chris S.

The pandemic has messed with every team’s timeline. Teams obviously plan several years in advance, knowing certain hurdles — such as a lack of player growth or an injury — can obstruct that blueprint. No one could plan for such a widespread hindrance, though. So, I posed a similar question to Antonetti.

“Not having a minor-league season impacted 160 players,” he said. “And how that affects how we plan and which players may be able to contribute at the major-league level, it just makes that way more complex to figure out. And so I think what we’ll challenge ourselves to do is try not to make generalizations or throw up our hands on it, but really dig in at a player level and think about where they are in their development. What could we expect for them next year?”

Jones received an invite to big-league camp in spring training, so he might be close enough to the majors that his timeline won’t be significantly disrupted. But for other players, the Indians might need some time (and some tangible results) early next season to determine exactly where they stand after receiving limited instruction in 2020. For instance, in a pandemic-free world, Freeman might have ascended from High A to Triple A this season. Instead, after a summer of sim games in Eastlake and an October full of instructional games in Arizona, what level will he be capable of tackling next year?

Hernández would be a good fit for the Indians again in 2021, as they attempt to sort out everything else. As always, money and markets will dictate whether that’s realistic.

I’ve heard some speculate that given the financial woes, there is a possibility that even Carlos Carrasco could be traded. Do you think this is possible? And if so, that would leave the fifth spot in the rotation open to Cal Quantrill, Scott Moss, Logan Allen and Adam Plutko. Could you give a mini-breakdown of each of those four? — Ryan J.

I covered the Carrasco case in this week’s trade tiers piece. No matter Carrasco’s whereabouts, the Indians have an abundance of young, major league-ready starting pitchers, including the four you mentioned.

They want to learn whether Quantrill’s future resides in the rotation, and he said he prefers to start. The Indians know what they have in Plutko, a guy who has filled a variety of roles for the club the last few years. He is out of minor-league options.

Moss and Allen have little left to prove in the minors. Moss turned 26 this month and he reached Triple A with the Indians in 2019. Allen, 23, a former Top 100 prospect, has made 12 appearances over the last two seasons.

It wouldn’t shock me if the Indians flipped a young starting pitcher for a similarly aged and skilled position player. As it stands, Bieber, Carrasco, Zach Plesac, Aaron Civale, Triston McKenzie, Quantrill, Moss, Allen and Plutko are all worthy of big-league spots. The Indians probably won’t go with a nine-man rotation, though.

Cleveland Indians trade tiers: Who’s movable and who’s untouchable this winter?


By Zack Meisel Oct 13, 2020 71
CLEVELAND — Chris Antonetti’s phone should be buzzing with regularity this winter. There’s plenty of uncertainty clouding the free-agent and trade markets, but the Indians are headed for an offseason of nips and tucks (and slashes).

So, let’s examine which players the Indians might deal and which names are taboo for opposing general managers to even utter. For this exercise, we’ll exclude those who are eligible for free agency and those who have club options for the 2021 season. (Of that bunch, only Brad Hand would have any trade value and, if he’s tethered to a $10 million salary, it might not be much.)

Don’t bother calling
Shane Bieber: Antonetti would rather receive a call about the upcoming expiration of his car’s factory warranty than a call inquiring about Bieber’s availability. If anything, the Indians ought to explore giving Bieber an extension. He’s under team control for four more years, and he’s slated to earn the league minimum again in 2021 even though he might be a unanimous Cy Young Award winner.

José Ramírez: He should be an MVP finalist for the third time in four seasons, and he could even win the hardware this year. The Indians will lean on him even more next season as they try to patch together a lineup around him. Ramírez is under contract for $9.4 million in 2021, with club options for $11 million and $13 million for 2022 and 2023.

Hanging up in 3 … 2 … 1 …
Zach Plesac: He flashed his potential this season (a 2.28 ERA and a 57-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio) and he’s under team control through the 2025 season. That’s precisely what this organization covets, and it’s why the next few guys on the list fall into the same category. Unless the team can flip a starter for a similarly young, controllable position player, these guys should stick around for a while.

Triston McKenzie: By the time McKenzie is eligible for free agency, Carlos Carrasco will be approaching his 40th birthday. In his first taste of the big leagues, after not appearing in an actual game for two years and having never pitched above Double-A, McKenzie submitted a 3.24 ERA across 33 1/3 innings with a healthy walk and strikeout rate and an opponent batting average of .179.

Aaron Civale: Civale was the first starting pitcher the club drafted in 2016 (third round), one round ahead of Bieber and nine ahead of Plesac. The soft-spoken righty struggled in late September but has demonstrated he can be a reliable rotation piece.

Cal Quantrill: If the Indians are confident Quantrill can make a fruitful transition to the rotation, that could increase the chances a starter is dealt for a desperately needed position player. Think about this: A Bieber/Plesac/Civale/McKenzie/Quantrill rotation has loads of potential … and all five will make the league minimum in 2021 (and only Bieber will be arbitration-eligible before 2023).

Franmil Reyes: The massive individual with the larger-than-life personality has loads of power potential, but he only showcased it for a few weeks this season. From Aug. 6 to Sept. 2, he batted .418 with a 1.201 OPS. Overall, though, his numbers were rather pedestrian (.795 OPS, nine home runs). For a team that needs any semblance of offense it can find, Reyes is a pivotal part of the future, especially if he can prove he belongs in the outfield.

Josh Naylor: His two postseason games reminded everyone why he was a well-regarded hitting prospect. His defensive assignment is up in the air (a replacement for Carlos Santana at first base, perhaps?), but the Indians will likely give him a chance somewhere in 2021, and he won’t turn 24 until late June.

James Karinchak: He’s the leading candidate for the 2021 closer role (though watching him excel in an Andrew Miller/Cody Allen-type fireman role would be fascinating and perhaps more effective), and he’s young and inexpensive.


Emmanuel Clase should be back in business in 2021. (Ross D. Franklin / AP)
Selling low wouldn’t make much sense
Emmanuel Clase: His potential remains high, but his value is at a low point after a season-long suspension. On a graph, that point would be plotted onto the “trade highly unlikely” quadrant. Plus, something positive has to come out of the Corey Kluber trade for one of the teams, right?

Jordan Luplow: Luplow didn’t feast on lefties quite like he did in 2019, but he still posted a .781 OPS against them, and for a team seeking any outfielders with a pulse, that’s a valuable quality, especially coming from a guy who isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2024 season.

Oscar Mercado: The Indians still believe in Mercado, who registered a .348 OPS in 93 plate appearances this season. Antonetti even noted how Mercado impressed the front office with his self-assessment during his exit interview.

Maybe, if it lines up just right
Carlos Carrasco: In a vacuum, he’s a perfectly sensible trade candidate. The Indians have plenty of inexpensive starting pitching depth. Carrasco, who will turn 34 in March, is in line to earn $12 million each of the next two years with a $14 million club option (or $3 million buyout) for 2023. He’ll also soon gain 10/5 rights (10 years of service time, five with one team), at which point he’ll have to approve any trade.

But there’s a significant sentimental component to this. Carrasco means a lot to the organization, to the community, to the clubhouse and to the pediatric cancer patients he regularly visits at the Cleveland Clinic. He has signed a pair of team-friendly contract extensions in part because he wants to be with this franchise. His health and his age complicate his trade value, too.

He made his major-league debut with the Indians on Sept. 1, 2009. It’s difficult to envision him in another uniform.

Roberto Pérez: It’s a bit strange that the Indians acquired Austin Hedges, who earned $3 million last season, boasts a similar skill set to Pérez, but amassed only 12 at-bats after landing in Cleveland in the Mike Clevinger trade. Hedges is again eligible for arbitration this winter and will likely command a similar salary. Will the Indians actually pay two light-hitting, Gold Glove-caliber catchers $9 million or so in 2021? Pérez has a $5 million club option for 2021 and a $7 million club option for 2022.

Bradley Zimmer: Where does he fit moving forward? Is he a backup outfielder? A late-inning speed and defense guy? Zimmer will turn 28 next month. He hasn’t played anything resembling a full season since 2017.

Phil Maton: For a minute, it seemed as though Maton might never allow a run. Then, the high-leverage situations started to have their way with him. He’s included in the team’s plans for next year, but he’s certainly not standing atop the bullpen pecking order.

Nick Wittgren: He’s the club’s only reliever (not including Hand) slated to earn more than the league minimum. Wittgren has been a steady force for two years since the Indians snagged him from the Marlins in exchange for Jordan Milbrath.

Let’s talk
Francisco Lindor: Oh, there will be talks. Dealing him will be more complicated than it would have been a year ago, thanks to a murky, COVID-19-clouded trade market. He’s due for a 2021 salary north of $20 million, via arbitration. And after that, he’s bound for free agency, unless a team that acquires him this winter can dangle enough dollars in front of him to convince him to stay. Without knowing the likelihood of a long-term marriage, how much will another team be willing to part with, in terms of young talent, for only one guaranteed year of Lindor’s services? The Indians don’t have a ton of leverage here.

Delino DeShields: A non-tender candidate, it wouldn’t make much sense for the Indians to pay DeShields while also having Mercado and Zimmer in the mix. Then again, we could have said that before the 2020 season, too.

Tyler Naquin: Another non-tender candidate, Naquin was dismal at the plate this season (.218/.248/.383 slash line), and with Daniel Johnson knocking on the door and Nolan Jones learning the outfield, there might not be room for Naquin.

Adam Plutko: He’s out of minor-league options, and given the starting pitching depth the team boasts, it’s difficult to see where Plutko fits. That said, he is still a year away from arbitration eligibility, and he has emerged as one of the clubhouse leaders. (Lindor is the team’s player rep and Plutko is the assistant player rep. Will either return in 2021?)

Mike Freeman: The Indians have younger options capable of filling the utility role (Yu Chang, for one). Freeman is 33 but still a year away from arbitration eligibility.

Adam Cimber: He only logged 11 innings for the Indians in 2020. If he hangs around, he seems destined to compete for a bullpen spot with a host of other candidates.

Austin Hedges: The man who made the final out of the Indians’ 2020 season could supplant Pérez as the primary catcher, could serve as Pérez’s backup, could be non-tendered or could be traded.

Cleveland is in a tough spot with Francisco Lindor.

A year away from the star shortstop’s free agency, there is no realistic reason to believe the Indians will meet Lindor’s contract-extension aspirations, which means he is an obvious trade candidate. But the ideal time to trade him was a year ago (as we said right here a year ago), and the coronavirus pandemic -- combined with Lindor having the worst offensive season of his career -- has only complicated the club’s ability to get a strong return for him this offseason.

With Lindor likely to command a final arbitration figure north of $20 million and free agency coming at the end of the 2021 season, his trade value is compromised. It’s a similar situation to what we saw a year ago with the Red Sox and Mookie Betts. To move Betts for a worthwhile return, the Red Sox had to attach David Price and eat half of Price’s remaining contract.

But that doesn’t mean a proper Lindor deal can’t be found. So with that in mind, these are the seven teams that make the most sense for a swap.

1) Mets
Assuming Steve Cohen gets approved as the Mets’ new owner, he brings an instant infusion of cash and, perhaps, an instant desire to make a splash. This winter’s free-agent market will have opportunities to do so (J.T. Realmuto and Trevor Bauer are the top two free agents), but the market thins out in a hurry. A trade and subsequent signing of Lindor -- a la what the Dodgers did with Betts -- would be a strong signal to fans that the Mets mean business.


And they certainly have pieces that would interest an Indians team in desperate need of offense. The Mets have several young shortstops -- Amed Rosario, Andrés Giménez and Ronny Mauricio, their No. 1 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline. They also have a glut of corner infield/outfield/DH types -- including Dominic Smith, Brandon Nimmo and J.D. Davis -- who are cost controlled for the next few years.


2) Angels
The Halos need pitching, first and foremost, and this club is not in a great competitive position to be parting with prospects for a rental. The thought of paying Lindor beyond 2021 while also honoring extraordinary commitments to Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon is hard to envision.

That said, an Angels organization that hasn’t exactly been shy in the search for star talent can’t be ruled out in a pursuit such as this, especially with Andrelton Simmons entering free agency. The Angels do have outfield depth, an area where the Tribe is sorely in need. So there could be a match here, especially if Cleveland expands the deal to tap into its pitching development factory.

You’ll hear Zach Plesac’s name a lot this winter, but the Indians could more easily stomach a trade involving a less established arm, such as Triston McKenzie. Just for the sake of discussion, we’ll use McKenzie as an example several times in this piece. If he’s attached to Lindor, that would give the Tribe the foundation to acquire both a Major League-ready outfielder (former top prospect Jo Adell might still be off the trade table even after his rookie struggles, but Brandon Marsh is also highly regarded) and additional prospect help.

3) Cardinals
St. Louis has the pitching depth to continue to contend, but the offense fell short in 2020, and Lindor would bring a potential infusion of energy. As was the case with Paul Goldschmidt, the Cards could get him in and get him comfortable, and then conceivably lock Lindor up for the long term.

The Cardinals could decline Kolten Wong’s $12.5 million option and shift shortstop Paul DeJong, who is signed through 2023, to second base. Any of the Cards’ Nos. 2-5 prospects -- third baseman Nolan Gorman, left-hander Matthew Liberatore, catcher Ivan Herrera or left-hander Zack Thompson -- would be worthwhile targets for the Tribe.

Top Prospects: Liberatore, STL
Apr 1, 2020 · 0:45
Top Prospects: Liberatore, STL

4) Phillies
With Realmuto and shortstop Didi Gregorius both entering free agency, the bullpen will be far from the only area of need for a Phillies team that will be under new front-office leadership. This is far from a perfect fit, because if the Phillies do have intentions of locking up Lindor a year from now, they’d probably be just as well-served to throw that money at Realmuto now. But with the catcher one of the few truly prized commodities of this free-agent class, we can’t rule out the Phillies going in a different direction.

Certainly, Cleveland would ask about third baseman Alec Bohm, but that’s probably too steep a price straight-up for a rental. If the Tribe were to expand the deal to include McKenzie or another arm, then a deal for Bohm and prospects could take shape. Or perhaps a Lindor deal could be centered around shortstop Bryson Stott, Philadelphia’s No. 2 prospect, though it’s worth keeping in mind that three of the Tribe’s top 10 prospects are shortstops.

Top Prospects: Stott, PHI
Apr 1, 2020 · 0:33
Top Prospects: Stott, PHI

5) Reds
The Reds inquired about Lindor a year ago, with Cleveland showing continued interest in outfielder Nick Senzel. Ultimately, though, Cincinnati went elsewhere in its bid to improve the lineup … and wound up with a .212 team average and two shutouts at the hands of Braves pitching in the postseason.

Freddy Galvis is a free agent, so the Reds have an opening at shortstop. With Bauer entering free agency, they might have the payroll flexibility to accommodate Lindor. The match gets a lot more complicated from there, because the Reds aren’t necessarily in the best position to extend Lindor beyond 2021. But this is another example where things would get a lot more interesting if the deal is expanded. Imagine Lindor and McKenzie to Cincinnati for Senzel and a top 10 Reds prospect, such as shortstop Jose Garcia, outfielder Michael Siani, infielder Tyler Callihan or third baseman Rece Hinds.

6) Dodgers
The Dodgers looked like the ideal fit for Lindor (imagine the “Frankie Goes to Hollywood!” headlines) a year ago. But Cleveland had its heart set on Gavin Lux, and the Dodgers had their heart set on … not trading Gavin Lux. L.A. wound up landing a different star named Mookie.

So the ideal fit is a lot less ideal now. But with Justin Turner entering free agency, it’s at least conceivable that a team loaded with both young, Major League-ready talent (catcher Keibert Ruiz would be an especially worthwhile target) and cash could shift Corey Seager (who, like Lindor, is a free agent after 2021) to third base to accommodate Lindor. So we’ll put them on the list, just in case.

Top Prospects: Ruiz, LAD
Apr 1, 2020 · 0:34
Top Prospects: Ruiz, LAD

7) Yankees
Baseball history insists that we toss the Yankees into any conversation about a star talent potentially leaving a smaller market. But more recent history insists it isn’t likely to happen. Given DJ LeMahieu’s pending free agency, the Yanks could conceivably pursue Lindor at shortstop and move Gleyber Torres to second. But LeMahieu is largely expected to re-sign with the club, and the Yankees have shown a reluctance to surrender prospects in blockbuster trades in recent years.

we need outfielders; few of those possible deals include much OF help. I guess we should have traded him last year.

Agree civ - the Mets by far have the most interesting guys listed - 3 of them OF type hitters.

Dom Smith, Nimmo and JD Davis are incredibly legit hitters. And the Mets are a big market team with a new owner.

By far the best fit - but still agree we should have traded him last offseason. Especially since he really sucked this season.

Roberto Perez, Cesar Hernandez, Zach Plesac are Gold Glove finalists for Cleveland Indians
Updated Oct 22, 2020; Posted Oct 22, 2020
Cleveland Indians second baseman Cesar Hernandez completes the double play
Cesar Hernandez provided a steady defensive performance over the shortened season that earned him Gold Glove consideration.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

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By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Pitching and defense played a big role in the Indians finishing 35-25 and qualifying for the postseason for the fourth time in the last five years after a 60-game sprint.

The Indians finished first in the AL with a 3.29 ERA and fifth with a .986 fielding percentage. In light of that catcher Roberto Perez, second baseman Cesar Hernandez and right-hander Zach Plesac were named finalists for the Gold Glove award on Thursday. The winners will be announced on Nov. 3 on ESPN at 7 p.m.


Perez won the AL Gold Glove last year for his work behind the plate. He appeared in only 32 games this year because of injuries, but Fangraphs.com credited him with six defensive runs. Perez in a full season in 2019 was credited with 30 defensive runs saved.

Hernandez, in what could be his only year with the Indians, committed just four errors in 503 2/3 innings. He played in 58 of 60 games and was credited with six defensive runs saved. Hernandez, a free agent after the World Series, recorded 60 putouts, 139 assists and took part in 88 double plays.

Plesac has a chance to be the first Indians pitcher to win a Gold Glove since Rawlings created the award in 1957. Plesac in eight starts covering 55 1/3 innings didn’t make an error. He was credited with two defensive runs saved, while recording five putouts and eight assists.

Other AL catching finalists are Yasmani Grandal and Jamc McCann of the White Sox. The second base finalists are all from the AL Central: Chicago’s Danny Mendick, Detroit’s Jonathan Schoop and Kansas City’s Nicky Lopez. The AL pitching finalists are Minnesota’s Kenta Maeda and Griffin Canning of the Angels.


Perez, like Hernandez, can be a free agent if the Indians don’t exercise his $5.5 million option for 2021 following the World Series.

Here are the other AL finalists:

First base: Matt Olson, A’s, Evan White, Mariners, Yuli Gurriel, Astros.

Third base: Yoan Moncada, White Sox, Gio Urshela, Yankees, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Rangers.

Shortstop: Niko Goodrum, Tigers, J.P. Crawford, Mariners, Carlos Correa, Astros. (Francisco Lindor won the award last year, but didn’t make the final cut this year).

Left field: Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Blue Jays, Alex Gordon, Royals, Kyle Tucker, Astros.

Center field: Ramon Laureano, A’s, Byron Buxton, Twins, Luis Robert, White Sox.

Right field: Clint Frazier, Yankees, Joey Gallo, Rangers, Anthony Santander, Orioles.

National League finalists:

Pitchers: Max Fried, Braves, Alex Mills, Cubs, Kyle Hendricks, Cubs.

Plesac is the pickoff king. Perez has a good chance to repeat. Interesting that Cesar and not Frankie was a nominee
Also notable that 2 of the 3 RFs are guys we traded or gave away.