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7847Indians spring thoughts: James Karinchak’s curve, Bryan Shaw’s return, Tito’s wheels
By Zack Meisel Feb 22, 2021 18
Roberto Pérez hired a personal trainer and dropped 25 pounds over the winter. Logan Allen bid farewell to carbs — he dearly misses doughnuts — and has lost 35 pounds since July. Bobby Bradley shed 25 pounds in his bid to seize the first-base job.
“Not everybody’s blessed to have a body like me,” Terry Francona quipped. “Some of those guys have to work at it.”
Here’s another batch of Indians spring training thoughts.
1. Lance McCullers Jr. closed out Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS against the Yankees with four scoreless innings. He retired the final six batters he faced on 24 pitches — all curveballs. James Karinchak monitored the Houston hurler’s approach and had one thought: “That’s something I need.”
So, Karinchak conducted a simple Google search to find McCullers’ curveball grip. During the 2019 spring training, he said he logged somewhere between a thousand and a million reps.
“Just kept throwing it and it started clicking,” he said.
Karinchak tossed 468 pitches last season, split evenly between his fastball (235) and his curveball (233). The curveball produced a 56.3 whiff percentage. Overall, his pitches had a whiff rate of 45.5 percent, nearly double the league average. In basic terms: A lot of batters unsuccessfully lunged at the breaking ball, which typically starts at their chin and plummets toward their shins. Hitters posted a .140 slugging percentage against the pitch in 2020.
“Whatever batter is up,” Karinchak said, “if the curveball is working, I’m not going to stop throwing.”
The Indians haven’t determined how they’ll use Karinchak. He would seem like the favorite to replace Brad Hand as closer, but Francona has hinted that he doesn’t want to limit the righty to the ninth, especially if a more pressing situation arises in an earlier inning.
2. One thousand, two hundred and thirty days have passed since Bryan Shaw has thrown a pitch for Cleveland. Allow him to sum up his life in that timeframe:
“I played baseball. Sucked. Learned how to pitch again. Had a baby. Came here.”
Shaw was actually preparing to sign with another team when Francona reached out to ask if Chris Antonetti or Mike Chernoff had contacted him. Cleveland’s brass had expressed interest in Shaw, but not since early January. Francona convinced Shaw to hold off on his deal with the other team. Once Cleveland’s front office resumed its dialogue with the veteran reliever, and the two sides struck a deal within a day.
From 2013 to 2017, Shaw posted a 3.11 ERA in a league-leading 378 appearances. He allowed 7.7 hits and 0.8 home runs per nine innings. The past three years with Colorado and Seattle, Shaw registered a 6.17 ERA. His hit rate ballooned to 10.3 per nine innings. His home run rate nearly doubled. He said his slider “fell off the table” when he joined the Rockies.
Shaw spent most of last season at the Mariners’ alternate site, where he partnered with their pitching coordinator, Max Weiner, a former member of Cleveland’s staff, to revamp his throwing and lifting programs, adjust the movement on certain pitches and increase the velocity on others.
Those tweaks, he hopes, will position him to claim an Opening Day roster spot. There’s one hurdle, though. When Shaw signed with Cleveland, he told Francona: “Tito, you know I stink in the spring.” Francona replied: “I’m aware of that.” The manager reminded Shaw that he’s in a setting with evaluators who know him well.
Shaw’s annual spring training numbers (NSFW):
Bryan Shaw's spring statistics
2017
17.61
7.2
19
6
2016
8.64
8.1
12
5
2015
6.23
8.2
16
4
2014
3.00
9.0
14
1
“I think it’s going to be a night-and-day-different spring training,” Shaw said, “than what we’ve seen from me in the past.”
3. Allen said he weighed about 240 pounds when Spring Training 2.0 began in July. Now, he’s at 205. He said he owes “half of (his) career to” strength coach Joe Kessler, who helped him overhaul his nutrition and training.
“Coming through the minor leagues, you don’t pay attention to those things as much,” Allen said. “You eat fast food all the time. I don’t have enough paper in this room to write how many times I ordered a buffalo chicken pizza in the minor leagues.”
Allen visited with Francona on Saturday morning for his one-on-one meeting. He said the manager gave him “a little pat on the back for the work I’ve been putting in.”
“When he (last) saw me, I was just the chunky little young guy trying to figure it out and be more consistent,” Allen said.
Allen spent the entire offseason in Arizona, where he said he bought in “to the Cleveland Indians pitching factory,’ and learned how factors such as body awareness can lead to a more efficient and repeatable delivery. He said his new slider “has been pretty unbelievable,” and he was already stretched out to 65-70 pitches when camp began.
Allen was widely considered a top-100 prospect before the 2019 season, including the No. 74 prospect by MLB Pipeline. That summer, he joined the Indians in the Trevor Bauer trade. The 23-year-old will compete for a rotation spot this spring.
4. Doctors offered Francona several modes of transportation to ease his movement throughout the team’s facility this spring. He’ll be on crutches for at least another few weeks, and in a boot even longer. First, they recommended a scooter-type apparatus that he could kneel on, but Francona refused it because of the basket hanging on the front.
“As much as that may have helped me get around the complex,” he said, “I was not going to take that amount of grief.”
The doctors delivered another device to Francona’s hotel, one that he could kneel on and strap in, but when he struggled to maintain his balance, they ruled out that option.
Ultimately, they supplied Francona with a golf cart. It didn’t take long for his fellow coaches to decorate it with embarrassing photos. On the front of the cart, a prankster — Francona surmised Mike Barnett, since “he’s the only one of that crew who knows how to use the printer” — applied an image of Francona in a kid’s Cozy Coupe. On the back, they displayed an image of Francona’s face on Prince’s body, with the words, “Little Red Corvette.”
“That wasn’t a terribly flattering picture,” Francona said. “That looked like me in my junior year of high school.”
(Top photo of James Karinchak: Ron Schwane / Getty Images)
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By Zack Meisel Feb 22, 2021 18
Roberto Pérez hired a personal trainer and dropped 25 pounds over the winter. Logan Allen bid farewell to carbs — he dearly misses doughnuts — and has lost 35 pounds since July. Bobby Bradley shed 25 pounds in his bid to seize the first-base job.
“Not everybody’s blessed to have a body like me,” Terry Francona quipped. “Some of those guys have to work at it.”
Here’s another batch of Indians spring training thoughts.
1. Lance McCullers Jr. closed out Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS against the Yankees with four scoreless innings. He retired the final six batters he faced on 24 pitches — all curveballs. James Karinchak monitored the Houston hurler’s approach and had one thought: “That’s something I need.”
So, Karinchak conducted a simple Google search to find McCullers’ curveball grip. During the 2019 spring training, he said he logged somewhere between a thousand and a million reps.
“Just kept throwing it and it started clicking,” he said.
Karinchak tossed 468 pitches last season, split evenly between his fastball (235) and his curveball (233). The curveball produced a 56.3 whiff percentage. Overall, his pitches had a whiff rate of 45.5 percent, nearly double the league average. In basic terms: A lot of batters unsuccessfully lunged at the breaking ball, which typically starts at their chin and plummets toward their shins. Hitters posted a .140 slugging percentage against the pitch in 2020.
“Whatever batter is up,” Karinchak said, “if the curveball is working, I’m not going to stop throwing.”
The Indians haven’t determined how they’ll use Karinchak. He would seem like the favorite to replace Brad Hand as closer, but Francona has hinted that he doesn’t want to limit the righty to the ninth, especially if a more pressing situation arises in an earlier inning.
2. One thousand, two hundred and thirty days have passed since Bryan Shaw has thrown a pitch for Cleveland. Allow him to sum up his life in that timeframe:
“I played baseball. Sucked. Learned how to pitch again. Had a baby. Came here.”
Shaw was actually preparing to sign with another team when Francona reached out to ask if Chris Antonetti or Mike Chernoff had contacted him. Cleveland’s brass had expressed interest in Shaw, but not since early January. Francona convinced Shaw to hold off on his deal with the other team. Once Cleveland’s front office resumed its dialogue with the veteran reliever, and the two sides struck a deal within a day.
From 2013 to 2017, Shaw posted a 3.11 ERA in a league-leading 378 appearances. He allowed 7.7 hits and 0.8 home runs per nine innings. The past three years with Colorado and Seattle, Shaw registered a 6.17 ERA. His hit rate ballooned to 10.3 per nine innings. His home run rate nearly doubled. He said his slider “fell off the table” when he joined the Rockies.
Shaw spent most of last season at the Mariners’ alternate site, where he partnered with their pitching coordinator, Max Weiner, a former member of Cleveland’s staff, to revamp his throwing and lifting programs, adjust the movement on certain pitches and increase the velocity on others.
Those tweaks, he hopes, will position him to claim an Opening Day roster spot. There’s one hurdle, though. When Shaw signed with Cleveland, he told Francona: “Tito, you know I stink in the spring.” Francona replied: “I’m aware of that.” The manager reminded Shaw that he’s in a setting with evaluators who know him well.
Shaw’s annual spring training numbers (NSFW):
Bryan Shaw's spring statistics
2017
17.61
7.2
19
6
2016
8.64
8.1
12
5
2015
6.23
8.2
16
4
2014
3.00
9.0
14
1
“I think it’s going to be a night-and-day-different spring training,” Shaw said, “than what we’ve seen from me in the past.”
3. Allen said he weighed about 240 pounds when Spring Training 2.0 began in July. Now, he’s at 205. He said he owes “half of (his) career to” strength coach Joe Kessler, who helped him overhaul his nutrition and training.
“Coming through the minor leagues, you don’t pay attention to those things as much,” Allen said. “You eat fast food all the time. I don’t have enough paper in this room to write how many times I ordered a buffalo chicken pizza in the minor leagues.”
Allen visited with Francona on Saturday morning for his one-on-one meeting. He said the manager gave him “a little pat on the back for the work I’ve been putting in.”
“When he (last) saw me, I was just the chunky little young guy trying to figure it out and be more consistent,” Allen said.
Allen spent the entire offseason in Arizona, where he said he bought in “to the Cleveland Indians pitching factory,’ and learned how factors such as body awareness can lead to a more efficient and repeatable delivery. He said his new slider “has been pretty unbelievable,” and he was already stretched out to 65-70 pitches when camp began.
Allen was widely considered a top-100 prospect before the 2019 season, including the No. 74 prospect by MLB Pipeline. That summer, he joined the Indians in the Trevor Bauer trade. The 23-year-old will compete for a rotation spot this spring.
4. Doctors offered Francona several modes of transportation to ease his movement throughout the team’s facility this spring. He’ll be on crutches for at least another few weeks, and in a boot even longer. First, they recommended a scooter-type apparatus that he could kneel on, but Francona refused it because of the basket hanging on the front.
“As much as that may have helped me get around the complex,” he said, “I was not going to take that amount of grief.”
The doctors delivered another device to Francona’s hotel, one that he could kneel on and strap in, but when he struggled to maintain his balance, they ruled out that option.
Ultimately, they supplied Francona with a golf cart. It didn’t take long for his fellow coaches to decorate it with embarrassing photos. On the front of the cart, a prankster — Francona surmised Mike Barnett, since “he’s the only one of that crew who knows how to use the printer” — applied an image of Francona in a kid’s Cozy Coupe. On the back, they displayed an image of Francona’s face on Prince’s body, with the words, “Little Red Corvette.”
“That wasn’t a terribly flattering picture,” Francona said. “That looked like me in my junior year of high school.”
(Top photo of James Karinchak: Ron Schwane / Getty Images)
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"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
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7848Shane Bieber, a unanimous Cy Young Award winner, plans to be better in 2021
By Zack Meisel Feb 22, 2021 7
One morning in March 2017, a collection of minor-league pitchers sat at a red table behind a chain-link fence and marveled as Corey Kluber tangled with some overmatched hitters during a sim game on a backfield at the Indians’ spring training complex. The group of observers included Shane Bieber, clad in a No. 40 uniform, the organization’s fourth-round draft pick the previous summer.
Bieber’s rapid ascent from college walk-on to major-league starter to staff ace culminated in him capturing the American League Cy Young Award in unanimous fashion last fall. Now, Bieber will be the pitcher standing tall on the mound this spring as prospects, teammates and evaluators flock to his field to witness the work of one of the sport’s top stars.
Throughout the winter, Bieber received awards and honors and plaudits, topped every list and leaderboard, heard his name in conversations about baseball’s best hurler and routinely caught his strikeout highlights on TV. He joked that his elevated status became apparent when he “got a headline” after testing positive for COVID-19. “That was different,” he said, laughing.
Everything Bieber touched in 2020 turned to gold. Well, except for a rotten start against the Yankees in the postseason. That outing hasn’t escaped his memory, and he makes sure it keeps him grounded. He has reminded himself that he’s still in the early stage of his career and far from exhausting his pitching potential.
“A sour taste in the mouth at the end of the year can fuel an entire offseason,” Bieber said.
Bieber will turn 26 on May 31, which will mark the three-year anniversary of his big-league debut. Terry Francona is quick to point out Bieber’s age when suggesting that the guy with the 1.63 ERA and otherworldly strikeout rate can, in fact, find some way to get better.
First, it’s important to note what made Bieber so effective in 2020. The surface-level numbers say plenty: a .167 batting average against, a 2.07 FIP. He struck out an absurd 41.1 percent of the hitters daring (or foolish) enough to step into the batter’s box against him. That’s the sort of rate an elite reliever records when tasked with only one inning at a time, not six or seven.
Bieber always had pinpoint command, even back in his days as an elementary school kid with the ASD Bulldogs in Southern California. He could direct any of his pitches to any spot where the catcher held his glove. He never needed to overpower anyone, and when Matt Blake — the Yankees’ pitching coach, who used to steer Cleveland’s prospects through the organization’s pitching factory — first watched him pitch in the Cape Cod League in 2015, Bieber’s fastball was registering in the upper 80s and he didn’t possess a reliable out pitch.
He added strength, which resulted in increased velocity. He cleaned up his delivery, which made him more consistent. He crafted an ensemble of devastating off-speed pitches, which sent his strikeout rate soaring into the stratosphere.
In 2020, Bieber ranked in the 98th percentile in whiff percentage. In other words, opponents’ swings and misses produced enough wind energy to power a small village for a month. He also ranked in the 98th percentile in strikeout rate. He reduced his reliance on his fastball, even though he boosted its average velocity by 1 mph from the prior year, to 94.1 mph. He threw his fastball only 37.4 percent of the time last season, regularly mixing in a new cutter and a lethal curveball. He limited his slider almost exclusively to righties and restricted his change-up to lefties.
Bieber got hitters to chase more frequently, even though they struggled to make contact when they offered at pitches outside of the strike zone:
League-wide chase contact rate: 59.4 percent
Chase contact rate vs. Bieber: 36 percent (down from 44.8 percent in 2019 and 52.7 percent in 2018)
“There’s a lot to improve on,” Bieber said, “a lot to build off of.”
If you say so.
He’s aiming to improve his change-up, a pitch Blake first brought to Bieber’s attention when he was pitching at Double-A Akron. It was the pitch he relied upon the least in 2020.
Bieber said he revamped his slider this winter in a bid to make it a dependable strikeout pitch to pair with his curveball, the pitch that forced hitters into hideous swing after hideous swing last season.
“I love my curveball and I don’t want to steer away from it,” Bieber said, “but having another breaking pitch that’s doing something else and giving hitters a different look will be big for me.”
That motivation stems from the playoff start against the Yankees, when he realized he could benefit from another weapon if his fastball/curveball combination doesn’t suffice.
“That lineup did a really good job of looking for that (curveball) spin, that north-south spin, and they were swing, swing, swing and then holding off,” Bieber said. “They did a really good job of staying off curveballs beneath the zone and I wasn’t really able to combat that with something that was a strike for much longer, which would be my slider or my cutter, so it was kind of a missed opportunity.”
More than anything, Bieber is firmly entrenched as the leader of the staff, a role he said he’s ready to embrace. Adam Plutko opted to add a slider back into his repertoire after watching Bieber masterfully wield an array of secondary pitches. Bieber and Cal Quantrill chatted during the offseason about the elements of an effective curveball.
“We’re gonna lean on Biebs because he’s the best pitcher in baseball right now,” Quantrill said, “but hopefully we can ease the burden on him a little bit.”
The kid who once studied the Cy Young winner from a distance has swiftly graduated into the captain role. He spent the winter in Arizona, and now he’s ready to take the mound on a backfield, where everyone will be watching.
“You will see improvements because he’s that kind of kid,” Francona said. “He’s conscientious and smart, and he has the drive to want to be great.”
By Zack Meisel Feb 22, 2021 7
One morning in March 2017, a collection of minor-league pitchers sat at a red table behind a chain-link fence and marveled as Corey Kluber tangled with some overmatched hitters during a sim game on a backfield at the Indians’ spring training complex. The group of observers included Shane Bieber, clad in a No. 40 uniform, the organization’s fourth-round draft pick the previous summer.
Bieber’s rapid ascent from college walk-on to major-league starter to staff ace culminated in him capturing the American League Cy Young Award in unanimous fashion last fall. Now, Bieber will be the pitcher standing tall on the mound this spring as prospects, teammates and evaluators flock to his field to witness the work of one of the sport’s top stars.
Throughout the winter, Bieber received awards and honors and plaudits, topped every list and leaderboard, heard his name in conversations about baseball’s best hurler and routinely caught his strikeout highlights on TV. He joked that his elevated status became apparent when he “got a headline” after testing positive for COVID-19. “That was different,” he said, laughing.
Everything Bieber touched in 2020 turned to gold. Well, except for a rotten start against the Yankees in the postseason. That outing hasn’t escaped his memory, and he makes sure it keeps him grounded. He has reminded himself that he’s still in the early stage of his career and far from exhausting his pitching potential.
“A sour taste in the mouth at the end of the year can fuel an entire offseason,” Bieber said.
Bieber will turn 26 on May 31, which will mark the three-year anniversary of his big-league debut. Terry Francona is quick to point out Bieber’s age when suggesting that the guy with the 1.63 ERA and otherworldly strikeout rate can, in fact, find some way to get better.
First, it’s important to note what made Bieber so effective in 2020. The surface-level numbers say plenty: a .167 batting average against, a 2.07 FIP. He struck out an absurd 41.1 percent of the hitters daring (or foolish) enough to step into the batter’s box against him. That’s the sort of rate an elite reliever records when tasked with only one inning at a time, not six or seven.
Bieber always had pinpoint command, even back in his days as an elementary school kid with the ASD Bulldogs in Southern California. He could direct any of his pitches to any spot where the catcher held his glove. He never needed to overpower anyone, and when Matt Blake — the Yankees’ pitching coach, who used to steer Cleveland’s prospects through the organization’s pitching factory — first watched him pitch in the Cape Cod League in 2015, Bieber’s fastball was registering in the upper 80s and he didn’t possess a reliable out pitch.
He added strength, which resulted in increased velocity. He cleaned up his delivery, which made him more consistent. He crafted an ensemble of devastating off-speed pitches, which sent his strikeout rate soaring into the stratosphere.
In 2020, Bieber ranked in the 98th percentile in whiff percentage. In other words, opponents’ swings and misses produced enough wind energy to power a small village for a month. He also ranked in the 98th percentile in strikeout rate. He reduced his reliance on his fastball, even though he boosted its average velocity by 1 mph from the prior year, to 94.1 mph. He threw his fastball only 37.4 percent of the time last season, regularly mixing in a new cutter and a lethal curveball. He limited his slider almost exclusively to righties and restricted his change-up to lefties.
Bieber got hitters to chase more frequently, even though they struggled to make contact when they offered at pitches outside of the strike zone:
League-wide chase contact rate: 59.4 percent
Chase contact rate vs. Bieber: 36 percent (down from 44.8 percent in 2019 and 52.7 percent in 2018)
“There’s a lot to improve on,” Bieber said, “a lot to build off of.”
If you say so.
He’s aiming to improve his change-up, a pitch Blake first brought to Bieber’s attention when he was pitching at Double-A Akron. It was the pitch he relied upon the least in 2020.
Bieber said he revamped his slider this winter in a bid to make it a dependable strikeout pitch to pair with his curveball, the pitch that forced hitters into hideous swing after hideous swing last season.
“I love my curveball and I don’t want to steer away from it,” Bieber said, “but having another breaking pitch that’s doing something else and giving hitters a different look will be big for me.”
That motivation stems from the playoff start against the Yankees, when he realized he could benefit from another weapon if his fastball/curveball combination doesn’t suffice.
“That lineup did a really good job of looking for that (curveball) spin, that north-south spin, and they were swing, swing, swing and then holding off,” Bieber said. “They did a really good job of staying off curveballs beneath the zone and I wasn’t really able to combat that with something that was a strike for much longer, which would be my slider or my cutter, so it was kind of a missed opportunity.”
More than anything, Bieber is firmly entrenched as the leader of the staff, a role he said he’s ready to embrace. Adam Plutko opted to add a slider back into his repertoire after watching Bieber masterfully wield an array of secondary pitches. Bieber and Cal Quantrill chatted during the offseason about the elements of an effective curveball.
“We’re gonna lean on Biebs because he’s the best pitcher in baseball right now,” Quantrill said, “but hopefully we can ease the burden on him a little bit.”
The kid who once studied the Cy Young winner from a distance has swiftly graduated into the captain role. He spent the winter in Arizona, and now he’s ready to take the mound on a backfield, where everyone will be watching.
“You will see improvements because he’s that kind of kid,” Francona said. “He’s conscientious and smart, and he has the drive to want to be great.”
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
7849Eddie Rosario and …? Sizing up Cleveland’s spring outfield competition
By Zack Meisel 1h ago 3
Every summer, the Indians add another name or two to their outfield graveyard, a haunted meadow visited by the ghosts of Jason Michaels, David Dellucci, Carlos González, Shelley Duncan, Brandon Moss and countless others who supplied a few hits and then vanished.
First, though, the club hosts an annual competition for an outfield spot or two or three during spring training. There’s usually a couple of veterans seeking to rediscover their old spirit. There’s often an up-and-comer hoping to capture the coaching staff’s attention. There’s never a shortage of bounce-back candidates.
This spring is no different. The competition features all of those contenders, with Eddie Rosario the one, proven commodity in a desert of question marks.
What we know
Three candidates seem certain to earn playing time: Rosario, Josh Naylor and Jordan Luplow. But their defensive assignments are a mystery at the moment, dependent on how the rest of the competition unfolds.
Rosario, whom Terry Francona described as “the one constant that we’ll have,” will start in one corner. During the 2017-19 seasons, he totaled 589, 592 and 590 plate appearances, respectively. Though he bats left-handed, his splits suggest he doesn’t require a platoon partner.
Luplow has carved out a niche as a lefty masher. He’ll nudge his way into the lineup in a corner spot when the opposition sacrifices a southpaw.
Naylor’s position hinges on the spring performance of the first-base contenders, Jake Bauers and Bobby Bradley. He could start in left field if either of them emerges as a viable lineup option. Or, he could play first base, his natural position, which would create an opening in the outfield. Wherever Naylor plays, he figures to receive regular at-bats.
“As he starts to mature,” Francona said, “maybe that turns into a game-changing bat.”
Francona surmised this week that the team could carry eight relievers, which would mean a 26-man roster split evenly with pitchers and position players. That would leave room for five outfielders.
What we don’t know
The Indians allotted playing time last summer to veterans such as Domingo Santana and Delino DeShields Jr. Even Mike Freeman, a utility infielder, snagged a handful of starts in the outfield. That leaves the team with a crowded spring competition and unfinished evaluations of Oscar Mercado, Daniel Johnson and others.
“What made it so hard last year is, with a 60-game sprint,” Francona said, “we didn’t really have the ability to let somebody play 25 games and sink or swim. Every game (counted for), what, 2.7? You kind of had to be aware of that.”
Oscar Mercado has the inside track to the center-field job, even after he logged a (turn away if you’re squeamish) .128/.174/.174 slash line last season. He pinballed between the alternate site and the big-league bench, ultimately ceding playing time to DeShields.
“I felt like I was just constantly feeling sorry for myself,” Mercado said, “which is not something you want to do. Instead of really taking the bull by the horns and attacking things the right way, I kind of shut down a little bit mentally.”
During a nightmarish 2016 season in the minors, Mercado woke up each morning terrified that his path to a prosperous major-league career had reached a dead end. He couldn’t hit for average or power. He made outs on the bases. His glove at shortstop routinely proved faulty.
Relocating to the outfield eventually salvaged his career, and Mercado served as the catalyst for Cleveland’s second-half surge in 2019.
Last year, however, a slow start snowballed; Mercado couldn’t buy a hit, and he couldn’t regain his confidence with a stint in Triple-A because there was no minor-league season. His frustration peaked during a conversation with his brother when he pondered whether the journey required to reach that stage of his career had been worth it.
“That’s just not a good way of looking at it,” Mercado said, “and that’s one thing that I attacked this offseason, was my mental preparation and just my mental toughness. I need to be stronger and understand that things are the way they are sometimes, and you just have to understand that and just go with it.
“I can tell you just from being (in Arizona), it’s just way better. I’m happy, I’m excited, ready to get going. It’s way different than the way I felt. I understand that struggles will emphasize a lot of the downsides to your mind, but I feel like this year is all going to be different for me. Whatever happens, happens, but I know I came prepared mentally and physically.”
Bradley Zimmer could be running out of time. (Ken Blaze / USA Today)
If it’s not Mercado in center, Bradley Zimmer is still hanging around. The 2014 first-round pick is 28 and hasn’t played regularly since May 2018. He was one of the stars of Spring Training 2.0 last July, but his output didn’t translate in limited regular-season opportunities.
The club also signed Billy Hamilton to a minor-league deal earlier this month. Hamilton can cover plenty of ground in center and steal bases, but he has never offered much at the plate. Francona candidly told the 30-year-old: “In a perfect world, one of our young guys probably lays claim to the job.”
In 2019, his first year in the organization, Daniel Johnson posted a .290/.361/.507 slash line in 123 games split between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus.
“That’s just a little sneak peek,” he said. “There’s more to come. … Hopefully, I can do the same thing in the big leagues. Or, not hopefully. I will.”
In 2020, Johnson made his major-league debut, but he received only 13 plate appearances, as he spent the rest of the summer at the alternate site.
“Definitely different,” he said. “Wasn’t ideal. At the end of the day, I still debuted. It wasn’t ideal. I wish I could’ve been up there all year, but things happen. I’m moving on and (I’m) ready for this year.”
Johnson is 25 and has conquered all levels of minor-league pitching. Evaluators rave about his arm. He has consistently clobbered right-handed pitching, and he rebounded against lefties in 2019.
If Bauers or Bradley seizes the first-base job, shifting Naylor to the outfield, that might squeeze Johnson from the Opening Day picture. Johnson stressed he can play all three outfield positions.
“They know what I can do,” he said. “I don’t have to prove anything else.”
Ben Gamel, competing for a bench spot, can also play all three outfield positions. He’s a left-handed hitter who has actually fared better against left-handed pitchers, though that skill seems redundant with Luplow and Rosario in the fold. One thing to remember, something Francona hinted at earlier this week: The club tends to prefer a veteran player for a bench spot rather than an inexperienced youngster who could be collecting more consistent at-bats in the minors.
Ah, it’s time for the annual discussion about whether Franmil Reyes will see any action in the field.
“I want to play some defense this year,” he said. “I would love that opportunity.”
Reyes, of course, said he’s content fitting in wherever Francona decides. The manager mentioned he’d prefer to keep Reyes’ bat in the lineup in National League cities. It seems as though he’s destined for plenty of designated hitting, though.
Prior to joining the Indians, Amed Rosario appeared to be trending toward a versatile role with the Mets. Chris Antonetti said Rosario is athletic enough to handle other positions in addition to shortstop, where he has spent all but three innings of his big-league career. If Andrés Giménez secures the shortstop gig on Opening Day or at some point during the season, Rosario could factor into the outfield mix.
Jake Bauers has floated between first base and left field in his two major-league seasons, but his route to playing time this year is via the infield.
And then there’s Nolan Jones, the club’s top prospect who took a crash course on outfield defense in the fall. He’ll return to third base this spring, at least at the start of camp. Francona commended Jones for his outfield work and even said, “at some point, he’d be a really good first baseman if need be.” With José Ramírez on the roster, the corner outfield could be Jones’ ticket to a summer promotion.
Opening Day roster prediction
• Eddie Rosario
• Oscar Mercado
• Jordan Luplow
• Josh Naylor
• Ben Gamel
This is strictly educated guesswork at this point. These names will probably change 100 times before April 1. For now, Bauers or Bradley will start at first, pushing Naylor to the outfield and Johnson to Columbus instead of a bench role. Zimmer needs consistent playing time somewhere, so Gamel earns the nod over Hamilton as Mercado’s
By Zack Meisel 1h ago 3
Every summer, the Indians add another name or two to their outfield graveyard, a haunted meadow visited by the ghosts of Jason Michaels, David Dellucci, Carlos González, Shelley Duncan, Brandon Moss and countless others who supplied a few hits and then vanished.
First, though, the club hosts an annual competition for an outfield spot or two or three during spring training. There’s usually a couple of veterans seeking to rediscover their old spirit. There’s often an up-and-comer hoping to capture the coaching staff’s attention. There’s never a shortage of bounce-back candidates.
This spring is no different. The competition features all of those contenders, with Eddie Rosario the one, proven commodity in a desert of question marks.
What we know
Three candidates seem certain to earn playing time: Rosario, Josh Naylor and Jordan Luplow. But their defensive assignments are a mystery at the moment, dependent on how the rest of the competition unfolds.
Rosario, whom Terry Francona described as “the one constant that we’ll have,” will start in one corner. During the 2017-19 seasons, he totaled 589, 592 and 590 plate appearances, respectively. Though he bats left-handed, his splits suggest he doesn’t require a platoon partner.
Luplow has carved out a niche as a lefty masher. He’ll nudge his way into the lineup in a corner spot when the opposition sacrifices a southpaw.
Naylor’s position hinges on the spring performance of the first-base contenders, Jake Bauers and Bobby Bradley. He could start in left field if either of them emerges as a viable lineup option. Or, he could play first base, his natural position, which would create an opening in the outfield. Wherever Naylor plays, he figures to receive regular at-bats.
“As he starts to mature,” Francona said, “maybe that turns into a game-changing bat.”
Francona surmised this week that the team could carry eight relievers, which would mean a 26-man roster split evenly with pitchers and position players. That would leave room for five outfielders.
What we don’t know
The Indians allotted playing time last summer to veterans such as Domingo Santana and Delino DeShields Jr. Even Mike Freeman, a utility infielder, snagged a handful of starts in the outfield. That leaves the team with a crowded spring competition and unfinished evaluations of Oscar Mercado, Daniel Johnson and others.
“What made it so hard last year is, with a 60-game sprint,” Francona said, “we didn’t really have the ability to let somebody play 25 games and sink or swim. Every game (counted for), what, 2.7? You kind of had to be aware of that.”
Oscar Mercado has the inside track to the center-field job, even after he logged a (turn away if you’re squeamish) .128/.174/.174 slash line last season. He pinballed between the alternate site and the big-league bench, ultimately ceding playing time to DeShields.
“I felt like I was just constantly feeling sorry for myself,” Mercado said, “which is not something you want to do. Instead of really taking the bull by the horns and attacking things the right way, I kind of shut down a little bit mentally.”
During a nightmarish 2016 season in the minors, Mercado woke up each morning terrified that his path to a prosperous major-league career had reached a dead end. He couldn’t hit for average or power. He made outs on the bases. His glove at shortstop routinely proved faulty.
Relocating to the outfield eventually salvaged his career, and Mercado served as the catalyst for Cleveland’s second-half surge in 2019.
Last year, however, a slow start snowballed; Mercado couldn’t buy a hit, and he couldn’t regain his confidence with a stint in Triple-A because there was no minor-league season. His frustration peaked during a conversation with his brother when he pondered whether the journey required to reach that stage of his career had been worth it.
“That’s just not a good way of looking at it,” Mercado said, “and that’s one thing that I attacked this offseason, was my mental preparation and just my mental toughness. I need to be stronger and understand that things are the way they are sometimes, and you just have to understand that and just go with it.
“I can tell you just from being (in Arizona), it’s just way better. I’m happy, I’m excited, ready to get going. It’s way different than the way I felt. I understand that struggles will emphasize a lot of the downsides to your mind, but I feel like this year is all going to be different for me. Whatever happens, happens, but I know I came prepared mentally and physically.”
Bradley Zimmer could be running out of time. (Ken Blaze / USA Today)
If it’s not Mercado in center, Bradley Zimmer is still hanging around. The 2014 first-round pick is 28 and hasn’t played regularly since May 2018. He was one of the stars of Spring Training 2.0 last July, but his output didn’t translate in limited regular-season opportunities.
The club also signed Billy Hamilton to a minor-league deal earlier this month. Hamilton can cover plenty of ground in center and steal bases, but he has never offered much at the plate. Francona candidly told the 30-year-old: “In a perfect world, one of our young guys probably lays claim to the job.”
In 2019, his first year in the organization, Daniel Johnson posted a .290/.361/.507 slash line in 123 games split between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus.
“That’s just a little sneak peek,” he said. “There’s more to come. … Hopefully, I can do the same thing in the big leagues. Or, not hopefully. I will.”
In 2020, Johnson made his major-league debut, but he received only 13 plate appearances, as he spent the rest of the summer at the alternate site.
“Definitely different,” he said. “Wasn’t ideal. At the end of the day, I still debuted. It wasn’t ideal. I wish I could’ve been up there all year, but things happen. I’m moving on and (I’m) ready for this year.”
Johnson is 25 and has conquered all levels of minor-league pitching. Evaluators rave about his arm. He has consistently clobbered right-handed pitching, and he rebounded against lefties in 2019.
If Bauers or Bradley seizes the first-base job, shifting Naylor to the outfield, that might squeeze Johnson from the Opening Day picture. Johnson stressed he can play all three outfield positions.
“They know what I can do,” he said. “I don’t have to prove anything else.”
Ben Gamel, competing for a bench spot, can also play all three outfield positions. He’s a left-handed hitter who has actually fared better against left-handed pitchers, though that skill seems redundant with Luplow and Rosario in the fold. One thing to remember, something Francona hinted at earlier this week: The club tends to prefer a veteran player for a bench spot rather than an inexperienced youngster who could be collecting more consistent at-bats in the minors.
Ah, it’s time for the annual discussion about whether Franmil Reyes will see any action in the field.
“I want to play some defense this year,” he said. “I would love that opportunity.”
Reyes, of course, said he’s content fitting in wherever Francona decides. The manager mentioned he’d prefer to keep Reyes’ bat in the lineup in National League cities. It seems as though he’s destined for plenty of designated hitting, though.
Prior to joining the Indians, Amed Rosario appeared to be trending toward a versatile role with the Mets. Chris Antonetti said Rosario is athletic enough to handle other positions in addition to shortstop, where he has spent all but three innings of his big-league career. If Andrés Giménez secures the shortstop gig on Opening Day or at some point during the season, Rosario could factor into the outfield mix.
Jake Bauers has floated between first base and left field in his two major-league seasons, but his route to playing time this year is via the infield.
And then there’s Nolan Jones, the club’s top prospect who took a crash course on outfield defense in the fall. He’ll return to third base this spring, at least at the start of camp. Francona commended Jones for his outfield work and even said, “at some point, he’d be a really good first baseman if need be.” With José Ramírez on the roster, the corner outfield could be Jones’ ticket to a summer promotion.
Opening Day roster prediction
• Eddie Rosario
• Oscar Mercado
• Jordan Luplow
• Josh Naylor
• Ben Gamel
This is strictly educated guesswork at this point. These names will probably change 100 times before April 1. For now, Bauers or Bradley will start at first, pushing Naylor to the outfield and Johnson to Columbus instead of a bench role. Zimmer needs consistent playing time somewhere, so Gamel earns the nod over Hamilton as Mercado’s
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
7850Gamel's stats are very unimpressive Career 720 OPS. The only thing about him that's better than Naquin is he walks more, which is not hard and strikes out a bit less. Much rather see Daniel Johnson get a shot. He may or may not turn out to be better but why wait?
I find Mercado's excuse for last summer's performance to be eminently reasonable. Coming and going and being locked up in hotel rooms was an awfully strange lifestyle for a young athlete. I'll give him a do-over but look at A. Rosario in CF, too
Tito tells Billy Hamilton [age30] that he wants to give the "young guys" a chance. That includes Zimmer [age 28] who is younger by 2384 ABs and 2 years.
I find Mercado's excuse for last summer's performance to be eminently reasonable. Coming and going and being locked up in hotel rooms was an awfully strange lifestyle for a young athlete. I'll give him a do-over but look at A. Rosario in CF, too
Tito tells Billy Hamilton [age30] that he wants to give the "young guys" a chance. That includes Zimmer [age 28] who is younger by 2384 ABs and 2 years.
Re: Articles
7851Francona commended Jones for his outfield work and even said, “at some point, he’d be a really good first baseman if need be.”
What?? Get him over there then.
You just lost Carlos Santana and there is an opening. Sounds like a good point to me.
What?? Get him over there then.
You just lost Carlos Santana and there is an opening. Sounds like a good point to me.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
7852Give Bradley the chance first We could use a big power bat if he works out And send Jones to Columbus and learn how to hit lefties We don't need him to be a platoon player
Re: Articles
7853Why a Shane Bieber contract extension with Indians makes sense for both sides
By Zack Meisel 4h ago 20
About two weeks after Shane Bieber seized the American League Cy Young Award via a unanimous vote, he started to script the next chapter in his burgeoning career.
With MLB’s offseason still in its infancy, Bieber was already dreaming of his encore performance. As Terry Francona tells it, Bieber told pitching coach Carl Willis: “I’m past it. I’m ready for whatever is next.”
Bieber etched his name into multiple pages in the sport’s record books in 2020. He registered statistics so implausible they demanded a double-take. He tormented hitters with dirt-kissing curveballs, perfectly placed fastballs and masterfully crafted cutters. He emerged as the undisputed ace of Cleveland’s staff, a distinguished role considering the organization’s propensity for pumping out proficient starting pitchers.
Bieber has rapidly developed into precisely the sort of centerpiece every franchise dreams of building around. And this week, Bieber voiced his eagerness to be a foundational piece in Cleveland, where, with a long-term contract extension, he could anchor the rotation for another six or seven years.
The Indians are — perhaps contrary to popular belief, given their nosediving payroll — in position to reward someone of Bieber’s caliber. They already control him for the next four seasons. Chris Antonetti indicated Bieber fits every criteria the team seeks in a long-term extension candidate.
The club typically holds these conversations during spring training. Their discussions with Francisco Lindor last spring weren’t fruitful, but they worked out past deals with Corey Kluber, Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis and Yan Gomes in the weeks leading up to the regular season.
Here’s why a Bieber extension would make sense for both sides.
The pitcher’s perspective
It would be understandable if Bieber preferred to bet on himself and wait for free agency, especially with a new collective bargaining agreement on the horizon. (The current agreement is set to expire after this season.) He has already established himself as one of the league’s most imposing starting pitchers, and if he can maintain that status for another four years, he could position himself to earn a hefty, nine-figure deal on the open market.
He’s in line to earn about the league minimum in 2021, about $570,500 — not the typical going rate for a pitcher who posted a 1.63 ERA while striking out more than 41 percent of the batters he faced. He’ll garner a more lucrative salary the next three years, when he’s eligible for arbitration.
Bieber indicated a year ago he’d be open to an extension, and when I posed the same question this week, he suggested he’s ready to negotiate.
“It’s absolutely something I’d be open to,” he said. “In terms of conversations, it really hasn’t happened yet, so that’s something I’d love to dive into and hopefully that will be reciprocated as well.”
Bieber genuinely seems to enjoy his standing on the roster and in the clubhouse, where he now serves as the leader of the rotation, a role he said he embraces. It’s a tight-knit group, full of pitchers who rose through the system together and are under team control for a long time.
The terms of any deal will have to fit his preferences, of course, and only Bieber knows how many years and dollars he would demand. The club granted Bieber a $420,000 signing bonus after drafting him in the fourth round out of UC Santa Barbara in 2016. Immediate, long-term financial security might appeal to him, though, especially given the severity and unpredictability of arm injuries for pitchers.
The team’s perspective
The Indians don’t owe any player a cent after 2021. They have a few club options to sort out — obviously, they aren’t going to decline José Ramírez’s 2022 option — but, at the moment, they have no guaranteed salaries for next season or beyond. So, they wield as much financial flexibility as is possible for a franchise. (No, they don’t make felt pennants for those, smart alecks.) Paul Dolan can afford to grant Bieber an extension, even in a pandemic-riddled world.
Cleveland’s Opening Day payroll will likely land near $50 million, slightly more than one-third of its total from three years ago. I asked Antonetti how the lack of financial commitments might influence how the front office shapes the future roster. If there’s ever a time to lock up its stars, it’s now.
“I would expect over the next six to 12 months, the guarantees that we will have moving forward will increase and you’ll start to see some of those commitments moving forward,” he said. “But it does give us a great deal of flexibility in how we want to build our team.”
Bieber is only 25, and he can’t hit the free-agent market until after the 2024 season. On one hand, that arms the Indians with some leverage. Then again, he has already joined the sport’s pantheon of elite pitchers. It’s not just the historic (albeit shortened) 2020 season. Bieber also finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award balloting in 2019, his first full season in the majors.
The Indians could structure a deal like many extensions, in which a player receives relatively modest bumps in pay for the first couple of years before the compensation balloons toward the end of the term. That would buy Dolan some more time, before Bieber is due a hefty salary, to find a minority owner (or even sell the team, though there’s been no indication that’s in play). The longer the Indians delay discussions with Bieber, the more difficult it could be to sign him.
“Shane represents all the things we would want our players to be,” Antonetti said, “both on the field, the teammate he is, the way he prepares, the way he competes. We are hopeful that Shane will be here for a really long time to come.”
The terms of the deal
This is a guessing game, of course, because there are a variety of factors that make this situation different from any past example. Antonetti compared it to when the club struck a long-term deal in 2015 with Kluber, who had also claimed a Cy Young Award the previous season, his second full year in the majors.
As Antonetti noted, though, Kluber was inching toward his 29th birthday when he agreed to his new pact. The agreement guaranteed Kluber $38.5 million over five years, with a pair of club options. Cleveland ultimately paid Kluber more than $41 million over those five seasons thanks to contract escalators. Kluber won a second piece of hardware in 2017, the third year of his new contract. The Indians exercised his 2020 option, worth $17.5 million, and promptly traded him to the Rangers, for whom he logged one inning.
Because of the age difference, the Kluber example is probably, at most, a baseline for Bieber’s situation. Before the 2013 season, the White Sox granted Chris Sale a five-year extension that guaranteed the left-hander $32.5 million. The deal ultimately paid him $59 million over seven years.
A better floor for a Bieber negotiation might be Blake Snell, who also snagged a Cy Young Award in his second full season (2018). He then signed a five-year, $50 million deal with the Rays. That deal covered one free-agent year.
It would benefit the Indians to buy out a year or two of Bieber’s free agency. In the past, many Cleveland extensions have included a club option or two at the end. So, a deal could include five guaranteed years plus a club option for a sixth, or six plus a club option for a seventh, perhaps falling in the $60 million to $85 million range (with escalators based on Bieber’s placement on future Cy Young Award ballots).
There’s certainly interest from both sides in striking up a conversation at some point. Bieber is open for business, and the Indians would love to keep him for more than just the next four years.
“When young pitchers are coming up,” Antonetti said, “when they say, ‘I want to be great. I want to be the best at what I do. How do I do that?’ And we can say, ‘Hey, look at Shane Bieber. Do what he does.’ It’s a pretty good example to have in the clubhouse.”
[Related: Shane Bieber eyeing an even better 2021]
(Photo: Jason Miller / Getty Images)
What did you think of this story?
By Zack Meisel 4h ago 20
About two weeks after Shane Bieber seized the American League Cy Young Award via a unanimous vote, he started to script the next chapter in his burgeoning career.
With MLB’s offseason still in its infancy, Bieber was already dreaming of his encore performance. As Terry Francona tells it, Bieber told pitching coach Carl Willis: “I’m past it. I’m ready for whatever is next.”
Bieber etched his name into multiple pages in the sport’s record books in 2020. He registered statistics so implausible they demanded a double-take. He tormented hitters with dirt-kissing curveballs, perfectly placed fastballs and masterfully crafted cutters. He emerged as the undisputed ace of Cleveland’s staff, a distinguished role considering the organization’s propensity for pumping out proficient starting pitchers.
Bieber has rapidly developed into precisely the sort of centerpiece every franchise dreams of building around. And this week, Bieber voiced his eagerness to be a foundational piece in Cleveland, where, with a long-term contract extension, he could anchor the rotation for another six or seven years.
The Indians are — perhaps contrary to popular belief, given their nosediving payroll — in position to reward someone of Bieber’s caliber. They already control him for the next four seasons. Chris Antonetti indicated Bieber fits every criteria the team seeks in a long-term extension candidate.
The club typically holds these conversations during spring training. Their discussions with Francisco Lindor last spring weren’t fruitful, but they worked out past deals with Corey Kluber, Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis and Yan Gomes in the weeks leading up to the regular season.
Here’s why a Bieber extension would make sense for both sides.
The pitcher’s perspective
It would be understandable if Bieber preferred to bet on himself and wait for free agency, especially with a new collective bargaining agreement on the horizon. (The current agreement is set to expire after this season.) He has already established himself as one of the league’s most imposing starting pitchers, and if he can maintain that status for another four years, he could position himself to earn a hefty, nine-figure deal on the open market.
He’s in line to earn about the league minimum in 2021, about $570,500 — not the typical going rate for a pitcher who posted a 1.63 ERA while striking out more than 41 percent of the batters he faced. He’ll garner a more lucrative salary the next three years, when he’s eligible for arbitration.
Bieber indicated a year ago he’d be open to an extension, and when I posed the same question this week, he suggested he’s ready to negotiate.
“It’s absolutely something I’d be open to,” he said. “In terms of conversations, it really hasn’t happened yet, so that’s something I’d love to dive into and hopefully that will be reciprocated as well.”
Bieber genuinely seems to enjoy his standing on the roster and in the clubhouse, where he now serves as the leader of the rotation, a role he said he embraces. It’s a tight-knit group, full of pitchers who rose through the system together and are under team control for a long time.
The terms of any deal will have to fit his preferences, of course, and only Bieber knows how many years and dollars he would demand. The club granted Bieber a $420,000 signing bonus after drafting him in the fourth round out of UC Santa Barbara in 2016. Immediate, long-term financial security might appeal to him, though, especially given the severity and unpredictability of arm injuries for pitchers.
The team’s perspective
The Indians don’t owe any player a cent after 2021. They have a few club options to sort out — obviously, they aren’t going to decline José Ramírez’s 2022 option — but, at the moment, they have no guaranteed salaries for next season or beyond. So, they wield as much financial flexibility as is possible for a franchise. (No, they don’t make felt pennants for those, smart alecks.) Paul Dolan can afford to grant Bieber an extension, even in a pandemic-riddled world.
Cleveland’s Opening Day payroll will likely land near $50 million, slightly more than one-third of its total from three years ago. I asked Antonetti how the lack of financial commitments might influence how the front office shapes the future roster. If there’s ever a time to lock up its stars, it’s now.
“I would expect over the next six to 12 months, the guarantees that we will have moving forward will increase and you’ll start to see some of those commitments moving forward,” he said. “But it does give us a great deal of flexibility in how we want to build our team.”
Bieber is only 25, and he can’t hit the free-agent market until after the 2024 season. On one hand, that arms the Indians with some leverage. Then again, he has already joined the sport’s pantheon of elite pitchers. It’s not just the historic (albeit shortened) 2020 season. Bieber also finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award balloting in 2019, his first full season in the majors.
The Indians could structure a deal like many extensions, in which a player receives relatively modest bumps in pay for the first couple of years before the compensation balloons toward the end of the term. That would buy Dolan some more time, before Bieber is due a hefty salary, to find a minority owner (or even sell the team, though there’s been no indication that’s in play). The longer the Indians delay discussions with Bieber, the more difficult it could be to sign him.
“Shane represents all the things we would want our players to be,” Antonetti said, “both on the field, the teammate he is, the way he prepares, the way he competes. We are hopeful that Shane will be here for a really long time to come.”
The terms of the deal
This is a guessing game, of course, because there are a variety of factors that make this situation different from any past example. Antonetti compared it to when the club struck a long-term deal in 2015 with Kluber, who had also claimed a Cy Young Award the previous season, his second full year in the majors.
As Antonetti noted, though, Kluber was inching toward his 29th birthday when he agreed to his new pact. The agreement guaranteed Kluber $38.5 million over five years, with a pair of club options. Cleveland ultimately paid Kluber more than $41 million over those five seasons thanks to contract escalators. Kluber won a second piece of hardware in 2017, the third year of his new contract. The Indians exercised his 2020 option, worth $17.5 million, and promptly traded him to the Rangers, for whom he logged one inning.
Because of the age difference, the Kluber example is probably, at most, a baseline for Bieber’s situation. Before the 2013 season, the White Sox granted Chris Sale a five-year extension that guaranteed the left-hander $32.5 million. The deal ultimately paid him $59 million over seven years.
A better floor for a Bieber negotiation might be Blake Snell, who also snagged a Cy Young Award in his second full season (2018). He then signed a five-year, $50 million deal with the Rays. That deal covered one free-agent year.
It would benefit the Indians to buy out a year or two of Bieber’s free agency. In the past, many Cleveland extensions have included a club option or two at the end. So, a deal could include five guaranteed years plus a club option for a sixth, or six plus a club option for a seventh, perhaps falling in the $60 million to $85 million range (with escalators based on Bieber’s placement on future Cy Young Award ballots).
There’s certainly interest from both sides in striking up a conversation at some point. Bieber is open for business, and the Indians would love to keep him for more than just the next four years.
“When young pitchers are coming up,” Antonetti said, “when they say, ‘I want to be great. I want to be the best at what I do. How do I do that?’ And we can say, ‘Hey, look at Shane Bieber. Do what he does.’ It’s a pretty good example to have in the clubhouse.”
[Related: Shane Bieber eyeing an even better 2021]
(Photo: Jason Miller / Getty Images)
What did you think of this story?
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
7854All things Cleveland:
Shane Bieber extension, Kevin Love, Browns free agency and more in Jason Lloyd’s mailbag
By Jason Lloyd Feb 26, 2021 33
Should I buy a Shane Bieber jersey this spring? Me buying a jersey would represent a star player who would be playing for my team for most of his career, but I have the feeling he will be a Yankee or Dodger in the near future cause Dolan doesn’t have money.
Joseph K.
Buy two, home and road. I’m bullish on the Indians getting something done with Bieber even though he said this week he has not had any extension talks with the organization. It makes too much sense on both sides for it not to happen. I wrote a few months ago Bieber is sort of a unicorn. He’s putting up numbers we’ve rarely seen from pitchers his age and with his experience. The longer the Indians wait, the higher the price goes up.
If the three major sports leagues were starting from scratch (32 teams), would Cleveland get a team in each league? Any league? This thought occurred to me watching Cleveland, Buffalo and Green Bay in the NFL playoffs — three great franchises and fan bases — and wondering if those cities would even get an NFL franchise if the league started today.
Ray B.
Cleveland would absolutely get one team. I’m certain it would get two teams.
But three?
I’ve wondered for quite some time if Cleveland has the financial bandwidth to support three major-league teams. The Browns take up an awful lot of air space (and disposable income), but there is certainly enough oxygen here for another team and the Indians and Cavs often fight for the leftovers.
As the 19th largest television market in the country, there is only one market smaller than Cleveland with three pro teams: Pittsburgh, which is 24th. (And before anyone points to Milwaukee, which is 35th, Green Bay is two hours away and considered its own TV market.)
I’m hopeful, however, this could be changing. I’m 44. My generation that grew up here graduated from high school and college and left, just like the generation before them. It feels like millennials are staying home at higher rates now than any of the previous generations. Hopefully, that means good things for our future.
I 100% understand that it was a coup to get (Jarrett) Allen for the future, but what I don’t understand is why the trade had to kill all momentum. This team was looking good enough to ACTUALLY play some postseason basketball this year! Wouldn’t that have been the best thing to do? Maybe show some progress, which in turn could maybe lure a FA worth his salt to come to Cleveland?
Ugh. I just don’t understand why the Cavs couldn’t convince Drummond/Allen to split the minutes at C (and maybe play 5-7 minutes on the floor at the same time) so each gets 28 or so per game? Ever since the Drummond trade last year, this team played so well … until the Allen trade. Then it all went to shit and we’re back to the lottery yet again with literally zero shot to attract an above-average veteran player to help these young guys to the next level. Nothing ever changes.
PS – Kevin Love must have the weakest calves in the world.
Adam C.
Let’s be clear: The Allen trade with the Nets didn’t kill the Cavs, the schedule did. I’ve written since the preseason, and reiterated during their hot start, this team just isn’t very good yet. And losing Kevin Porter Jr. cost them a huge piece to their rebuild.
The most important position in the NBA is the wing. That happens to be the spot the Cavs are the weakest. That’s not a great combination. The Cavs need young, athletic, playmaking wings that can get up and down the floor, make shots and defend. They’re not easy to find, but they’re the most important commodity in today’s small ball, pace and space style.
Drummond was never going to be acceptable sharing the role with Allen because both guys are playing for contracts. Drummond probably thinks he has one more big payday ahead of him (I’d tend to disagree and point to the lack of interest in him both last year and this year). He’s playing for his numbers and his next deal. Allen is a restricted free agent this summer and also is looking to get paid.
Cleveland struggled to attract free agents when they had one of the best teams in the league. They’re not going to get stars to come here now. It isn’t sexy or exciting, but the Cavs aren’t ready to contend, and I’d argue that losing Porter set them back another year. Bottom line: Rebuilding in the NBA is hard.
As for Love, I thought he’d have been back this week. That was my understanding. Calf injuries are no joke. Josh Donaldson lost two years, essentially, to a calf injury in baseball. And they’re easy to re-aggravate. Love should be ready to go after the break if he doesn’t make it back before then.
What are your biggest what if’s for each team? Here are mine:
Indians – What if Sandy Alomar slid into home plate in the top of the 8th in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series? Does that extra insurance run make a difference or does Mesa blow the game regardless?
Browns – What if Modell sold the team instead of moving them to Baltimore? Does the fan base still go through 2 decades of misery? When the new stadium is being built do they play for a few years down in the Horseshoe? Do they have a Super Bowl title by now?
Cavs – What if Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love never get hurt during the 2015 postseason? I go to my grave convinced the Cavs win the championship that year.
Jamie P.
Good choices. I’ll counter with mine.
Indians — What if it didn’t rain? (Zack Meisel and I wrote a whole story on the rain delay during the 2016 World Series.)
Browns — What if Webster Slaughter did his job? Would Ernest Byner still have fumbled? Slaughter, as Marty Schottenheimer revealed years later in this Q&A, was supposed to run an out pattern when he spotted Broncos cornerback Jeremiah Castille playing bump and run. Slaughter was supposed to release to Castille’s outside shoulder and run to the back of the end zone, which would’ve dragged Castille out of the play. Instead, Slaughter took a few steps and turned to watch Byner run, which left Castille in a position to make the biggest play of the year.
Cavs — What if the Cavs didn’t trade Kyrie Irving with two years left on his contract?
Why don’t we hear about Dan Gilbert anymore? I (hear) he had a stroke and (is) rehabbing. Do you think he will sell the team because of this?
Francisco R.
Dan has been out of the spotlight quite a bit since his stroke in May 2019. I do not believe he has any intention of selling, however. One of his sons, Grant, is now working for the organization. I would expect Grant’s role to grow in the coming years.
Over-under on the Tribe win/loss? I’m saying 85-77. Also, what will be the next nickname? Spiders, Blues, Commodores or Walleye? I have to say the Walleye is starting to wear on me.
Andrew L.
That’s a good guess on their record. I think this team will be better than people realize, although I’m not sure they get to 90 wins. If you’re setting the line at 85, I’ll take the over, but only slightly.
The Walleye sounds like the name of the team Freddie Prinze Jr. should’ve been pitching for in “Summer Catch.” I’ll pass. I was dead set against Spiders when this started, but it’s starting to grow on me.
I know this doesn’t completely count as a Cleveland question but I’m gonna ask it anyway. Is there a more impressive player/executive career than Ozzie Newsome’s? Obviously, his play on the field earned him a spot in the Hall, but what he’s done drafting players in Baltimore is nothing short of remarkable. During his executive tenure, has any GM drafted more Pro Bowl players than him? HOF players? Seems worth bringing up as Black History Month comes to a close.
Adam N.
Great question and a fantastic point you’re making. Ozzie absolutely could be in the Hall twice: as a player and an executive. It’s hard to know who to give credit for when drafting, especially in the NFL when various titles play a role in the process. There’s no question though Ozzie was one of the best talent evaluators of the last 30 years. I only wish he would’ve held the role in Cleveland.
Is Kevin Love just sitting back and collecting his paychecks for doing nothing while being “hurt”? Because it sure looks like that is what’s going on.
Joey H.
I completely understand your skepticism. Love has dealt with a ton of injuries since signing his big extension. All I can tell you right now is Love absolutely wants to be back out on the floor and he’s more frustrated than anyone. He just wants to play basketball. He’ll get his chance in the second half.
Is there a chance for the Cavaliers to trade Drummond, Love and Nance Jr. (to go on a full rebuild)?
Lior B.
Whew. I’m not sure how much fuller of a rebuild you want. If they could’ve traded Drummond or Love by now, they would’ve done so. There isn’t a market for either player because of their contracts. Nance was having a terrific season before all the injuries and our John Hollinger even rated him as one of his “best of the worst” recently. Nance is 28 and has a really reasonable contract for the next two years. He isn’t going anywhere.
Do you still think Sexton is best served off the bench? Genuine question, not giving you grief. I used to think so too, but I’m not so sure anymore. He’s definitely not a point guard but I think he provides real value at the 2.
Mark P.
I appreciate the sincerity of the question. And no, I haven’t changed my mind at all. Unless he grows four or five more inches or gets a point guard’s feel for the game, he is a bench player. And several talent evaluators across the league agree with me. The Cavs are going to have a real dilemma this summer when Sexton comes up for an extension. I’ll write more about that in the coming days.
Crystal ball time Jason. What happens first in Cleveland: new football stadium, new baseball stadium or new basketball arena? And do any of those happen in the next 20 years?
Stacey Y.
I’m glad you asked this. I’ve actually been working on a story about it, so I don’t want to give away all the goodies. For now, I’ll say the Browns. And yes, I believe it happens within the next 20 years. Nobody likes the structure or location of the current stadium. The trick is finding another spot for a 70,000 seat monstrosity and the parking to supplement it. And also building a stadium where the most expensive seats in the house can see the scoreboard and the punts/kickoffs. The Browns’ lease is up in a few years. I’ll be curious to see how this goes.
Last season, the Browns ran 4-2-5 or 4-1-6 on about 90 percent of defensive snaps. Under Steve Wilks, the Browns also ran a ton of 4-2. In the past, Joe Woods ran more of a 3-4 under scheme, so it seems he is willing to switch up the scheme a bit based on the players on the roster. So do you think the consistent use of 1 or 2 linebackers was a result of the Browns’ lack of depth at the position? Or do you think the Browns’ lack of depth results from the diminished role of linebackers in our scheme?
Jon W.
Great question. I think it’s the first one. The Browns just didn’t have very many playmakers at the linebacker position. We knew in training camp the back seven was going to be problematic, so there’s no surprise there. I know a lot of people wanted to bang on Joe Woods, but my response is, look what he had to work with. What did you expect? Give this front office another free agent class and another draft to address the defense and then we can start picking apart schemes.
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a headline coming out of the Indians camp that read even something remotely like this:
“San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler on Fernando Tatis Jr. deal: ‘There’s nothing we can’t do’ ”
Why won’t Dolan even consider taking the billion dollars that would come with selling the team and just move on? I, for one, would gladly take my chances on a new owner that has an interest in rebuilding the fan base by keeping a select few really good players. Hell, even keeping them through their arbitration years without the constant draining commotion of trade talk?
Adam C.
First of all, let me be clear: The payroll should never be as low as it is this year. Never. It’s shameful. I understand the economic impact of the pandemic. But a $50 million payroll should never be acceptable.
Now with that disclaimer out of the way: Be careful of the devil you don’t know. There are far, FAR worse owners in sports than the Dolans. Why don’t they take the billion and sell? Because Larry Dolan loves baseball and loves owning this team. Paul basically hinted at that in his sitdown two years ago with Zack Meisel when he referenced his aging parents.
As for the Padres, it’s remarkable what they’ve been willing to do. They’re the only show in town now with the Chargers moving away and they’re taking full advantage. I believe the odds that both Manny Machado and Tatis finish their contracts out in San Diego are close to zero. I’m skeptical either player will still be there in five years. But they’re going to have fun playing baseball and winning a lot of games until then.
Shane Bieber extension, Kevin Love, Browns free agency and more in Jason Lloyd’s mailbag
By Jason Lloyd Feb 26, 2021 33
Should I buy a Shane Bieber jersey this spring? Me buying a jersey would represent a star player who would be playing for my team for most of his career, but I have the feeling he will be a Yankee or Dodger in the near future cause Dolan doesn’t have money.
Joseph K.
Buy two, home and road. I’m bullish on the Indians getting something done with Bieber even though he said this week he has not had any extension talks with the organization. It makes too much sense on both sides for it not to happen. I wrote a few months ago Bieber is sort of a unicorn. He’s putting up numbers we’ve rarely seen from pitchers his age and with his experience. The longer the Indians wait, the higher the price goes up.
If the three major sports leagues were starting from scratch (32 teams), would Cleveland get a team in each league? Any league? This thought occurred to me watching Cleveland, Buffalo and Green Bay in the NFL playoffs — three great franchises and fan bases — and wondering if those cities would even get an NFL franchise if the league started today.
Ray B.
Cleveland would absolutely get one team. I’m certain it would get two teams.
But three?
I’ve wondered for quite some time if Cleveland has the financial bandwidth to support three major-league teams. The Browns take up an awful lot of air space (and disposable income), but there is certainly enough oxygen here for another team and the Indians and Cavs often fight for the leftovers.
As the 19th largest television market in the country, there is only one market smaller than Cleveland with three pro teams: Pittsburgh, which is 24th. (And before anyone points to Milwaukee, which is 35th, Green Bay is two hours away and considered its own TV market.)
I’m hopeful, however, this could be changing. I’m 44. My generation that grew up here graduated from high school and college and left, just like the generation before them. It feels like millennials are staying home at higher rates now than any of the previous generations. Hopefully, that means good things for our future.
I 100% understand that it was a coup to get (Jarrett) Allen for the future, but what I don’t understand is why the trade had to kill all momentum. This team was looking good enough to ACTUALLY play some postseason basketball this year! Wouldn’t that have been the best thing to do? Maybe show some progress, which in turn could maybe lure a FA worth his salt to come to Cleveland?
Ugh. I just don’t understand why the Cavs couldn’t convince Drummond/Allen to split the minutes at C (and maybe play 5-7 minutes on the floor at the same time) so each gets 28 or so per game? Ever since the Drummond trade last year, this team played so well … until the Allen trade. Then it all went to shit and we’re back to the lottery yet again with literally zero shot to attract an above-average veteran player to help these young guys to the next level. Nothing ever changes.
PS – Kevin Love must have the weakest calves in the world.
Adam C.
Let’s be clear: The Allen trade with the Nets didn’t kill the Cavs, the schedule did. I’ve written since the preseason, and reiterated during their hot start, this team just isn’t very good yet. And losing Kevin Porter Jr. cost them a huge piece to their rebuild.
The most important position in the NBA is the wing. That happens to be the spot the Cavs are the weakest. That’s not a great combination. The Cavs need young, athletic, playmaking wings that can get up and down the floor, make shots and defend. They’re not easy to find, but they’re the most important commodity in today’s small ball, pace and space style.
Drummond was never going to be acceptable sharing the role with Allen because both guys are playing for contracts. Drummond probably thinks he has one more big payday ahead of him (I’d tend to disagree and point to the lack of interest in him both last year and this year). He’s playing for his numbers and his next deal. Allen is a restricted free agent this summer and also is looking to get paid.
Cleveland struggled to attract free agents when they had one of the best teams in the league. They’re not going to get stars to come here now. It isn’t sexy or exciting, but the Cavs aren’t ready to contend, and I’d argue that losing Porter set them back another year. Bottom line: Rebuilding in the NBA is hard.
As for Love, I thought he’d have been back this week. That was my understanding. Calf injuries are no joke. Josh Donaldson lost two years, essentially, to a calf injury in baseball. And they’re easy to re-aggravate. Love should be ready to go after the break if he doesn’t make it back before then.
What are your biggest what if’s for each team? Here are mine:
Indians – What if Sandy Alomar slid into home plate in the top of the 8th in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series? Does that extra insurance run make a difference or does Mesa blow the game regardless?
Browns – What if Modell sold the team instead of moving them to Baltimore? Does the fan base still go through 2 decades of misery? When the new stadium is being built do they play for a few years down in the Horseshoe? Do they have a Super Bowl title by now?
Cavs – What if Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love never get hurt during the 2015 postseason? I go to my grave convinced the Cavs win the championship that year.
Jamie P.
Good choices. I’ll counter with mine.
Indians — What if it didn’t rain? (Zack Meisel and I wrote a whole story on the rain delay during the 2016 World Series.)
Browns — What if Webster Slaughter did his job? Would Ernest Byner still have fumbled? Slaughter, as Marty Schottenheimer revealed years later in this Q&A, was supposed to run an out pattern when he spotted Broncos cornerback Jeremiah Castille playing bump and run. Slaughter was supposed to release to Castille’s outside shoulder and run to the back of the end zone, which would’ve dragged Castille out of the play. Instead, Slaughter took a few steps and turned to watch Byner run, which left Castille in a position to make the biggest play of the year.
Cavs — What if the Cavs didn’t trade Kyrie Irving with two years left on his contract?
Why don’t we hear about Dan Gilbert anymore? I (hear) he had a stroke and (is) rehabbing. Do you think he will sell the team because of this?
Francisco R.
Dan has been out of the spotlight quite a bit since his stroke in May 2019. I do not believe he has any intention of selling, however. One of his sons, Grant, is now working for the organization. I would expect Grant’s role to grow in the coming years.
Over-under on the Tribe win/loss? I’m saying 85-77. Also, what will be the next nickname? Spiders, Blues, Commodores or Walleye? I have to say the Walleye is starting to wear on me.
Andrew L.
That’s a good guess on their record. I think this team will be better than people realize, although I’m not sure they get to 90 wins. If you’re setting the line at 85, I’ll take the over, but only slightly.
The Walleye sounds like the name of the team Freddie Prinze Jr. should’ve been pitching for in “Summer Catch.” I’ll pass. I was dead set against Spiders when this started, but it’s starting to grow on me.
I know this doesn’t completely count as a Cleveland question but I’m gonna ask it anyway. Is there a more impressive player/executive career than Ozzie Newsome’s? Obviously, his play on the field earned him a spot in the Hall, but what he’s done drafting players in Baltimore is nothing short of remarkable. During his executive tenure, has any GM drafted more Pro Bowl players than him? HOF players? Seems worth bringing up as Black History Month comes to a close.
Adam N.
Great question and a fantastic point you’re making. Ozzie absolutely could be in the Hall twice: as a player and an executive. It’s hard to know who to give credit for when drafting, especially in the NFL when various titles play a role in the process. There’s no question though Ozzie was one of the best talent evaluators of the last 30 years. I only wish he would’ve held the role in Cleveland.
Is Kevin Love just sitting back and collecting his paychecks for doing nothing while being “hurt”? Because it sure looks like that is what’s going on.
Joey H.
I completely understand your skepticism. Love has dealt with a ton of injuries since signing his big extension. All I can tell you right now is Love absolutely wants to be back out on the floor and he’s more frustrated than anyone. He just wants to play basketball. He’ll get his chance in the second half.
Is there a chance for the Cavaliers to trade Drummond, Love and Nance Jr. (to go on a full rebuild)?
Lior B.
Whew. I’m not sure how much fuller of a rebuild you want. If they could’ve traded Drummond or Love by now, they would’ve done so. There isn’t a market for either player because of their contracts. Nance was having a terrific season before all the injuries and our John Hollinger even rated him as one of his “best of the worst” recently. Nance is 28 and has a really reasonable contract for the next two years. He isn’t going anywhere.
Do you still think Sexton is best served off the bench? Genuine question, not giving you grief. I used to think so too, but I’m not so sure anymore. He’s definitely not a point guard but I think he provides real value at the 2.
Mark P.
I appreciate the sincerity of the question. And no, I haven’t changed my mind at all. Unless he grows four or five more inches or gets a point guard’s feel for the game, he is a bench player. And several talent evaluators across the league agree with me. The Cavs are going to have a real dilemma this summer when Sexton comes up for an extension. I’ll write more about that in the coming days.
Crystal ball time Jason. What happens first in Cleveland: new football stadium, new baseball stadium or new basketball arena? And do any of those happen in the next 20 years?
Stacey Y.
I’m glad you asked this. I’ve actually been working on a story about it, so I don’t want to give away all the goodies. For now, I’ll say the Browns. And yes, I believe it happens within the next 20 years. Nobody likes the structure or location of the current stadium. The trick is finding another spot for a 70,000 seat monstrosity and the parking to supplement it. And also building a stadium where the most expensive seats in the house can see the scoreboard and the punts/kickoffs. The Browns’ lease is up in a few years. I’ll be curious to see how this goes.
Last season, the Browns ran 4-2-5 or 4-1-6 on about 90 percent of defensive snaps. Under Steve Wilks, the Browns also ran a ton of 4-2. In the past, Joe Woods ran more of a 3-4 under scheme, so it seems he is willing to switch up the scheme a bit based on the players on the roster. So do you think the consistent use of 1 or 2 linebackers was a result of the Browns’ lack of depth at the position? Or do you think the Browns’ lack of depth results from the diminished role of linebackers in our scheme?
Jon W.
Great question. I think it’s the first one. The Browns just didn’t have very many playmakers at the linebacker position. We knew in training camp the back seven was going to be problematic, so there’s no surprise there. I know a lot of people wanted to bang on Joe Woods, but my response is, look what he had to work with. What did you expect? Give this front office another free agent class and another draft to address the defense and then we can start picking apart schemes.
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a headline coming out of the Indians camp that read even something remotely like this:
“San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler on Fernando Tatis Jr. deal: ‘There’s nothing we can’t do’ ”
Why won’t Dolan even consider taking the billion dollars that would come with selling the team and just move on? I, for one, would gladly take my chances on a new owner that has an interest in rebuilding the fan base by keeping a select few really good players. Hell, even keeping them through their arbitration years without the constant draining commotion of trade talk?
Adam C.
First of all, let me be clear: The payroll should never be as low as it is this year. Never. It’s shameful. I understand the economic impact of the pandemic. But a $50 million payroll should never be acceptable.
Now with that disclaimer out of the way: Be careful of the devil you don’t know. There are far, FAR worse owners in sports than the Dolans. Why don’t they take the billion and sell? Because Larry Dolan loves baseball and loves owning this team. Paul basically hinted at that in his sitdown two years ago with Zack Meisel when he referenced his aging parents.
As for the Padres, it’s remarkable what they’ve been willing to do. They’re the only show in town now with the Chargers moving away and they’re taking full advantage. I believe the odds that both Manny Machado and Tatis finish their contracts out in San Diego are close to zero. I’m skeptical either player will still be there in five years. But they’re going to have fun playing baseball and winning a lot of games until then.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
7855Giménez off to hot start in battle for SS job
Could delayed Triple-A season help youngster make Tribe's roster?
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Andrés Giménez has been in contention to be the Tribe’s Opening Day shortstop since he was acquired from the Mets in the Francisco Lindor trade on Jan. 7. But because the Indians received two Major League shortstops in the deal (also acquiring Amed Rosario), there was always a question of whether Giménez would start 2021 in the Minors so the team could gain an extra year of control. But now, maybe that won’t be the case.
Major League Baseball informed teams on Tuesday that the start of the Triple-A season will be delayed by a month due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That means in April clubs will again be utilizing an alternate training site that’s within 100 miles of the big league team. The Indians are working to finalize Columbus as their site.
“The reason it needs to be within driving distance is those players will be players who will have significant overlap with the Major League players,” Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “So it’s important that that group, for the time being, not be on commercial airlines whenever we can avoid it. So the idea is to have the alternate site be within driving distance so any time players go up or down, it can be ground transportation rather than public air transportation.”
So the question now becomes: Will the Indians be willing to have Giménez be at the alternate training site for a month before the Triple-A season gets underway? It’s early in Spring Training, but the 22-year-old has wasted no time in showcasing his skills. He’s played in two Cactus League games and has been awarded the team’s MVP honor in each of those, going 4-for-4 with a triple, homer and three RBIs while providing excellent defense and being successfully aggressive on the basepaths.
“I think that’s entirely my style of game, being aggressive on the basepaths,” Giménez said through an interpreter. “My mindset is always trying to get an extra base when possible. The way to do that is being aggressive on the bases. And it’s been reinforced here with the team plenty of times that that’s the way we should be running the bases, but it’s been part of my game.”
There’s a reason that Mets president Sandy Alderson said that the Indians were adamant in receiving Giménez in the Lindor trade, and the young shortstop has made quite the first impression. But Giménez is battling with Rosario for the shortstop job.
Rosario has more Major League experience, owning a career slash line of .268/.302/.403 in 403 games over four seasons. Giménez made his debut in 2020, hitting .263 with a .732 OPS in 49 games. He may have played in only two spring games thus far, but he’s doing what he can to prove he’s ready to make the big league roster.
Andrés Giménez's solo home run
Sep 23, 2020 · 0:44
Andrés Giménez's solo home run
Teams can carry up to 28 players at the alternate training sites, according to Antonetti, and they’re working through the possibility of playing against teams that are within driving distance. However, that idea still needs to be approved by MLB. Clubs had their first experience with the alternate sites in 2020, when the Minor League season was canceled due to the pandemic. Now, the hope is they will only need to be utilized for the first month of the '21 season.
“It’s not ideal, but I’m optimistic and hopeful that we’re going to get the bulk of the Minor League season in,” Antonetti said. “I’m hopeful that the accelerated availability of vaccines will be here soon and that will allow us to have a more regular Minor League season than we did last year.”
Although Rosario only played one game in the outfield for the Mets, perhaps a move there could be a possibility. So with the chance that shortstop could be open, if the Triple-A delay could be looked at as a positive for anyone, it may be Giménez.
“I don’t think there’s any pressure [in winning the shortstop job],” Giménez said. “As I mentioned in previous interviews, my focus is not on competing against anybody, my focus is on competing against myself and improving myself every day, and in that way, I can contribute to make the team better.”
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Could delayed Triple-A season help youngster make Tribe's roster?
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Andrés Giménez has been in contention to be the Tribe’s Opening Day shortstop since he was acquired from the Mets in the Francisco Lindor trade on Jan. 7. But because the Indians received two Major League shortstops in the deal (also acquiring Amed Rosario), there was always a question of whether Giménez would start 2021 in the Minors so the team could gain an extra year of control. But now, maybe that won’t be the case.
Major League Baseball informed teams on Tuesday that the start of the Triple-A season will be delayed by a month due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That means in April clubs will again be utilizing an alternate training site that’s within 100 miles of the big league team. The Indians are working to finalize Columbus as their site.
“The reason it needs to be within driving distance is those players will be players who will have significant overlap with the Major League players,” Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “So it’s important that that group, for the time being, not be on commercial airlines whenever we can avoid it. So the idea is to have the alternate site be within driving distance so any time players go up or down, it can be ground transportation rather than public air transportation.”
So the question now becomes: Will the Indians be willing to have Giménez be at the alternate training site for a month before the Triple-A season gets underway? It’s early in Spring Training, but the 22-year-old has wasted no time in showcasing his skills. He’s played in two Cactus League games and has been awarded the team’s MVP honor in each of those, going 4-for-4 with a triple, homer and three RBIs while providing excellent defense and being successfully aggressive on the basepaths.
“I think that’s entirely my style of game, being aggressive on the basepaths,” Giménez said through an interpreter. “My mindset is always trying to get an extra base when possible. The way to do that is being aggressive on the bases. And it’s been reinforced here with the team plenty of times that that’s the way we should be running the bases, but it’s been part of my game.”
There’s a reason that Mets president Sandy Alderson said that the Indians were adamant in receiving Giménez in the Lindor trade, and the young shortstop has made quite the first impression. But Giménez is battling with Rosario for the shortstop job.
Rosario has more Major League experience, owning a career slash line of .268/.302/.403 in 403 games over four seasons. Giménez made his debut in 2020, hitting .263 with a .732 OPS in 49 games. He may have played in only two spring games thus far, but he’s doing what he can to prove he’s ready to make the big league roster.
Andrés Giménez's solo home run
Sep 23, 2020 · 0:44
Andrés Giménez's solo home run
Teams can carry up to 28 players at the alternate training sites, according to Antonetti, and they’re working through the possibility of playing against teams that are within driving distance. However, that idea still needs to be approved by MLB. Clubs had their first experience with the alternate sites in 2020, when the Minor League season was canceled due to the pandemic. Now, the hope is they will only need to be utilized for the first month of the '21 season.
“It’s not ideal, but I’m optimistic and hopeful that we’re going to get the bulk of the Minor League season in,” Antonetti said. “I’m hopeful that the accelerated availability of vaccines will be here soon and that will allow us to have a more regular Minor League season than we did last year.”
Although Rosario only played one game in the outfield for the Mets, perhaps a move there could be a possibility. So with the chance that shortstop could be open, if the Triple-A delay could be looked at as a positive for anyone, it may be Giménez.
“I don’t think there’s any pressure [in winning the shortstop job],” Giménez said. “As I mentioned in previous interviews, my focus is not on competing against anybody, my focus is on competing against myself and improving myself every day, and in that way, I can contribute to make the team better.”
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"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
7857I think I read earlier in the winter that Gimenez was the sticking point in the trade talks - that's what delayed the deal.
And I heard Mets announcers praise Gimenez last year once he took over SS. A difference maker.
Dan O'Dowd himself said the Mets paid a large price and better re-sign Lindor. Then O'Dowd said "I'm a Gimenez guy".
And I heard Mets announcers praise Gimenez last year once he took over SS. A difference maker.
Dan O'Dowd himself said the Mets paid a large price and better re-sign Lindor. Then O'Dowd said "I'm a Gimenez guy".
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
7859Under the circumstances civ I do think the trade value of Rosario is so very volatile, all over the map, that they simply audition him to see what they really have.
If this guy hits, and you have to look no further than 2019 to see what that looks like, then they will find a spot - not SS though.
But also could be roving Zobrist type of role. If he hits he will play somehow.
If this guy hits, and you have to look no further than 2019 to see what that looks like, then they will find a spot - not SS though.
But also could be roving Zobrist type of role. If he hits he will play somehow.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
7860
For
Roosevelt Comarazamy
03/01/2021
GOODYEAR, Arizona. One of the workers at the Indians clubhouse was cleaning up some baseballs Monday afternoon and made a comment about how the balls didn't fly the way they did in 2020. As Franmil Reyes passed, he walked over to the clubbie's ear and said, "When Franmil hits him, let's see how far he gets."
Reyes told reporters the story on Monday and ended it with his indistinguishable laugh. But despite his jovial and cheerful nature, he was certainly not joking about his statement.
There has been talk of the differences in distance that the baseballs that are being used this year travel compared to last year, but the Indians slugger has not noticed anything.
If Reyes has a spring like last year, it would be hard for him to notice a difference. It was as hot as it could get on the plate when COVID-19 put everything on hold for more than three months. During the hiatus in action, Reyes saw no live pitches and returned to summer camp in July, trying to catch up. Now, he hopes to start the 2021 season on a much stronger note.
"A perfect season for me would be just to learn and do the things that I couldn't do last year," Reyes said. “Obviously I want to play some defense this year. I would love that opportunity. And do whatever it takes to get victories for my team.
That's all that matters to me right now. "
Is Kings in the Gardens a Possibility? He sprained his right ankle while practicing at home a few weeks ago, but said it's nothing to stop him from playing now. However, his defense may still be the thing holding him back.
The Indians tested Reyes in the outfield last spring, but only put him on left for five innings last season. But he did replay in the outfield and at first base this winter, so putting him on the field isn't completely out of the question.
"If he's not typecast as the designated hitter, that certainly opens up other opportunities for other people," Indians manager Terry Francona said. “By saying that, you want to put your best defensive team on the field.
That is the goal. ... The other thing to think about is when we go to the NL cities, we really wish we didn't have to sit him down, especially if he's swinging the bat really well. "
If it were up to Reyes, he would try to fight his way back to right field.
"When you're in the outfield and you make an incredible play and you get to hit that inning, that feeling, the way you feel is different than sitting there and watching the game," Reyes said.
"Is not the same. But when you're sitting there, you know you have to do your thing to get ready for your turn at bat. But when you move around the outfield, you feel better and, like you said, it's a lot easier to come up and try to hit. "
Reyes has had a season and a half with the Tribe now to better adapt to the designated role. Last August, he showed everyone just how much momentum he can give this lineup when his bat is hot, hitting .313 with a .954 OPS, seven home runs and 22 RBIs in 27 games.
A NOTE
Exhibits great power
In the last full season of 2019, when he divided his work between the San Diego Padres and the Cleveland Indians, Franmil Reyes showed his outsized power by hitting 37 home runs in 494 at-bats for a home run rate of 1 in 13.35 chances.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller