Cleveland Sports Forum

is there a list out there of the FA outfielders?

The Indians declined to make qualifying offers to Brantley, Allen, and Miller today. And expect more big changes, cause there is this too - - -

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After an inconsistent 2018 season that featured a quick exit from the playoffs, the Cleveland Indians appear willing to make drastic changes to their roster this winter.

Per ESPN.com's Buster Olney, the Indians have indicated they will be willing to listen to trade offers for Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Edwin Encarnacion, Jason Kipnis, Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez, among others.

Olney noted Cleveland intends to keep All-Stars Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez.

Cleveland is facing an offseason of uncertainty for the first time during this three-year run of American League Central titles. Bullpen stalwarts Andrew Miller and Cody Allen are free agents, as is All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley.

Definitely food for thought. And the first thought is Kluber jumps up to $17 million this coming season.

So if I am the front office, I might be thinking we need offense. We can replace him in the rotation easier then we can get the type of offense this team needs.

So either Carrasco or Kluber could fetch a nice haul (not both). And with Bieber (Salazar?) we could still have a nice rotation.

As for Brantley, last year's FA market was not kind to hitters 30 or over. I notice the Braves did not offer the qualifying offer for Markakis either, and he had a very good season like Brantley.

Over 30 and a hitter....devalued. Last year's offseason proved it over and over. Then again, he might be back at a more friendly number.

PS - the qualifying offer is 1 year at $17.9 million. At that amount very few hitters will receive it.

Say what?

Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com reports that the White Sox are interested in Manny Machado and Bryce Harper.

Most speculation has centered on the Phillies as being active on either or both, but Morosi writes that the White Sox could next as far as being best-positioned to spend big money this winter. And it's going to take big money, so it's a little early to speculate on a landing spot.

However, Chicago's interest in Machado dates back to last offseason. They can't be ruled out as a wild card here.

Here’s a shock. Jon Heyman is reporting the Indians and Yankees are meeting today. The Yanks are interested in Kluber and Carrasco.

Indians will try to tie Kipnis to which ever pitcher leaves.

Both. OK. I'll take Torres and Judge and the return of Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield

I would take Frazier, Sheffield, and Grey for K&K.

I don't want Grey. I'm not sure Frazier is healthy. I was kidding of course about both Torres and Judge but I'd definitely want an OF who is established.

The Cardinals are showing interest in lefty reliever Andrew Miller, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

Miller has also been linked to the Mets (Callaway) recently. He'll draw as wide of interest as any reliever on the market this winter. Any thoughts of him coming at a bargain because he was injured and his numbers were off in 2018 can be safely dismissed

Carlos Carrasco - S - Indians
Jon Heyman of Fancred reports that the Yankees met with the Indians about Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco at the General Manager Meetings.

The Yankees have also reportedly discussed James Paxton with the Mariners, and they're in the mix for free agent hurlers like Patrick Corbin and J.A. Happ as they look for the best route to improve their rotation. The Indians reportedly are looking to cut some payroll this winter, so dealing a Kluber or Carrasco seems possible even though both pitchers are under control at relatively favorable terms.

Not that Heyman doesn't know what he's talkin about but just checking on him, I find that earlier in his career

"for 16 years at Newsday in New York, where he was the Yankees beat writer" and that he grew up on Long Island.
So could he be perhaps be one of those baseball insiders who assume all good players should eventually play for the Yankees?

There are only so many teams that can afford to take on extra salary. There are only so many teams that have outfields that are loaded and are blocking good young, affordable talent that the Indians may desire. There are only so many teams that need an ace to head up their staff. Intersect all of that and you come up with the Yankees as a good starting point for discussions.

Earlier this week if you listened to Scott Boras talk about Bryce Harper he said that Harper would be willing to move to first base. Why would he say that with the premier free agent ? Yankees outfield is loaded and he wants to get the Yankees to the table.

Indians & Pirates complete five-player trade
4:31 PM EST
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The Cleveland Indians today announced the following transactions relative to the Major League 40-man roster:

Acquired OF JORDAN LUPLOW and INF MAX MOROFF from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for INF ERIK GONZALEZ, RHP TAHNAJ THOMAS and RHP DANTE MENDOZA.

Luplow (LOOP-low), 25, was Pittsburgh's third round selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft and has appeared in a combined 64 games for the Pirates over the last two seasons (33-for-170, 6HR, 18RBI, .644 OPS). The organization's 2017 Minor League Player of the Year, Jordan has collected 59 home runs and an .833 OPS across five seasons in Pittsburgh's system, batting .277 (469-1692) with 118 2B, 11 3B, 59 HR and 256 RBI and 39 stolen bases and recorded an .891 OPS vs. LHP at Triple-A Indianapolis in 2018. He also combined to record 13 outfield assists last season between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh after entering the year rated by Baseball America as possessing the "Best Outfield Arm" in the system. The Clovis, California-native played for three years at Fresno State University (2012-14), where he was the Mountain West Player of the Year and a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist in 2014.

Moroff (MORE-off), 25, has split the last three campaigns between AAA Indianapolis and the Major League level with Pittsburgh, appearing in 26 games for the Pirates in 2018. For his career with the Pirates since 2016 he has appeared in 84 games while compiling a .293 on-base pct., appearing in 45 games at second base, 22 games at short stop and 6 games at third. The Winter Park, FL native was Pittsburgh's Minor League Player of the Year in 2015 and was selected by the Pirates in the 16th round dof the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.

The club's 40-man roster now stands at 35 players.

Indians acquired OF Jordan Luplow and INF Max Moroff from the Pirates for INF Erik Gonzalez, RHP Tahnaj Thomas, and RHP Dante Mendoza.

Luplow was blocked by a crowded outfield depth chart in Pittsburgh and should have a better chance of becoming a regular at the MLB level in Cleveland. The 25-year-old spent the majority of the 2018 season at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he posted a decent .287/.367/.462 batting line with eight home runs and seven stolen bases over 88 games. He holds a .194/.274/.371 career slash line in the bigs, but that has come with inconsistent playing time.
Source: TJ Zuppe on TwitterNov 14 - 4:23 PM