Jon Heyman of Fancred reports that the Indians' recent payroll-shedding trades have reduced their motivation to trade starting pitchers Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer.


The Indians have traded away Edwin Encarnacion, Yonder Alonso and Yan Gomes this offseason -- moves that have reduced their 2019 payroll by $18 million even after accounting for the addition of Carlos Santana.

Both Heyman and Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com are hearing the team may have shaved the payroll down enough to where they don't need to make any more financially-driven moves.

This may make it harder for other teams to pry away one or both of the Indians' ace pitchers. Both Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer have been made available on the trade market but they might be more likely to stay put as things now stand.

For me, if they were able to trade Kluber and land a top slugger, preferably an outfielder, I'd be on that one in a hurry still.

But as all fantasy players know, it does help to have more leverage and if they are now less needy they can be more picky as to which deal they go for, if they do.

I think this is the Indians way of telling teams they are not desperate so be ready to pony up if you come calling. I still think the Tribe will trade one. they need OF and bullpen help still. And don’t see them jumping in deep end of free agent pool.

You added that last sentence to your post as I was typing. I agree.

Kluber contract.

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/cleveland-i ... uber-8504/

Bauer Contract.

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/cleveland-i ... auer-8645/

It is possible that the Indians are willing to maintain the same payroll amount as last year.

They could not trade Alonso for a quality middle reliever but once the market settles down they might be able to sign one with his money.

Many different ways you can reallocate dollars to fit needs.

Bauer in for a big raise in arbitration this year.

As is Lindor.

JRam is kicking himself for signing that 5 year contract 2 years ago. He'll be making peanuts for the numbers he put up.

They could not trade Alonso for a quality middle reliever but once the market settles down they might be able to sign one with his money

Agree

Of course they're not done, but lineup now is something like:

Lindor SS
Martin CF
Ramirez 3B
Santana 1b/dh
hmm? not EE, not YA, not YD, not YG... Bauers?? dh/1b he's not ready to hit this high
hmm? Kipnis 2b He should be about 7th or 8th
Naquine RF
Luplow LF
Perez C that one is easy

Bench:
Haase C
Moroff IF
Allen OF
Mercado? OF

Boy that offense is unimpressive!

Antonetti says that Bauers is ready to hit clean up or 5th.

How did Yandy Diaz end up with the Rays?
Hey, Hoynsie: Do you have any insight as to why Yandy Diaz was traded to Tampa Bay as part of Thursday's three-team deal with the Indians, Rays and Seattle? It doesn't seem logical. -- Glen Ray.

Hey, Ray: The Indians acquired Jake Bauers from the Rays for Diaz. He's an outfielder-first baseman that they've liked for a while. The Rays, on the other hand, have had Diaz on their radar for a while as well.

The Tribe originally had traditional two-team deals worked out with Tampa Bay and Seattle. They were going to send Diaz to the Rays for Bauers and Encarnacion to the Mariners for Carlos Santana. But it became a three-team deal to help pay the cost of Santana and Encarnacion's contracts

The Rays sent Seattle $5 million to help pay for Encarnacion's contract, while the Mariners sent the Indians $6 million to help pay Santana's contract.

Bauers is younger than Diaz (23-27) and has shown more pop in the big leagues (11 homers to one). The fact that he can play first base and left or right field also worked in Bauers favor when the Tribe decided to part with Diaz.

Civ, you forget we have Tito. Better put Santana at lead off and Frankie at 3rd.

Good point!

Another thing to remember about Santana: he actually played 16 games at 3rd base for the Phillies last year [and a couple dozen games at 3rd for us in 2014] I don't think he'll be the regular 3rd baseman with Bauers at 1st and Ramirez at 2nd

I did notice that he started 16 games over there. And of course he had stints with us in RF.

By the way, the hopeless optimist in me thinks Santana still has more upside in him.

1. He was not happy in Philly
2. He was not happy the year before, his last season before free agency? Remember? And it affected him

I say this year he can relax and produce. And I say Frankie and J Ram missed him - and he them.