Cleveland Sports Forum

Michael doesn't sound like the right first name; anyway that guy named Freeman who filled in all over the field the last couple years was DFAd

I haven't found anyone else on our top 30 prospects list who would be eligible for the Rule 5 draft outside of Nolan Jones and No. 30 Will Benson who hardly seems likely to be chosen. Last year they left Oscar Gonzalez exposed and he wasn't taken. If they're required to fill the roster up to 40, he is a possibility. Some other pitchers could be added Lefty Kirk McCarty is eligible. So too is RH Eli Morgan who was at the "alternate site" so got some work in this summer.
As a college pick I believe righty Shane McCarthy is too

Tribe should leave a spot or two open on the 40 so they can participate in the Rule 5 draft for a change. Seems every year they're at 40 and can't take a chance on somebody new especially position players.

its a cheap way to get some roster fillers even maybe someone pretty good [TJ McFarland has had a long career in many bullpens; Anthony Santander was flirting with MVP status before he got hurt]

as all have seen I imagine, Bieber is one 3 "finalists" for AL Cy Young and Bauer likewise in the NL. Shane is a shoe in. Trevor is mostly likely to win,, too
Jose Ramirez joined Abreu and LeMahieu as AL MVP finalist. That's a harder one to predict; I expected it to be Abreu until the final week, which this year means the final 10% of the mini-season; Ramriez had the best WAR; I've seen both Joses predicted by different sources.

Joining the crazy for 70 year olds in leadership roles, the WhiteSox bring back 76 year old Tony LaRussa.
Mike Hargrove's only 71 and he's available. Might be a little young, but Charlie Manuel is another 76 year old.
Eric Wedge is still only 52! He's head coach at Wichita State; his pitching coach is former major leaguer Mike Pelfrey
Pat Corrales is 79 and deserves another chance

Indians should do: Joc Pederson

Cleveland’s outfield was anemic in 2020, ranking last in the AL in home runs (11), extra-base hits (39), runs scored (59) and OPS (.575).

Pederson had an off year, which should bring his price tag down to a level the Indians can afford, but the 28-year-old averaged 24 home runs and an .835 OPS between 2016-19.

I was looking at the outfielders on the roster and noted their ages; tendency is to say guys are at their peak at ages 28-30, I think 29 is often touted as the prime season. In which case Tyler Naquin can only get worse.

Naquin 29
Zimmer 28 with almost nothing to show for himself yet
DeShields 28 what you see is what you get
Luplow 27 potential for further development, I hope
Mercado 26 soon, with a big step back behind him
Johnson 25 time to try the majors
Bauers 25 when guys debut young it's easy to think they're older than they are
Reyes 25 off to a good career start but certainly would like to see improvement
Naylor 23 only younger guy on the 40 man roster is Logan Allen; Naylor could be [lets hope] a major offensive weapon in time

B boys

Bieber and Bauer win Cy Youngs.

Indians really dominate the Cy Young contest; 5 winners in the past 14 years: Sabathia in 07 Lee in 08 then the 2 Kluber wins and now Bieber. Before CC all we had was Gaylord Perry n 72. Back in the previous days of Indians pitching dominance with Feller and Lemon et al there was no award yet to honor them

Tribe trades their CY winners.

They also trade guys that win the CY with a new team....Bauer and Colon

Some of those deals have been great [certainly the Colon trade was-- Sizemore, Brandon Phillips-- would have worked out better if Wedge knew how to manage him]
Sabathia got us Brantley '
Did Lee get us Carrasco? I think so.
Bauer got Reyes; maybe Allen or Moss will be a major leaguer?
Clevinger package looks potentially like a Colon quality group but we won't know until Naylor Arias Miller and Cantillo grow up.

Ramirez finishes 2nd for MVP. I would have voted for Abreu before the final 10 days. By the end of the mini-season Ramirez' numbers were better. He has now finished in the top 3 in 3 of the past 4 seasons. His contract is a real discount for the cheap Indians.

Roster additions due by November 20. It seems strange to me that the non-tender date comes a few week later but I don't think there's any reason 40 man roster cannot be pruned ahead of November 20. No reason on earth for Beau Taylor to remain. And if they intend to drop Naquin or Cimber or anyone else might as well take care of those moves now and let them protect a whole bunch of kids who will all make minimum salaries and let them draft a couple in the Rule 5 at bargain basement prices.

Bauer being interviewed on ESPN. By now you have probably narrowed free agency down to 30 teams ? Bauer: and Japan.
Interviewer : What are you looking for in a team ? Bauer: I just want to be happy and enjoy my fellow teammates. MOST OF MY CAREER I HAVE BEEN MISERABLE !