Cleveland Sports Forum

Martinez owns a .181 average and .482 OPS in 188 career big league games with the Phillies and Pirates.

We can certainly use a bat like that.

BA casts a solid vote for Lindor as ROY near miss:

Who are your predictions for NL/AL ROY?

Vincent Lara-Cinisomo: I think NL will be Kris Bryant, but Schwarber and Randal Grichuk, Kang and Franco make for a very good runner-up class. AL has to be Correa, but Lindor has been outstanding, especially exceeding bat expectations.

Jordan Bastian at Indians.com

Will the Indians trade a starting pitcher for a shot at a middle-of-the-order bat?
-- @geoffway (via Twitter)
That will be one of the most interesting things to follow this offseason. Cleveland has a relatively young and talented starting rotation, led by Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer. Right now, the fifth spot is between Cody Anderson and Josh Tomlin.
Kluber and Carrasco have very club-friendly contracts, while Salazar and Bauer have youth and contractual control helping their value. Anderson is coming off a solid rookie debut and Tomlin returned strong after a shoulder issue. The front four would be the most enticing chips from opposing clubs.

The Indians entertained trade offers for Carrasco at the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, but Cleveland was not motivated to move him -- only to test the market. Hanging up the phone isn't a way to find out how much a rival club values your player. That could mean some groundwork has been laid for continuing talks this offfseason.

It sounds so simple: trade from a position of strength to add a power bat, thus addressing a weakness. One problem, however, is that the Tribe's Major League-ready options behind Anderson and Tomlin are sparse right now. The Indians would need to know -- if they dealt one of their big arms -- that they would have a way to address the damaged rotation depth.

So, will the Indians trade a starting pitcher for a middle-of-the-order bat? We'll see. What we know right now is that Cleveland will be open to such a scenario, considering that it is not expected to be a player for the big-money free-agent hitters.

I understand the downside of such a move, but why wouldn't the front office try and trade some of our top young prospects to get a solid power hitter or two, to try and take advantage of one of the best rotations we've ever had?
-- Rex H., Cedar Rapids, Iowa

This is obviously the other way to go. I would be willing to bet that opposing teams will begin by asking for Cleveland's top Major League arms. That said, the Indians do have a much deeper farm system than they did a couple years ago. There is a larger pool to draw from and Chris Antonetti, the team's president of baseball operations, has shown a willingness to deal prospects. Remember when he dealt pitchers Alex White and Drew Pomeranz in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade? If you recall, everyone thought White and Pomeranz were untouchable at the time. So, yes, this is also another avenue Cleveland will explore.

Is the team seriously looking to acquire a slugger in the offseason?
--@EdKore (via Twitter)
I sure hope so. Power has been a consistent problem for a few seasons now and, even after adding slugger Brandon Moss for part of this past season, it remained an issue. A big reason that Cleveland ended in the bottom third of the league in runs scored was due to ranking 11th in the American League in slugging percentage (.401), 12th in isolated power (.144) and 13th in home runs (141). This is (once again) the Tribe's biggest area of need this winter.

What current Major League player would you compare Francisco Lindor to right now?
-- Matt B., Indiana
Given his age, service time and performance this season, it's really hard to draw a firm conclusion on what kind of player Lindor will become as he continues to develop. He was kind of in a class of his own, in terms of all-around offensive production and above-average defense at shortstop. Defensively, he reminds me of Omar Vizquel. Offensively, there are touches of a young Derek Jeter or Jimmy Rollins. Roberto Alomar (Lindor's favorite player as a kid) also comes to mind. Lindor's blend of on-base ability, power and speed were special this summer.

Will Lonnie Chisenhall be given a chance to win the everyday job in right, or is a platoon set in stone?
-- @fmjosh (via Twitter)
I think you'll see something similar to the initial plan when the Indians brought in veteran David Murphy. Chisenhall would start against right-handed pitching, making him the regular right fielder. Then, Indians manager Terry Francona would pick his spots for giving Chisenhall playing time against lefty pitching. Francona didn't think of it as a strict platoon, and that showed late in the year, when Chisenhall's strong defense eliminated pinch-hitting for him late in games when a lefty reliever entered the game.

Will the Indians close in on a deal for a minority investor to help add more cash to the payroll?
-- @dsurbigapp (via Twitter)

Indians owner and chairman Paul Dolan continues to look for a minority partner, and we learned recently that his list of potential investors has indeed been narrowed. What we don't know yet is how much this might actually influence player payroll. A recent report indicated that the aim might be more to help overcome yearly financial losses, rather than significantly increasing the payroll.

What do you see the Indians doing with Abraham Almonte and Chris Johnson?
-- @ChristianMZ24 (via Twitter)
Almonte played well down the stretch, but in a perfect world, I think he'd be best utilized as a fourth outfielder. Johnson plans on doing work this winter and, in the spring, to add corner outfield to the mix as a more realistic option for the Tribe. That way, he could be worked in as a first baseman, designated hitter or corner outfielder, especially against lefty pitching.

If you recall, everyone thought White and Pomeranz were untouchable at the time.

Shows how overrated prospects from ALL systems are. In general, of course.

Only a certain % of prospects will ever turn out. As in the case of White and Pomeranz, you may think you know but a minor leaguer is difficult to project.

Trade prospects.

Ryan Raburn fully understood his role with the Indians this past season. When Cleveland began to slip in the standings midway through the summer, and younger players began occupying the clubhouse, the veteran also understood the long view being taken by the team.
When the calendar flipped from August to September, Raburn waited six days to see his name in the starting lineup. When it appeared again on Sept. 7 in Chicago, the opposing starter was White Sox ace lefty Chris Sale. Raburn responded to the tall task by belting a pair of home runs, showing his value as a potent platoon option.



Raburn might offer a shrug, or a smirk, but he never once complained about his sporadic playing time.

"That's not my decision," Raburn said at the end of the season. "The only thing I can control is preparing myself to play and, whenever I get that opportunity, doing it to the best of my abilities. I felt like I did that pretty good this year. I wish things would've been a little different.

"The hope is we would've been in the playoffs. But, we were struggling and they were trying to take a look at some other guys. I can understand that, but that's out of my control."

Out of Raburn's control now is whether he will be back with Cleveland in 2016.

Within three days after the conclusion of the World Series (postseason schedule), the Indians must decide whether to retain Raburn through a $3 million team option, or pay him a $100,000 buyout that will allow him to test free agency. While his playing time dwindled late in the season, the 34-year-old Raburn produced strong numbers, especially with his speciality of hitting left-handed pitching.

Raburn said he hoped for the chance to suit up for Cleveland again.

"It's out of my hands," Raburn said. "I did what I had to do. I competed and had a good year. Now, it's their decision. I understand there's a lot that goes into making these decisions. Hopefully, I'm back. I enjoy it here. The fans have been great to me. The organization is top notch. So, I hope I am. But, if not, I feel I'm in a good situation for this offseason."

Overall, Raburn turned in a .301/.393/.543 slash line in 173 at-bats for the Indians, producing eight homers, 25 extra-base hits and 29 RBIs in 82 games. It was similar to 2013, when the utility man hit .272/.357/.543 line in 87 games. Raburn had a 1.020 OPS against lefty pitching two years ago and then turned in a 1.004 OPS against southpaws in '15.

Among qualified Major League batters, Raburn's OPS ranked fourth in the American League this past season, trailing only Nelson Cruz, Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson. Raburn's 173 weighted runs created plus against left-handers ranked sixth in the Majors this year. Donaldson and Bryce Harper were one spot above and below Raburn, respectively, in that category.



Best wRC+ vs. LHP in '15 1 Nelson Cruz 2 Paul Goldschmidt 3 Mike Trout 4 Joey Votto 5 Josh Donaldson 7 Bryce Harper Who's 6? RYAN RABURN.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) October 22, 2015

"He's ready to hit lefties," Indians manager Terry Francona said at the end of the season. "He always has been. He's understood his role, and he stays ready and he does damage."

Consistency has been one of Raburn's pitfalls, though.

While Raburn excelled in both '13 and '15, he hit .171 in an injury-plagued 2012 campaign with Detroit and hit .200 while playing through health issues in '14 with the Tribe. Last offseason, Raburn retooled his workout regimen, dropped weight and bounced back in a big way this year.

"I had to change some things up," Raburn said. "Having the year I had this year -- my body felt great and I probably felt stronger than I had in a while -- it showed there were things I needed to change. It was a big step in the right direction for me."

It is up to the Indians to determine the next step.

In August, Cleveland acquired corner infielder and outfielder Chris Johnson, who has hit .314/.350/.436 in his career against lefty pitching. The Indians also have corner outfielder and first baseman Jerry Sands, who hit .297 with an .838 OPS against southpaws this past season. Both players got regular opportunities in the second half, while Raburn had only 55 at-bats (and a .997 OPS) after the All-Star break.

"In terms of the [team] option, it's something that we'll work through," said Chris Antonetti, the Indians president of baseball operations. "In terms of Ryan's year, he did a phenomenal job. He got back to being the player that was a game-changer for us in 2013. I think [Francona] has said it a few times. It's not too often when you have a non-regular player, when he plays, hit in the middle of your lineup and produce the way Ryan has.

"So, he has been an incredibly valuable member of the team in the role that he was in. He had a big impact against left-handed pitchers for us."

Here's a long article. A site called MLB Trade Rumors ranks the top 50 free agents and takes wild guesses where they may sign.

Without further ado, we’re proud to present MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents!



1. David Price – Cubs. Seven years, $217MM. Price is a true number one starter in his prime. The 30-year-old southpaw posted a 2.45 ERA in 220 1/3 innings for the Tigers and Blue Jays, and is ineligible for a qualifying offer due to a July trade. Price is a five-time All-Star and the 2012 Cy Young winner, and he’s got a shot at the award again this year. Even in a free agent market flush with unprecedented starting pitching, Price is the cream of the crop and should command a record deal. Clayton Kershaw‘s seven-year, $215MM extension signed in January 2014 should be his target. The Cubs are the early favorite, as they are known to be seeking an impact starting pitcher and Joe Maddon managed Price with the Rays. The Blue Jays will attempt to bring Price back, while the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Giants figure to be among those in the mix.

2. Jason Heyward – Yankees. Ten years, $200MM. Since his 2010 rookie season, Heyward has quietly been one of the game’s best outfielders. He’s an excellent defender and baserunner with a solid on-base percentage and some pop. Heyward hit a career-high 27 home runs in 2012, but only 38 in the three seasons since. He doesn’t have the typical power output of a $200MM player, but his all-around game makes him a sabermetric darling with six wins above replacement this year. A very long term and an opt-out clause are on the table for Heyward because he broke into the Majors at age 20, and is now just 26. The Cardinals will try to convince Heyward to stay, but teams like the Angels, Yankees, White Sox, and Astros could make a play. For more on Heyward, click here.

3. Zack Greinke – Dodgers. Six years, $156MM. Greinke is a contender for the NL Cy Young Award after leading all of baseball with a 1.66 ERA in 222 2/3 innings. He’s been an elite starting pitcher since winning the AL award with the 2009 Royals, and has already earned over $100MM in his career. Greinke’s 2012 free agent deal with the Dodgers included a clause allowing him to opt out of the $71MM remaining over the final three seasons, and he’s done just that in search of a guarantee of more than twice that much. Since Greinke recently turned 32, a six-year deal may be out of some teams’ comfort zone. It’s possible he’ll get into the $150MM range even on a five-year term, however. His market should be similar to that of Price, but the 22 month age difference will keep Greinke from matching his contract.

4. Justin Upton – Nationals. Seven years, $147MM. Drafted first overall by the Diamondbacks a decade ago, Upton hasn’t quite reached the lofty expectations placed on him. He’s still a solid source of right-handed power, with 82 home runs over the last three seasons. Upton turned 28 in August, so there’s room to grow. Even if he doesn’t, he could still provide decent value at a contract similar to the one Jacoby Ellsbury signed two years ago with the Yankees. Nationals GM Mike Rizzo was Arizona’s scouting director when they drafted Upton, and there could be a fit if the team is willing to move Bryce Harper to center field. The Yankees, Angels, Rangers, and Giants are other potential matches. Click here for our full profile on Upton.

5. Chris Davis – Cardinals. Six years, $144MM. Davis is baseball’s most prolific home run hitter, leading the Majors in 2013 and 2015. He’s a middle of the order monster and he doesn’t turn 30 until March. Agent Scott Boras will attempt to downplay Davis’ high strikeout rate and his 2014 suspension for use of Adderall. Boras will push for seven years for Davis, a term he achieved with Ellsbury and Shin-Soo Choo previously. First base is not an in-demand position this winter, so finding a match for Davis is difficult. He would be a great addition to the Cardinals’ lineup if they lose Heyward. The Orioles will stay involved, while the Astros, Mariners, and Padres make some degree of sense. Click here for more on Davis.

6. Yoenis Cespedes – Angels. Six years, $140MM. Cespedes, 30, vaulted up the free agent ranks after bashing 25 home runs in the season’s final three months. Signed by the Athletics for $36MM as a free agent out of Cuba, Cespedes’ choice to limit that contract to four years has paid off. He’s ineligible for a qualifying offer, and seems unlikely to return to the Mets. The Angels are one possibility for Cespedes, though they would prefer a left-handed masher. The Astros, Giants, Mariners, White Sox, Rangers, and Yankees could get in the mix, but this one’s tough to predict.

7. Jordan Zimmermann – Blue Jays. Six years, $126MM. Zimmermann could become the first Tommy John survivor to score a $100MM contract. He has a 3.13 ERA over 810 1/3 innings over the last four seasons, but slipped a bit in 2015 and doesn’t boast the strikeout rate of other top arms. Since Zimmermann won’t turn 30 until May, a six-year term is attainable. The Blue Jays need arms, and executive Dana Brown was the Nationals’ scouting director when Zimmermann was drafted in ’07. The Cubs, Giants, Diamondbacks, and Tigers are other good matches. Click here for more on Zimmermann.

8. Johnny Cueto – Red Sox. Five years, $115MM. Cueto served as the Reds’ ace for many years until the Royals acquired him in July, removing his qualifying offer eligibility. Prior to the trade, he went two weeks between starts due to an elbow issue, but avoided the DL. Cueto was not the dominant force the Royals expected, as he posted a 4.76 ERA in 13 regular season starts and pitched poorly in two of his four postseason outings. The righty capped his season with a complete game to take Game 2 of the World Series. Cueto’s performance since August may have knocked down his free agent value, leaving teams wary of guaranteeing a sixth year. He could still be the ace the Red Sox are seeking, as predicted by five of seven MLBTR writers, or clubs such as the Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Diamondbacks, Tigers, Astros, or Blue Jays could win the bidding.

9. Alex Gordon – Royals. Five years, $105MM. Gordon was drafted second overall by the Royals in 2005, one pick after Upton. He has become one of the game’s best left fielders, combining elite defense with excellent on-base skills and decent pop. Gordon’s left-handed bat would look great in a lot of lineups, but most MLBTR writers expect him to remain in Kansas City. How far will the World Champion Royals push the hometown discount? We feel Gordon’s earning power is around $100MM, so it’s hard to picture him accepting something below $75MM.

10. Ian Desmond – Mets. Five years, $80MM. Perhaps the game’s best shortstop from 2012-14, Desmond slumped to a .233/.290/.384 batting line in 2015. He still hit 19 home runs, and is easily the best available at his position. Three MLBTR writers feel the Mets will sign their longtime Nationals adversary, while the Padres and White Sox also got mentions. Desmond will come with a qualifying offer attached.

11. Jeff Samardzija – Giants. Five years, $80MM. After posting a 2.99 ERA in 2014, Samardzija seemed like another potential member of the $100MM club. Instead, he struggled with the White Sox in 2015, leading MLB in hits and earned runs allowed. Executives to whom we’ve spoken still like him the most out of the second tier starters, and think he’ll bounce back from this year’s 4.96 ERA. Shark had an unconventional path to the Majors, serving as a wide receiver at Notre Dame and pitching mostly as a reliever until 2012. That has kept his mileage down relative to someone like Yovani Gallardo, who is a year younger but has thrown nearly 27% more career innings. The Yankees are known to like Samardzija, but the Giants, Diamondbacks, Tigers, Blue Jays, and Astros are just a few others who could get involved.

12. Mike Leake – Giants. Five years, $80MM. Leake is younger than his free agent peers, as he doesn’t turn 28 until next week. The Reds drafted him in the first round in 2009 and put him straight into the Majors in 2010. Leake profiles as a sub-4.00 ERA, mid-rotation arm, and he’s ineligible for a qualifying offer due to his trade to the Giants. His age puts five years on the table. The Giants generally retain their guys and are the prohibitive favorite, though the Diamondbacks are known to like him. To read our full profile on Leake, click here.

13. Wei-Yin Chen – Tigers. Five years, $80MM. Chen, a native of Taiwan, was signed by the Orioles out of Japan in 2012. Though he’s been prone to the longball, the lefty has posted a 3.44 ERA in 377 innings over the last two seasons. Boras figures to position him as a cut above the typical mid-rotation arms, pushing for a fifth year despite a qualifying offer. In need of multiple arms, the Boras-friendly Tigers could be a match.

14. Kenta Maeda – Diamondbacks. $20MM posting fee plus five year, $60MM contract. Maeda, 28 in April, recently finished his eighth season with Japan’s Hiroshima Carp. After he put up a 2.09 ERA in 206 1/3 innings, the Carp may decide to post Maeda. The posting system established in 2013 caps the posting fee at $20MM, allowing all teams that tie for the highest posting bid to negotiate with the player for 30 days. Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart admitted a year ago he loves Maeda, so Arizona is a strong contender.

15. Matt Wieters – Nationals. Four years, $64MM. Another former first-round draft pick, the switch-hitting Wieters has an above average bat for a catcher and little competition on the market at his position. As with Upton, there’s a feeling Wieters hasn’t lived up to expectations, but he’s still a quality player. His contract will be depressed by last year’s Tommy John surgery, which delayed his 2015 debut until June and prevented him from catching on consecutive days regularly. We expect him to turn down the Orioles’ qualifying offer, and the Nationals could sign Wieters as an upgrade over Wilson Ramos. The Braves make sense with Wieters’ strong Georgia ties, while the Angels, Astros, and White Sox could be fits. Click here for our full profile of Wieters.

16. Dexter Fowler – Mets. Four years, $60MM. Fowler, 30 in March, joined the Cubs from the Astros in a January trade. He did a fine job as the Cubs’ center fielder, playing in a career-high 156 regular season games and quieting concerns about his 2014 defensive metrics. The switch-hitter posted his standard solid OBP and a career-best 17 home runs, so he’ll be turning down the Cubs’ qualifying offer in search of a multiyear deal. A return to the Cubs makes sense, but if they decide to move on, the Mets, Nationals, Angels, Marlins, and White Sox are some decent matches. Teams like the Mariners and Rangers may seek help in center field, but may be reluctant to forfeit their first-round draft pick.

17. Daniel Murphy – Angels. Four years, $56MM. Murphy, 31 in April, has long served as a solid second baseman for the Mets. He had the best contact rate in baseball among qualified hitters this year and can also handle third base. He’s a below average defensive second baseman. After hitting a career-high 14 home runs in the regular season, Murphy smashed seven more in the span of seven postseason games against the Dodgers and Cubs. His bat quieted in the World Series, and he also committed a costly error in Game 4. The idea that 14 postseason games had his free agent value swinging $20MM in either direction was always nonsense, as a qualifying offer and a contract in the range of Chase Headley‘s four-year, $52MM pact made sense for Murphy before the postseason narratives set in. The Angels and Yankees are the favorites among MLBTR writers, with the White Sox also getting a mention.

18. Scott Kazmir – Orioles. Four years, $52MM. Kazmir put up an excellent 3.10 ERA in 183 innings this year for the Athletics and Astros. Though he was either struggling or out of the Majors from 2009-12, Kazmir has re-established himself over the last three seasons. The southpaw, who is ineligible for a qualifying offer, has a case for a four-year deal. I don’t completely subscribe to the narrative, but Kazmir will have to contend with the impression that he fades down the stretch. The Orioles, perhaps seeking a more affordable southpaw to replace Wei-Yin Chen, could pursue Kazmir. The Tigers, Blue Jays, Giants, Dodgers, Padres, and Royals are other possibilities.

19. Ian Kennedy – Angels. Four years, $52MM. Kennedy had a 4.28 ERA for the Padres but seemed deserving of better. He will deal with the drag of a qualifying offer, but several teams will gravitate toward a pitcher with a 9.3 K/9 over the last two seasons. Kennedy’s biggest issue is home runs; no one posted a higher rate per nine innings this year. The Angels, Giants, Astros, Tigers, Blue Jays, and Orioles are potential suitors.

20. Yovani Gallardo – Tigers. Four years, $52MM. Gallardo, 30 in February, spent his career with the Brewers before a January trade to the Rangers. Once one of the NL’s better pitchers, Gallardo has settled in as a mid-rotation arm. His peripheral stats this year suggest he was fortunate to manage a 3.42 ERA, and his qualifying offer could hamper his market. The Tigers could work, as a team seeking multiple starters with a protected first-rounder.

21. Ben Zobrist – Yankees. Three years, $51MM. Baseball’s Swiss Army knife would fit with more than a dozen teams, as he can handle second base and the outfield corners and even back up at shortstop. Offensively, Zobrist contributes a strong OBP and good pop, plus he’s ineligible for a qualifying offer because he was traded to the Royals. He’ll be vying for a fourth year, and Victor Martinez did get that, but with Zobrist turning 35 in May it’s still a tough sell. He remains a good fit for the Royals, while the Yankees, Orioles, Padres, Astros, and White Sox could also make sense.

22. Howie Kendrick – White Sox. Four years, $50MM. Kendrick presents an alternative to Murphy, from the right side of the plate. He remains an above-average hitter and is considered a competent second baseman. After nine seasons with the Angels, Kendrick was traded to the Dodgers last December. The 32-year-old will likely seek a four-year deal, which may cause a few suitors to back away. The White Sox have a protected first-round pick and could stabilize second base with Kendrick. The Yankees, Royals, Angels, and Mets are other possibilities.

23. Byung-ho Park – Rockies. $10MM posting fee plus five-year, $40MM contract. Park, a 29-year-old first baseman from the Korea Baseball Organization, was posted by the Nexen Heroes this week. In the wake of the Pirates’ success with Jung-ho Kang, Park’s price tag should exceed that $16MM expenditure. Park had big home run numbers but played in a very homer-friendly league. We may learn next week which MLB team won the posting bidding and if the Heroes will accept it, making this an easier pick for our free agent prediction contest. The Rockies, Orioles, Cardinals, Indians, Mariners, Marlins, Padres, Phillies, and Pirates are potential matches.

24. John Lackey – Cubs. Three years, $50MM. Lackey had a fantastic year for the Cardinals, with a 2.77 ERA in 218 innings. His base salary was the league minimum due to an injury-related clause he agreed to upon signing with Theo Epstein’s Red Sox in 2009, but the Cards added $2MM in performance bonuses. After that bargain, the Cardinals made the $15.8MM qualifying offer, and Lackey is expected to turn it down in search of a multiyear deal. He recently turned 37, so some suitors could be wary of a three-year deal. The Cubs, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Astros, Royals, Giants, Tigers, Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners, Marlins, Nationals, Rangers, Twins, and Yankees could all be part of his robust market.

25. Hisashi Iwakuma – Mariners. Three years, $45MM. Iwakuma’s run of success continued with the Mariners, as he posted a 3.54 ERA in 20 starts and pitched a no-hitter. He missed more than two months with a lat strain, however, and turns 35 in April. He’ll contend with a qualifying offer if he reaches the open market, but interest in a new deal with Seattle is mutual. Iwakuma’s market would resemble that of Lackey.

26. Colby Rasmus – Padres. Three years, $39MM. Rasmus, a 29-year-old former first-round draft pick, hit a career-high 25 home runs for the Astros this year. He added four more in nine postseason games. Rasmus can play all three outfield positions, too. One of four 2005 first-round draft picks on this list, Rasmus had trouble meshing with the Cardinals and Blue Jays clubhouses but found comfort in Houston. The Astros made him a qualifying offer, however, and the prospect of forfeiting a draft pick will give some teams pause.

27. Denard Span – Cubs. Three years, $39MM. Span, 32 in February, hit .292/.345/.404 in his three seasons with the Nationals. His center field defense rated as below average for the last two years, however. Span had hip surgery on September 1st and will spend most of the offseason recovering, potentially depressing his price tag. To the great benefit of his market, Span did not receive a qualifying offer from the Nationals. The Cubs are a good fit for Span, though it’s easier to picture a team like the Mariners coming into play since they have the first unprotected pick in the draft.

28. Brett Anderson – Dodgers. Three years, $39MM. Anderson is another interesting southpaw, although his market will be hampered by a qualifying offer from the Dodgers. Anderson is young for a free agent, as he doesn’t turn 28 until February. He doesn’t miss a ton of bats, but he led all qualified starters with a 66.3% groundball rate this year. He set a career high with 180 1/3 regular season innings with the Dodgers, after injuries limited him to 206 1/3 over the previous four seasons. Anderson’s injury history likely takes a four-year deal off the table unless the average annual value is greatly reduced. The Dodgers may retain him, especially since his leverage is reduced by their qualifying offer. Otherwise his market should resemble that of Kazmir.

29. Marco Estrada – Athletics. Three years, $30MM. Estrada looked like a non-tender candidate for the Brewers a year ago, who traded him to the Blue Jays for Adam Lind. He didn’t even join Toronto’s rotation until May 5th, but he went on to post a 3.28 ERA in 28 starts. He also raised his profile with two excellent postseason starts in three tries. The 32-year-old soft-tosser received a qualifying offer from the Blue Jays — an offer of a one-year, $15.8MM contract upon which he must decide in the next seven days. Estrada has earned $10MM in his career, so accepting the offer has to be a serious consideration. Still, Estrada would surely prefer the security of a multiyear deal, and has a good chance of finding a three-year contract even with the draft pick cost. The qualifying offer gives the Blue Jays leverage over the next week, so it’s possible he’ll strike a multiyear deal with them to remain in Toronto.

30. J.A. Happ – Royals. Three years, $30MM. Happ, a 33-year-old southpaw, posted a 4.64 ERA in 108 2/3 innings for the Mariners but a 1.85 mark in 63 1/3 for the Pirates. Assuming teams feel some of that success can be replicated outside of Pittsburgh, Happ will be a popular mid-range free agent target, as he’s ineligible for a qualifying offer and probably won’t expect a four-year deal. The Pirates will attempt to retain him, while the Royals, Orioles, Padres, Angels, Giants, Tigers, A’s, Dodgers, and Marlins also make sense.

31. David Freese – White Sox. Three years, $30MM. Freese is a decent third baseman in a market bereft of them. 33 in April, he hit .260/.328/.394 over the last three years and plays average defense. The Halos chose not to risk the one-year, $15.8MM qualifying offer to Freese. That’s a big plus for his free agency and probably makes a third year possible. He could return to the Angels, while the White Sox and Indians also make sense.

32. Gerardo Parra – Nationals. Three years, $27MM. Parra was a hot commodity on the July trade market after hitting well beyond his norm for 100 games with the Brewers. The Orioles acquired him, and he tanked in the remaining 55 games. Still, Parra doesn’t turn 29 until May, he plays all three outfield positions, and he’s not eligible for a qualifying offer. Parra’s struggles against left-handed pitching prevent him from being a regular, but he’ll be a popular free agent as something between a regular and a fourth outfielder. There’s a Mike Rizzo connection since Parra came up with the D’Backs, while the White Sox, Mets, and Padres could also work.

33. Darren O’Day – Red Sox. Three years, $22.5MM. O’Day may be the best reliever on the free agent market. The sidearmer compiled a 1.92 ERA in 263 innings over four seasons with the Orioles. He has at times struggled with walks and home runs against left-handed hitters, but he doesn’t have to be used as a righty specialist. Though he recently turned 33, a three-year deal is in order. If the Orioles elect not to pay the price, the Red Sox, Tigers, Braves, Diamondbacks, and Mets are just a few potential suitors.

34. Joakim Soria – Tigers. Three years, $18MM. Soria, the former dominant Royals closer, is fully back to form after April 2012 Tommy John surgery. He became the Tigers’ closer after Joe Nathan went down with an elbow injury, and was traded to the Pirates in July. A healthy three-year deal is in order for Soria, who turns 32 in May. His market will be similar to that of O’Day, perhaps with a boost for some teams due to his closing experience.

35. Austin Jackson – Rockies. One year, $12MM. Jackson looked like a potential star after a breakout 2012 season with the Tigers. However, his offense declined and he was traded to the Mariners at the 2014 trade deadline. Seattle sent him to the Cubs this year at the August deadline. Jackson doesn’t turn 29 until February, and he plays a capable center field. There’s a good chance he can still pass as a two-win center fielder. A Boras client, Jackson could attempt to maximize his earnings now on multiyear deal, or rebuild value on a one-year pact. A return to the Cubs makes sense, while the Rockies, Marlins, Nationals, Rangers, Braves, Reds, White Sox, and Indians could also be fits.

36. Tyler Clippard – Braves. Three years, $18MM. Clippard’s strikeout and walk rates moved in the wrong direction this year, but he still compiled a 2.92 ERA in 71 innings for the Athletics and Mets. He’s a two-time All-Star who has succeeded in a setup and occasional closer role since 2009. His history of success should be enough for a three-year deal.

37. Asdrubal Cabrera – White Sox. Two years, $18MM. The Rays signed Cabrera to a one-year, $7.5MM deal in January. His longstanding record as a below-average defensive shortstop held true, but he showed some pop with 15 home runs and overall was a net positive. Some teams might prefer him at second base, where he played for the Nationals last year. The Padres or White Sox could plug him in as a stopgap at either position.

38. Mat Latos – Pirates. One year, $12MM. A few years ago, Latos seemed in line for a monster free agent deal upon hitting the market at age 28. Then bone spurs in his elbow late in 2013 led to surgery, followed by knee surgery prior to 2014 spring training, and then a flexor mass strain in his elbow. His 2014 season debut was pushed to mid-June. He had a stem cell elbow procedure in November 2014, and then the Reds traded him to the Marlins. He battled minor injuries but showed promise in his 16 starts with the Marlins this year and then joined the Dodgers via trade. Latos struggled in six outings for the Dodgers and earned his release, hooking on with the Angels in late September to make a few relief appearances. Latos will probably go for a one-year deal to rebuild value, and the Pirates have a knack for getting pitchers back on track. As one of only a couple of interesting one-year deal arms, Latos should be popular.

39. Doug Fister – Astros. One year, $10MM. Fister is the other popular one-year deal target, as he served as a dependable starting pitcher until this year. With his strikeout and groundball rates declining, and his fastball down to around 86 miles per hour, he doesn’t have the upside of Latos.

40. Mike Pelfrey – Royals. Two years, $15MM. Pelfrey isn’t the most exciting free agent starter, but the righty did make 30 starts for the Twins this year with the game’s eighth best home run prevention rate. Teams like the Royals, Tigers, and Phillies could entertain him for the back end of the rotation.

41. Antonio Bastardo – Mariners. Three years, $15MM. Bastardo profiles as the best lefty reliever on the free agent market after a 2.98 ERA in 57 1/3 innings for the Pirates. The 30-year-old does have control problems, however. The Mariners, Twins, and Cardinals are a few potential matches.

42. Ryan Madson – Twins. Three years, $15MM. Madson, 35, signed a minor league deal with the Royals in January. He hadn’t pitched in the Majors since 2011. With a 2.13 ERA and strong peripherals in 63 1/3 big league innings, Madson proved he’s all the way back as a top setup option. Suitors will prefer a two-year deal due to Madson’s age and history, but a third year might win the bid.


43. Steve Pearce – Rangers. Two years, $14MM. Pearce smashed 21 home runs in 383 plate appearances for the Orioles in 2014, but couldn’t replicate his success in his contract year. He could fill a lefty-mashing left field/first base role for the Rangers.

44. Shawn Kelley – Diamondbacks. Two years, $12MM. Kelley has a shot at a three-year deal, after he posted a 2.45 ERA, 11.1 K/9, and 2.6 BB/9 in 51 1/3 innings for the Padres this year. He’ll be appealing to a long list of teams seeking to augment the bullpen.

45. John Jaso – Orioles. Two years, $12MM. Jaso spent most of the season as the Rays’ designated hitter, and figures to remain in the American League. A wrist injury knocked him out for three months this year. The 32-year-old hit .278/.368/.439 against right-handed pitching over the last three years, but generally shouldn’t face lefties.

46. Chris B. Young – Yankees. Two years, $12MM. Young is a lefty-masher who can play all three outfield positions. If the Yankees don’t bring him back, the Rangers could be a fit.

47. Tony Sipp – Astros. Three years, $12MM. Sipp, one of the top lefty relievers on the market, revived his career by joining the Astros in 2014. He seems inclined to stay in Houston, though he may be popular enough to net a three-year offer.

48. Justin Morneau – Orioles. One year, $8MM. After winning a batting title with the Rockies last year, Morneau played in just 49 games in 2015 due to a strained neck and concussion symptoms. A move back to the American League makes sense.

49. Alexei Ramirez – Padres. One year, $7.5MM. Ramirez’s $10MM option was a borderline call for the White Sox, but they ultimately chose the $1MM buyout. The 34-year-old struggled mightily in the season’s first three months, but hit a respectable .282/.329/.426 in the second half. His defense might be a little below average at this point, but teams seeking a shortstop can’t be too picky.

50. Rich Hill – Phillies. One year, $5MM. Hill, 36 in March, rose from the ashes to twirl four brilliant starts for the Red Sox in September and October. He’s a southpaw with a huge curveball and career-long control issues. His last run of success as a starter came in 2007, but I like using the last spot on this list for a wild card.

If you read that article carefully, you will be amazed to find that they don't project the Indians to sign any of the Top 50. List us as potential matches for 3b David Freese, OF Austin Jackson and an 1B B. Park. from Korea.

Since Jackson is described as possibly looking for a 1-year deal, he could make some sense for Cleveland to hold the fort in Center before Zimmer arrives. I suppose he's still more useful than Michael Bourn. but perhaps Almonte is nearly as useful and costs way less.

November 9, 2015
15 Bold Hot Stove Predictions
Comments
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Could one team land both Justin Upton and David Price during this offseason? (Getty Images)

Baseball's winter market has arrived, flush with an unusually voluminous free-agent field and the potential for swapping discussions that began in a particularly fruitful July dealing period to lead to consummation.

Just to get us started and drive discussion, here are 15 predictions involving various names to know during this Hot Stove season.

1. David Price AND Justin Upton to the Giants. Let's go crazy, folks. We know the Giants are going to have money to spend this winter. The passage of Proposition D last week gives them clearance to pursue a high-rise real estate project near AT&T Park, which could eventually amount to a license to print money. Beyond that, they've already sold out 408 straight games. They're flush. And if they increase their payroll just 10 percent or so, they'd have some $50 million to play with for the 2016 roster.

So this is doable. The baseball world at large is predicting or outright expecting Price to reunite with Joe Maddon and sign with the Cubs, but it's hard to imagine the Cubs having well north of $300 million or more tied up in two members of their rotation (Price and Jon Lester). It is, however, still reasonable to expect Price to be the next front-line ace to abandon the American League, and the Giants, thanks to the expired contracts of Tim Lincecum, Tim Hudson, Nori Aoki, Mike Leake, Marco Scutaro, Jeremy Affeldt and Ryan Vogelsong, can offer Price everything he could possibly desire: A fun and cohesive clubhouse, a tremendous fan base and -- bonus -- a home park that will support his stat line. The only potential hangup here is if the Giants prefer not to pair Madison Bumgarner with another lefty atop the rotation.

And yes, let's throw in Upton, as well, because the Giants need a left fielder with thump. Signing both of these guys would make the Giants instant favorites in the NL West. It's costly, but such costs do not appear to be a major concern in that market at the moment.

2. Jordan Zimmermann to the Cubs. This is a way for the Cubs to augment their starting stash at a much lesser price than Price. Zimmermann is durable, is potentially due for a bounceback year and would give the Cubs a strong rotation alignment from A(rrieta) to Z(immermann), with an L(ester) in between. He's also from suburban Chicago (otherwise known as Wisconsin).

3. Chris Davis to the Cardinals. Jason Heyward is priority No. 1 for the Cards, and, with a newly signed $1 billion television contract with FOX Sports Midwest and an always supportive fan base, I'm certain there's enough money to get a deal done with him. But because of his age (26), Heyward's contract could exceed that of Price and be the most lucrative in this market, and the Cards aren't known for reckless pursuits. With their organizational outfield depth (Stephen Piscotty is ready, willing and able to start in right field) and glaring need for power, Davis might actually be a better target, anyway. (Then again, maybe a strikeout-prone power hitter landing with the Astros is a fait accompli.)

4. Jason Heyward to the Dodgers. The Dodgers generally want to get younger and cheaper, but this is too good an opportunity for them to pass up. Heyward is a rare commodity in the open market -- a toolsy 26-year-old everyday player with a great glove who can bat near the top of the order. I see him signing a longer and more lucrative contract than Price, albeit with the potential for an opt-out somewhere in the midst of the deal. To make room for Heyward, the Dodgers would have to clear outfield space, so …

5. Yasiel Puig traded to the Indians. The Dodgers could try to find a taker for Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford, but here's a way for them to inject an impact arm into their rotation. No telling if L.A. actually parts with Puig after a hugely disappointing 2015. Some would see it as selling low, or maybe it's high time to be as opportunistic as possible should his value diminish any further. What's clear is that Terry Francona is fully capable of handling whatever distractions Puig might present, and this is the one kind of deal -- for a potential middle-of-the-order, right-handed bat under reasonable contractual control ($24.6 million over the next three years) -- that could lure the Tribe into trading away a prime pitching piece. Not sure if Carlos Carrasco is too much for Puig or if Danny Salazar is not enough. I do know that either of those guys would augment the starting setup for a Dodgers team that might very well lose Zack Greinke.

6. Aroldis Chapman and Jay Bruce traded to the Red Sox. With all the attention again on their need for an ace, the Red Sox haul in a relief ace to bring power to their 'pen, and they stabilize a defensively sound but largely still-unproven (save for that Mookie Betts breakout) outfield by bringing in Bruce. Dave Dombrowski could use Jackie Bradley Jr. and Henry Owens as starting points in this discussion with a Reds team in need of controllable assets. And as for that need for an "ace"…

7. Zack Greinke to the Red Sox. Maybe he stays in L.A. and collects that free bus pass. Maybe the Giants lure him away. Or maybe his personal connections to the Boston organization (vice president of player personnel Allard Baird was the one who originally drafted and signed Greinke out of high school, and director of pitching analytics Brian Bannister is a friend and former teammate) and, yes, a ton of cash win out. (I'll totally admit I might just be pining for regular interactions between Greinke and the Boston media here.)

8. Yoenis Cespedes to the Marlins. You wonder if Cespedes cost himself some $20 million or $30 million with his October performance, particularly in a lackluster World Series in which his defensive and mental gaffes loomed large. Anyway, something about neon arm sleeves and Miami just feels right. The Marlins would have the most expensive corner outfield setup in history, but this would allow them to move Marcell Ozuna for pitching help (Christian Yelich can slide over to center) and Cespedes' laser-beam home runs are capable of clearing even the as-yet-unmoved Marlins Park walls.

9. Ben Zobrist to the Yankees. This just feels like a layup. A Yankees team with an old roster and an increasing eye on defensive value and versatility will sign an old guy who provides defensive value and versatility.

10. Matt Wieters to the White Sox. Personal connections point to a pairing with the Braves. Wieters grew up rooting for them, his dad, Richard, pitched in their system and he attended nearby Georgia Tech. But for whatever it's worth, Wieters' dad pitched in the White Sox's system, too. More importantly, if the Sox are still serious about contending, this is a move they need to make. Their catching production was predictably horrendous again last year, and they've got a protected Draft pick. So while this has never been a club known for going to the top of the market for free-agent help, Wieters, whose price point might be more manageable following his return from Tommy John surgery, makes too much sense for them to ignore. Besides, with the Braves a year away from serious contention, the timing might not be right with Wieters, anyway.

11. Johnny Cueto to the D-backs. Arizona is already a popular sleeper pick for 2016 on the might of a lineup that is loaded (by NL standards, especially) and a strong defensive profile. The need for starting staff stabilization (Arizona had the fifth-fewest innings of any starting staff in '15) could not be clearer, and though the D-backs likely don't have the funds to go after Price, Cueto's late-season price drop will get him into their range. A front office that values his workhorse capabilities will absorb the risk associated with his minor (?) elbow woes of 2015 and latch on. Cueto could be one of those guys who lingers on the market into January.

12. Alex Gordon to the Orioles. Actually, my first instinct says Gordon stays in K.C. But my instincts have betrayed me before, and this scenario feels legitimate. If the O's lose out on Davis, they can pivot to Gordon, who would of course fit the defensive profile of a Buck Showalter squad and fit the organizational need for improvement in on-base percentage. An O's team on the verge of major roster reconstruction can go all-in on Gordon without drifting too far beyond its normally reserved stance in the free-agent field.

13. Dexter Fowler to the Royals. Fowler profiles best as a corner outfielder moving forward, and the Royals currently have an opening in both corners. If they're not able to retain Gordon, Fowler makes sense for them as a high-OBP guy with occasional power and average speed. This might affect whatever voodoo magic Ned Yost has working with Alcides Escobar in the leadoff spot, but it's probably best that the Royals stop tempting fate there and just get a guy with a more traditional leadoff skillset.

14. Daniel Murphy to the Angels. He needs to be at third base, if not first, at this stage, and the Angels could use him at either spot, really (Albert Pujols needs to stay off his legs as much as possible). The Angels are pretty encumbered by colossal contracts at this point, but Murphy brings them a needed left-handed bat at what should be -- thanks to his disastrous World Series somewhat offsetting his previously awesome October -- a manageable contract.

15. No one accepts the qualifying offer. Taking the $15.8 million guarantee seems to make logical sense for several guys. Maybe Ian Kennedy, maybe Brett Anderson or Marco Estrada, possibly even Ian Desmond, who could rebuild his value after a brutal 2015. But ballplayers didn't get to this point without tremendous belief in their abilities, and that extends to their ability to do well in the open market. These guys don't want to be put in the same situation a year from now, so I suspect they'll all look for multi-year guarantees.

All right, that doesn't solve everybody's problems, obviously. But we've got all kinds of time to inaccurately guess where other guys will go and what other teams will do to improve.

* * *
Anthony Castrovince is a Sports on Earth contributor and MLB.com columnist. Follow him on Twitter @Castrovince.

Indians noted in a Hot Stove rumor. That's unusual:

5. Yasiel Puig traded to the Indians. The Dodgers could try to find a taker for Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford, but here's a way for them to inject an impact arm into their rotation. No telling if L.A. actually parts with Puig after a hugely disappointing 2015. Some would see it as selling low, or maybe it's high time to be as opportunistic as possible should his value diminish any further. What's clear is that Terry Francona is fully capable of handling whatever distractions Puig might present, and this is the one kind of deal -- for a potential middle-of-the-order, right-handed bat under reasonable contractual control ($24.6 million over the next three years) -- that could lure the Tribe into trading away a prime pitching piece. Not sure if Carlos Carrasco is too much for Puig or if Danny Salazar is not enough. I do know that either of those guys would augment the starting setup for a Dodgers team that might very well lose Zack Greinke.

Both of those sound like pretty good arms to deal for player coming off a "hugely disappointing" 2015

CLEVELAND -- The Indians were optimistic that Michael Brantley would avoid an operation this offseason. During his sit-down with reporters at the end of last season, the outfielder also expressed confidence in his ability to rehab his ailing right shoulder in order to circumvent surgery.

Reality caught up to Cleveland on Monday morning, when Brantley underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his non-throwing shoulder that will cost him 5-6 months of recovery time. The hope was to sidestep this day, but now the Indians need to adjust their offseason plans accordingly and be ready for the possibility that their star left fielder might not be available until late April or early May.

"Our goal is to have him ready for the start of the season, obviously," said James Quinlan, the Indians' head athletic trainer. "But we need to be prepared for this to carry on a little bit into April."

The surgery -- performed by Dr. Craig Morgan in Wilmington, Del. -- was aimed at repairing a small labral tear, which was first detected by the Indians after an MRI exam late in the season. Quinlan said Cleveland's medical staff knew that surgery was a possibility, but both the Indians and Brantley wanted to try a conservative rehab program before taking that step.

Following the initial injury, which occurred on a diving catch attempt by Brantley in the third inning of a game against the Twins on Sept. 22, the left fielder missed 10 of the Tribe's final 12 games. Brantley received an injection, went through a period of rest and then continued through a two-week program that included strengthening exercises and a return to light hitting.

Other players have had success with similar programs, but Brantley's discomfort persisted throughout the process. Quinlan said any injury involving the shoulder is "challenging," noting that a lot of times it comes down to the individual player.

"When we saw his labrum tear, there's obviously some thought that surgery would be a possibility," Quinlan said. "But we've seen in the past that a lot of guys are able to get through [it with] conservative management. Really, you let your symptoms dictate that. So sometimes it's just something that you have to go through, a process of strengthening and rest and, if the symptoms subside, then you know you're in a good spot.

"If they don't, you're balancing out how much strengthening you give it vs. the fact that he needs to be ready for a full baseball season. You have a certain amount of time to work with and [Brantley] did a great job of trying to balance that out and get through with the conservative approach, until it got to a certain point where he knew that he was going to need to get something done so he could be his normal self."

Brantley asked to seek a second opinion, and Quinlan said the Indians always support their players' requests along those lines.

At the end of the season, Brantley said, "Nobody ever wants to go under the knife. As it stands right now, we're heading in the right direction. We have a great game plan going forward, a great week-and-a-half, two-week process that we're going to move on from this point and see how it goes."

Quinlan also noted that Brantley, who lives in Florida during the offseason, will spend a large portion of his winter in Cleveland in order to stay on top of the surgery rehab under the watch of the Indians' medical team. Brantley will then likely head to the team's complex in Goodyear, Ariz., before position players are required to report for Spring Training in February.

Barring any further setbacks, Quinlan said the hope is Brantley will be able to begin a hitting program by the four-month mark before transitioning to rehab game action by five months. If everything goes according to plan, that would put Brantley on target for Major League games by six months, or around May.

While the injury does not involve Brantley's throwing arm, the issue does affect his hitting.

"It's his lead shoulder with hitting," Quinlan explained. "So from our mindset, from a rehab standpoint for him, it's almost just as stressful. You've got to follow through, and that shoulder really needs to be strong with initiating his swing and follow-through."

In 137 games, which marked Brantley's fewest in a season since 2011, the left-handed hitter turned in a .310 average to go along with 15 home runs, 84 RBIs and a Major League-leading 45 doubles. Brantley added 15 steals and 68 runs, and he finished with more walks (60) than strikeouts (51), while battling issues with his back and both shoulders at various points throughout the season.

"He's unbelievable," Quinlan said. "He comes to the field every day and really works his tail off to play through everything, and to play with injuries or sorenesses or things like that. He has great feel for what he needs to get to to be productive on the field. It's impressive."

Brantley led the Majors with 90 doubles combined over the 2014-15 seasons, and he hit .319 with an .876 OPS in that span. In '14, he became the first player in Indians history to have at least 20 steals, 20 homers, 40 doubles and 200 hits in a single season, a year in which he was an All-Star, a Silver Slugger Award recipient and third-place finisher in American League Most Valuable Player Award voting.

Brantley and Roberto Alomar (1999-2000) are the only players in Cleveland history to have two seasons consisting of at least 15 steals, 15 homers, 40 doubles and 150 hits.

The Indians ended last season with an outfield trio of Brantley in left, Abraham Almonte in center and Lonnie Chisenhall in right. Cleveland might be in the market for a center fielder, enabling the versatile Almonte to transition to a fourth-outfielder role. Chisenhall displayed above-average defense in right, but might need a part-time platoon partner for facing left-handed pitching. In light of Brantley's injury, left field now has a question mark for Opening Day as well.

Brantley said he hated missing time due to healthy issues throughout last season.

"The competitor I am, I wanted to be out there," Brantley said. "You've got to listen to your manager, the doctors, the trainers and listen to what they say, take into consideration that as well. Deep down inside, any game that I miss, I want to be out there with my teammates."

Despite what the top paragraph of that story says "5 to 6 month return"] it appears that 6 months in the optimistic date for his return.

If everything goes according to plan, that would put Brantley on target for Major League games by six months, or around May

Surprise!

Indians fall short in Park bidding


Byung-Ho-ParkThe Indians are in the market for power and right-handed slugging has been seemingly an annual need for the club in recent years. One intriguing solution would have been Korean slugger Byung-ho Park.

The Nexen Heroes made Park available to Major League teams via the posting system last week, setting a deadline of 5 p.m. ET on Friday. Cleveland was among the teams that submitted a blind bid, though the Tribe did not win the right to negotiate a contract with Park.

Reports out of Korea indicated that the Heroes accepted a top bid of $12.85 million, though the winning club has yet to be revealed. MLB.com learned Saturday morning that the Indians fell short of that price, which will give the top team an exclusive 30-day window to try to sign the first baseman.

It isn’t immediately known how much Cleveland bid for the right to talk to Park. [rumor has it they offered $7.99]

This past season, the 29-year-old Park hit .343 with 53 home runs and 146 RBIs in 140 games for Nexen. He launched 173 homers and knocked in 492 runs from 2012-15, though he also had 510 strikeouts in that time period. Park was the KBO MVP in 2012-13 and will likely win another for his work this past season.

Bidding on a player like Park makes sense for the Indians, who are not expected to be major players in free agency. Park would come at a lower annual rate than a similar Major League free agent and would not be tied to any Draft pick compensation. Cleveland’s top pick for the 2016 Draft (16th overall) is unprotected, so any free agents who decline Qualifying Offers (20 received a QO on Friday) would not only come at a high price financially, but would eliminate that first-round selection.

At first base, the Indians have the switch-hitting Carlos Santana ($8.25 million in 2016) and Chris Johnson ($7.5 million) for the time being, but each are trade candidates this winter. If both Santana and Johnson are back in ’16, they would also project to serve as a designated hitter at times, with Johnson also seeing innings at third base and potentially in the corner outfield spots. Johnson would primarily be used against left-handed pitching.

Cleveland has little wiggle room financially for any major free-agent additions this offseason, so the club will be looking more toward the trade market to address its need for an impact bat. Taking a flier on a player like Park also made sense. Given the success of Korean infielder Jung Ho Kang (posting fee of $5.1 million, followed by a four-year, $11-million contract) with the Pirates, though, Park’s price exceeded Cleveland’s comfort zone in a blind-bid scenario.

CLEVELAND -- Shortly before the non-waiver Trade Deadline last summer, Indians manager Terry Francona pulled Carlos Carrasco into his office and assured the pitcher that he was not going anywhere. Rumors were just rumors, and Cleveland had no plans of trading the promising young right-hander, no matter how many times teams called.
Similar calls have continued into this offseason and will surely keep coming as the winter gets deeper and the Indians look to upgrade their offense. Starting pitching is the undeniable and enviable strength of Cleveland's roster, and other clubs know the Indians are not in a position to outbid other teams for an impact bat on the free-agent market.

Interest in Cleveland's talented rotation has remained high at the General Managers Meetings this week in Boca Raton, Fla.

"It's consistent," Indians GM Mike Chernoff told reporters on Wednesday. "We're fortunate to be in a position where we have real strength at the top and also depth, so teams target it all the time. We are in no hurry to be moving from our strength and moving away from that, but we're a small market team. We have to be creative and opportunistic. So we listen on anything and consider what the alternatives are."

The reality, however, is that Cleveland would need to be blown away to part with one of its top starting pitchers.

The Indians have the 2014 American League Cy Young Award winner in Corey Kluber, 29, who is signed through 2019 with team options for '20 and '21. Carrasco, 26, who pitched like a No. 1 starter this past season, is also locked in through the 2018 campaign with team option for the following two years. Starters Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer are young (25 and 24, respectively) and under team control through 2020.

Cleveland's rotation as a whole ranked first in the AL last season in strikeouts (969), Fielding Independent Pitching (3.73), WHIP (1.16), strikeouts per nine innings (8.9), strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.52) and opponents' average (.232). The group was second in wins (65), third in innings (979 1/3) and WAR (15.9) and fourth in ERA (3.94).

Kluber, Carrasco, Salazar and Bauer were responsible for the majority of those high marks, but the Indians also enjoyed a strong rookie showing from Cody Anderson (3.05 ERA in 15 starts) and a solid comeback effort from 31-year-old Josh Tomlin (3.02 ERA in 10 starts).

"I do feel like our starting pitching has been a strength of our team," Chris Antonetti, the Indians' president of baseball operations, said at the end of the season. "But, just because that's been an area that performed well this year and we feel good about going into the offseason with, it doesn't mean it will be an area we don't look to improve.

"We will exhaust every avenue to try to improve and get better and improve our alternatives in every aspect of the team."

The Indians' biggest need is offense, especially in the outfield now that the team knows left fielder Michael Brantley (right shoulder surgery) could miss at least the first month of the season. The Indians had roughly a league-average offense overall (99 weighted runs created plus), but were in the bottom third of the AL in terms of slugging percentage (.401), Isolated Power (.144) and home runs (141).

Without the ability to sign a marquee free-agent hitter, the Indians probably need to at least be open to listening to what teams are willing to offer for Cleveland's starting pitchers.

"I feel like, if the season opened tomorrow, we could field a competitive starting staff," Antonetti said. "With respect to trades, that's a very difficult question to answer. We have to be open-minded in how we build our team. I think our goal will be to build a team that we feel is capable of making the postseason and winning the World Series."

Boy this team is cheap![

quote="civ ollilavad"]Surprise!

Indians fall short in Park bidding


Byung-Ho-ParkThe Indians are in the market for power and right-handed slugging has been seemingly an annual need for the club in recent years. One intriguing solution would have been Korean slugger Byung-ho Park.

The Nexen Heroes made Park available to Major League teams via the posting system last week, setting a deadline of 5 p.m. ET on Friday. Cleveland was among the teams that submitted a blind bid, though the Tribe did not win the right to negotiate a contract with Park.

Reports out of Korea indicated that the Heroes accepted a top bid of $12.85 million, though the winning club has yet to be revealed. MLB.com learned Saturday morning that the Indians fell short of that price, which will give the top team an exclusive 30-day window to try to sign the first baseman.

It isn’t immediately known how much Cleveland bid for the right to talk to Park. [rumor has it they offered $7.99]

This past season, the 29-year-old Park hit .343 with 53 home runs and 146 RBIs in 140 games for Nexen. He launched 173 homers and knocked in 492 runs from 2012-15, though he also had 510 strikeouts in that time period. Park was the KBO MVP in 2012-13 and will likely win another for his work this past season.

Bidding on a player like Park makes sense for the Indians, who are not expected to be major players in free agency. Park would come at a lower annual rate than a similar Major League free agent and would not be tied to any Draft pick compensation. Cleveland’s top pick for the 2016 Draft (16th overall) is unprotected, so any free agents who decline Qualifying Offers (20 received a QO on Friday) would not only come at a high price financially, but would eliminate that first-round selection.

At first base, the Indians have the switch-hitting Carlos Santana ($8.25 million in 2016) and Chris Johnson ($7.5 million) for the time being, but each are trade candidates this winter. If both Santana and Johnson are back in ’16, they would also project to serve as a designated hitter at times, with Johnson also seeing innings at third base and potentially in the corner outfield spots. Johnson would primarily be used against left-handed pitching.

Cleveland has little wiggle room financially for any major free-agent additions this offseason, so the club will be looking more toward the trade market to address its need for an impact bat. Taking a flier on a player like Park also made sense. Given the success of Korean infielder Jung Ho Kang (posting fee of $5.1 million, followed by a four-year, $11-million contract) with the Pirates, though, Park’s price exceeded Cleveland’s comfort zone in a blind-bid scenario.[/quote]