Who should be locked up?
by Brick. on Aug 10, 2009 5:53 PM EDT
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Being that it's August 10th in a lost season, it's about time to start thinking about something the Indians do some of pretty much every year. Fausto, being the most recent example. That is to lock up young talent to long term deals, buying out the player's arbitration years and some of their first free agent seasons. It's part of the blueprint that has pretty well stood the test of time. Even if those players don't stay through the whole contract. The risk/reward usually works out for both the player and the team. Seems to me the strategy is to keep paying a guy at the minimum until he's done enough at the big league level to convince you he's a guy to hang on to. But not to wait too long, and get too close to arbitration. So a LaPorta probably wouldn't be a candidate just yet, where an Asdrubal seemingly would be. Perusing the 40-man roster, there really only seems like a few guys that come close to fitting that mold. Who do you think the Indians will and/or should sign to long-term contracts soon?
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I was thinking about this last week. Probably just Cabrera as of now. Choo is a little too old and maybe Laffey if he can get through an entire season healthy.
yeah, i wanted to get a pitcher in there. i think laffey could make him self a good candidate after next year.
oh well. unless dolan figures out that it is best for him to fire shapiro once he becomes an ace, bye bye aaron
Thank you Mesa for blowing the one chance Cleveland had of being happy during the 90's.
What does this even mean?
I’m about to change your sig myself.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
My temptation is to say “none of the above” right now, but if I have to pick one I’m going with Cabrera. There is no one we “need” to lock up this off-season, and I think as we begin The Plan v2.0 (more to come on this later, I hope), I don’t think this is the off-season we sign guys to long-term contracts. Next off-season quite possibly, but I think we need to get a little better sense next year about what parts we are building around. In an ideal world, all of these guys become important pieces, but I just don’t think we need to make that decision now.
I suppose the one guy there is incentive to sign this off-season would be Choo, but only in relation to his uncertain military status. If he can get out of that without the temptation of an immediate long-term contract, I’d just assume not. This is still a guy with TJ surgery lingering in his not too distant past.
I agree. Choo’s future is still a little uncertain, though I don’t think he will serve in the military, but given his injury history and age, he’s not the best candidate. Cabrera is definately the only guy off that list I’d consider signing long term.
You’re right though, there’s still too much evaluation to be done next year and we don’t know who’s with the team after the coming offseason, so no need to lock anyone up now.
My first instinct was to answer “Wedge”.
by Cols714 on Aug 10, 2009 7:03 PM EDT reply actions 8 recs
Wedge’s first instinct was to answer “Gimenez.”
We're really bad this year. How's that for a signature?
by mixmasterasia on Aug 12, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I said Laffey, Choo, and Cabrera. Now is the time to lock these guys up. Cost certainty is still a big thing to this front office and ownership. They took some unforeseen hits the last couple years, and I don’t think they want to add variables like arbitration any time soon. The pattern has always been to lock up guys after their first or second productive season. I think Choo and Cabrera are no brainers here. I added Laffey, partly because I just like him and partly because I truly believe he is the clearest choice to be in the rotation in 2011.
A big chunk of both this and next year’s payroll is tied up in Hafner and Westbrook. I agree the Indians need to use this strategy to keep talent as long as possible, but there is certainly risk if doesn’t work out.
Not sure what the first sentence has to do with the second.
There is no significant risk in making these deals and little in not making them. They’re just smart deals.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
You didn’t include “Criminals” as an option.
Ok, seriously, I guess I’ll go with Choo. I want to say Laffey and Cabrera, because I really like them, but not enough reason to lock them up at this point.
The Rays kind of broke the mold by signing Evan Longoria early in his career. This is only for amazingly talented guys, I guess. Would we try to do that with anyone soon – maybe LaPorta, or Carlos Santana, when they get here?
Another guy to think about soon would be Masterson – after next season, I suppose.
Baseball isn't boring. YOU ARE.
Actually, Masterson is probably a better candidate than Laffey, given the latter’s injury history.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
What exactly is Laffey’s injury history? He was on the DL in 2008 and 2009 for separate injuries, right? One involving an oblique? He seemed to be healthy in the minors, averaging about 100 innings a season. I don’t think of him as a potential unraveler (as I would Reyes or Jaret Wright). Hasn’t he just had two injuries, neither of which are chronic or enduring?
Droobs. Can’t say him and Choo without knowing of Choo’s exact citizenship future.
This is Victor's home. Victor Jose, you too.
Am I the only one that thinks there is zero chance Choo leaves for the military? I guess it’s just a feeling.
Steel Nick
Not just a feeling, there’s logic behind it, and reading between the lines.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
So while there may be some concerns for offering Choo a multi-year deal, I don’t see this playing into it.
Maybe that’s what he’s waiting for before he changes citizenship.
Steel Nick
Well, maybe there is only a .001% chance he goes to the military, but a multi-year deal just won’t/can’t happen until that is official?
by Ryan Kelsey on Aug 11, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Why wouldn’t there just be an out clause?
Stuart Dean
by stuart dean on Aug 11, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
You left my choice out of the poll: Nobody.
Let’s drop the payroll down to <$30M TB style and rebuilt this mess from the ground up.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
fwembt, try to follow along. No, I wouldn’t “unload” any of those guys. I’d keep payin’ ‘em their pre-arb money then I might offer ’em $3-4M a year for a year before their walk year and maybe 2 more years – say $10M total. They’d be nuts to take it, but that would be the offer.
But come their FA, assuming there’s no team friendly deal, it’s AMF. Good luck with your new team.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
You just described a lock-up deal. Congrats, you want to do the same thing as everyone else, only you also want to issue a press release five years in advance saying that all these guys are leaving.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
I don’t see the need to sign these guys before they reach their arbitration years.
You’ll be paying extra money up front in 2010 for questionable benefits 4 years down the road.
Money will be tight in 2010. If they have any extra money, they can save it for mid-year pickups in case they get off to a good start under a new manager. Not likely this year, but if baseball economics drop enough, the free agent agent market may soften enough to work in the Indians favor. If baseball has another down year in 2010, the Indians may
be in even better position after next year.
My vote went to Choo and Cabrera. And I reaaaaally had thought we were all beyond worrying about Choo’s military service, but I guess not.
Here Lies the Victor Martinez Era:
Sept. 10, 2002 - July 31, 2009
Who do we lock up?
Why, Brick of course!
Stuart Dean
by stuart dean on Aug 11, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
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