Indians Trade Westbrook to Cardinals in 3-Team Deal; Receive RHP Kluber from Padres
by Ryan on Jul 31, 2010 1:11 PM EDT
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The details from Anthony Castrovince:
The three teams pulled off a swap mere hours before Saturday's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver Trade Deadline, as right-hander Jake Westbrook and cash was sent from the Indians to the Cardinals, outfielder Ryan Ludwick was dealt from the Cards to the Padres and Double-A right-hander Corey Kluber was sent from the Padres to the Tribe. Minor League lefty Nick Greenwood was shipped from the Padres to the Cardinals.
More to come....
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First off, nothing but best wishes and (hopefully) playoff success for Jake. Here’s hoping he returns in the fall.
That said, I’m more than a bit disappointed that we traded an inning eating ML starter and cash for a fringe #5 starter/MR. On a deal that we didn’t have to make, I’m questioning to FO on this one.
I just want to believe.
What did we have to gain by holding onto Westbrook? We freed up a little money and got Kluber. We didn’t need innings eaten this year badly enough that holding onto Jake was worth it.
Come on, four billion!
by Joel D on Jul 31, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Quite correct. Trial by fire or simply experience opportunity for a younger pitcher of ours in Westbrook’s spot too.
In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).
by V-Mart Shopper on Jul 31, 2010 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I like that we are now quoting one guy’s tweet as Kluber’s scouting report.
He leads his league in K, is striking out more than a batter per inning, has decent and improving control… Lets see how many of our AAA guys that will be in the rotation next year compare.
Steel Nick
This being said, Kulber likely isn’t anything special. But very much could be. We are overvaluing Westbrook, and that’s the key to any perceived disappointment. And maybe we’re the only ones that know Westbrook’s real value. But every other team seems to see him as a man who has had a number of bad starts coming off surgery. Perception is reality when you’re asking them to trade.
Steel Nick
I agree with you. If this improvement recently means he will be in the Majors in 2 years, then I would be a little more set on the deal. i guess my only worry is age really.
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
I appreciate Male Beauty
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
“Fringe #5 starter/MR”? – really? All due respect, you have very lofty standards – his stats and abilities look better than a #5 starter/MR to me. Quite possibly, he could be in about the same location in the rotation as Westbrook (#3 or maybe #4) if he pans out, though not in the same mold as Westbrook.
The K rate is certainly impressive, well over 1 K/IP (Westbrook wasn’t even close to this). In fact, I only see 2 real negatives against Kluber:
1. He’s 24-YO, but arguably, he could be promoted to AAA before the year is out, and 24-YO at AAA is NOT old.
2. His H/IP rate is around or just over 1, but keep in mind that the Texas League is a known hitter’s league; in the Eastern League, it’s probable that his H/IP rate would be under 1, as I’m sure there were some balls that would be outs in the EL falling for hits or even were HRs in the Texas League.
While SS-A and Low-A are clearly easier levels than High-A and AA, notice his H/IP rates at more neutral-hitting leagues like the SS-A Northwest League and the Low-A Midwest League – his H/IP rates were under 8.0 (instead of the 9.0+ in the hitter-friendly California and Texas Leagues).
To get a type of guy like this for Westbrook, who wasn’t vintage Westbrook for the whole season I think is a very solid deal for the Indians. And, as you’ve likely noticed, our starting pitching depth at the upper-levels is dwindling:
Huff has had some problems and is on the back-and-forth train between Columbus and Cleveland.
Gomez and Tomlin are not as sure of locks, though they’ll likely have their chances to impact the future rotation and are off to nice starts.
Rondon is injured and not a factor right now.
Carrasco has been inconsistent (yes, Jay, I know – that word again :-), plus he’s battled injuries and is not a real factor right now either.
Sowers – forget him – his ship has sailed.
AA
White – he has the most promise, but can’t be called upon yet; that’s more mid-2011.
De La Cruz – encouraging last start (probably his best in 3 months), but still needs to demonstrate that ability on a regular basis.
Hagadone – disappointing with the command, which has necessitated a move to the bullpen – whether that’s on a temporary basis (just 2010) or a permanent basis (beyond 2010), I’m not sure.
Berger – may have a chance to impact the rotation, but is more in the Gomez/Tomlin boat as not being expected to be more than a #4/#5 starter.
Espino – could still be a bullpen guy, and if he does remain a starter, more of the #4/#5 type also.
Therefore, that pitching depth we were expecting has shrunk during the season, and right now, the only pitchers we’re counting on for the rotation for 2011 are Carmona, Talbot, and Masterson, and Masterson is still a possible option for the bullpen. Therefore, we need all of the starters we can get, and Kluber looks like a very solid addition who could potentially be ready by this time next season.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
I disagree with almost all the generalities in this post.
Kubler is 24. His K-rate in Double-A is better than Westbrook’s in the majors — well whoop-dee-doo. A guy in Triple-A at age 24 is not old, but it’s also not young, and it’s also not a guy with any chance to be front of the rotation and probably not middle either, and anyway, Kubler isn’t in Triple-A.
As an optimist, you only get to round up for a guy once. If you round up four times, then you’re just being ridiculous. “Fringe starter slash middle relief” maybe a pessimistic view of Kubler, but only slightly so if that.
I think generally, things have gone very well for our starting pitching prospects this season. Of course there have been some downturns as well, but that’s pitching, and that’s prospects, and that’s baseball for you.
by Jay on Aug 1, 2010 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Hard to say that things have “gone very well.” Things have only gone well for White and Gardner. Out of a dozen or more, maybe that’s the right number, but that’s not very well.
Anyway, I don’t think we’re allowed to use K stats for Jake. Drafted out of high school, he steadily progressed a level a year despite really mediocre K/IP and K/BB rates, gaining the magic major league stamp at a young age. A bad comp for Kluber in every way.
Also! It’s a little weird that we don’t correct for league/park in the minors. It’s unfair rounding if we don’t do so consistently, but we really should.
I bet there will be more than a few people sporting a hard-on here soon now that jordan brown is being called up
by silverbackAXP on Jul 31, 2010 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m ok with this trade. If Kluber were a year younger we’d be salivating. 24 isn’t hopelessly old for AA and those peripherals are impressive.
I doubt that there was much of a real market for Westbrook; so this is probably about as good as the Indians could have hoped for.
Besides, I seem to remember more than a far bit of disappointment on LGT when Shap. traded Shoppach for Talbot. Clearly they see something that they really like in Kluber. I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
I remember discussion on here a while back about whether or not it was good that we could completely understand every move the Tribe made, seeing as we are not professionals. Maybe it’s okay that Shapiro occasionally makes a move that we don’t get.
Come on, four billion!
So is leading the Texas league in strikeouts, K’s per 9, and 2nd in innings pitched at a young-ish 24 all bad?
I’m sorry but a 6 month difference in age means nothing – nothing – in comparing players, especially one coming off of surgery. At some point you hafta exercise some judgement.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
I’m usually the guy that isn’t crazy about a trade return until Jay or someone shows me a better angle. I feel like I’m in the minority looking forward to seeing what Kluber can do.
Steel Nick
Kluber Lang!
Looks to me like a guy that probably has just as much upside as a bullpen guy as a starter. I like that. Also, seems like his best attribute is striking people out, something our pitchers don’t do a ton of.
The fact that we have a pitcher who strikes people out—like you said, a rarity for us—and one who isn’t walking a ton of people to go along with it is pleasing to me.
Steel Nick
Lastoria says we only paid Westbrook’s escalators and the Cards picked up the rest of the contract.
Steel Nick
This guy has 6 pitches, all of which he is confident in enough to throw in the first couple innings. Pretty cool.
LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.
I had hopes that we could resign Jake in the off season, how we have only one starter with more than 50 games started in the majors, not looking good for next year.
still love my tribe
But trading him now doesn’t mean we won’t resign him in the offseason. This just means we get a young pitcher for him instead of having him pitch these last two months in Cleveland. We can still resign him if he wants to pitch here next year.
DBN Grammar Police. Watch you're language.
by Buckeye Brad on Jul 31, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
This is getting weird. You an Indians or a Westbrook fan?
I tip my cap to Westbrook for taking one for the team here. If you must have a special affinity for a single player, you picked a good one.
I don’t think that Westbrook is coming back. I don’t think the Indians see themselves as contenders next year — so that argues against a “Byrd” signing (which is what Westbrook would be — older pitcher, not a bargain, signed to stabilize a relatively young staff on a contending club). I hate to say this, because I’ve always admired Westbrook and think he’s a good pitcher and a great guy. But, I think that’s the reality.
'If I'm not here, 'I'll be somewhere else.'' Andy Marte
I see it this way as well. Maybe something in between a Byrd deal and a Brian Anderson deal, though. Two years, $12 million seems not entirely crazy from either side at this point. Partly depends on how Jake finishes the season of course.
by Jay on Aug 1, 2010 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
If he were willing to accept that deal, the Indians should do it (as you say, assuming he’s healthy and reasonably effective). That would be a good price for a guy who can pitch 6-7 innings consistently and is a well-liked teammate. But, the Cardinals (or some other contending team) will offer the same (or more) if he’s in that range (and that state of health).
'If I'm not here, 'I'll be somewhere else.'' Andy Marte
What?
In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).
by V-Mart Shopper on Jul 31, 2010 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh I see, but he wasn’t really down on your comment because it lacked hype for Kluber. You said you wanted to see Westbrook have 10-5 rights…
In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).
by V-Mart Shopper on Jul 31, 2010 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Jake’s contract did a lot of damage to our club over the last three years. I am not impressed with your heart-on-sleeve devotion re: his 10-5 rights. I want the team to win, and toward that end we are better off without Jake if this were his circumstance.
by jhon on Aug 1, 2010 2:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I don’t think he was trying to impress you. Westbrook is his favorite player; why is it so bad that he wanted things that would keep him in Cleveland to happen?
Come on, four billion!
I still don’t get it, but I’m a bad bastard. I am personally thrilled to move on from our recent failures, and the Westbrook contract was a part of that legacy.
I am so sick of the sentimentality. Maybe the never ending, “bring back Omar!” brigade has me so jaded.
You can’t expect people not to be sentimental; just to keep their sentimentality away from their reasoned arguments. I don’t think westbrook is confusing his sentimentality with analysis; why begrudge him a perfectly understandable bit of emotion?
’Course, maybe Westbrook would waive 10-5 too if the occasion called for it. I am just against it in principle. Our team has quite enough handicaps.
by jhon on Aug 1, 2010 3:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No we can’t. He got traded to St. Louis. He’ll probably end up taking less than market value. It’s what they do.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jul 31, 2010 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m going to kill myself by getting over-enthusiastic based on how much I’ve defended this trade. But what if Kluber is Talbot-esque? And Tomlin really can pitch like this? And Gomez builds on that first start? And Carrasco’s arm is fine? AND WE WIN EVERY GAME AND SWEEP THE PLAYOFFS IN 2011 OMG
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Jul 31, 2010 1:44 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
The Duncan/Hafner platoon? Sizemore’s glorious return, surgically repaired and better than ever? Brantley adding 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason? Tim Belcher reaching Carrasco? You really can drive yourself nuts with the best-case scenarios.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jul 31, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Any pollyanna scenario I’d dream up would hafta include trading Hafner and the recieving team picking up his whole contract.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Hafner’s shoulder renegotiates its contract.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jul 31, 2010 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
My dream scenario has them trading Nix and the receiving team picks up Hafner’s contract.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jul 31, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Hard to win an MVP when you only play half your season in one league.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention, we trade Nix to the Dodgers.
Steel Nick
I was kidding, just like the Nix MVP and the Marte Gold Glove comments above. The smiling face should have given it away. :-)
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Sometimes I think you’re a pod person.
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Aug 1, 2010 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
On this site, that might be “most vilified player!” (after Jordan Brown, of course).
'If I'm not here, 'I'll be somewhere else.'' Andy Marte
Either one of them would have a long way to go to catch up with Andy Marte. While Marte has a lot of defenders here (and I consider myself an Andy Marte apologist), there is still a lot of hate. Both of them also still clearly trail Trevor Crowe.
"If Brown is the answer, then you’re asking the wrong question." - Ryan
Were they surgically repairing his pitch-selection?
In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).
by V-Mart Shopper on Jul 31, 2010 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmm, not sure if I like this. Next years rotation is going to be pretty below average. Fausto, Talbot, Masterson, and nothing else really guaranteed. We don’t know if Fausto will keep his form, if Talbot will remain healthy/ maintain rookie results, if Masterson will move to the bullpen. Carrasco and Pino haven’t really shown merit to be called up yet. Plus even though Gomez and Tomlin looked good, it’s only been one start! I don’t see us having a competitive rotation next year. At least if all else fails we still have Sowers!
Welcome to the Marte Parte
by tribefan2510 on Jul 31, 2010 2:56 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
None of this has anything to do with trading Westbrook.
Westbrook’s contract was up at the end of the season regardless.
If we wanted him for 2011, we had to re-sign him. That’s still the case now that he’s been traded.
The reason our rotation will be weak next year is that we traded Weatbrook. Now if another young guy steps up next year there is another hole in the rotation. Also, this is just my opinion, but I think that Jake would have been more inclined to resign had he not been traded.
Maybe it’s just raw nerves. Westbrook has always been one of my favorites, but I just don’t think this deal was necessary. I hope Kluber proves me wrong
Welcome to the Marte Parte
by tribefan2510 on Jul 31, 2010 3:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
WE DID NOT HAVE WESTBROOK UNDER CONTRACT FOR 2011.
I don’t know how I can be more clear about this.
Teams don’t trade players, they traded contracts. We had a two-month contract with Westbrook for 2010, and that’s what we traded today, that and not one thing more.
Your “opinion” has essentially no basis in fact.
There’s no need to shout. I know that Jake was not under contract for 2011. I am saying that we might have been able to re sign him for 2011. Now that he’s at a winning team I feel that we lost that edge.
Welcome to the Marte Parte
by tribefan2510 on Jul 31, 2010 3:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
What edge? Westbrook would have tested the FA market. He’ll make a lot of money this off season. No way the Tribe offers him an acceptable offer midseason.
by pdxtribefan on Jul 31, 2010 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
+1 – Westbrook was no lock to resign him next year even if he had finished the year out here.
And, what if Westbrook wanted more than the Indians wanted to pay – the Indians may not be totally convinced he’ll regain his pre-TJ form, but Westbrook, based on his years and experience may have wanted a contract like (this could be off-base) 2 or 3 years, $8-$12 million/year – do you really want the Indians to put that much money into a pitcher who’s approaching his mid-30s and who is not back to his pre-TJ form?
That’s probably what it would have taken to keep him if we had kept him, and it’s probably what it would take now that he is elsewhere, so it’s back to the same point Jay made – he’s only signed through the rest of this year, and there’s no guarantee he would have resigned anyway or that the Indians would want him for the length of years and dollars he could command on the FA market.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
The reason our rotation will be weak next year is that we traded Weatbrook.
It doesn’t seem like you know that.
DBN Grammar Police. Watch you're language.
by Buckeye Brad on Jul 31, 2010 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
In addition to what Jay said: What’s new? We were saying the exact same things coming into this season and I have to say our rotation for the most part has been a somewhat-pleasant non-disaster.
What’s new is that now we have one less proven arm in the rotation. I really felt that we had a real chance to resign Jake this year. Not so much anymore.
Welcome to the Marte Parte
by tribefan2510 on Jul 31, 2010 3:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
How does loaning him to a contender for the remainder of the season hurt our chances of re-signing him exactly?
Would you want to re sign with Cleveland after plating for St. Louis, the most die hard baseball town in the US?
Welcome to the Marte Parte
by tribefan2510 on Jul 31, 2010 3:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The way he phrased it, yeah, I agree, but I think there’s a germ of accuracy there.
The idea is that, if Westbrook does well with the Cardinals, perhaps even helping them get to the post-season, then we’d have to compete with St. Louis to sign him in the off-season — not mention any number of teams that would suddenly have interest in him because he’s been pitching well in meaningful games for the last two months.
This, of course, is as opposed to wallowing in the void that is Cleveland.
Basically, pitching for the Cardinals is going to give Westbrook more exposure, and if he does well it’s possible teams will have more interest in him.
I’m not saying it will automatically make an effort to sign him harder, but it really could change things.
-Kyle
We would still have to compete with the Cardinals, Yankees, Rays, RedSox, Angels, Texas, Phillies, Braves, etc, etc, all who have winning records and money. Plus, he already pitched in meaningful games in 2007. When was the last time you saw a pitcher in Westbook’s situation give a hometown discount? You could probably count 5 players tops in the last 15 years who gave a discount. GMs of every team in the league all know who Westbrook is. He was in all likelihood gone, and if he wants to come back – and if the Tribe is willing to bid for his services – then he will. I’ll take the prospect over any hope based on the assumptions of Jake’s psychology.
Lead singer and driver of the Winnebago.
Apparently he waived most of that. Taking his words at face value, seems he is pretty happy to be competing for a postseason spot. He doesn’t have too many years left to try for that, which is the best reason for him not to return to Cleveland in 2011, trade or no trade. It may well be, in fact, that he and Shapiro have been candid about that topic all along, but they would never disclose it publicly.
Obviously it is a very good relationship.
The Indians put a lot at risk with the 2007 extension. They gave more than it made sense for them to give. At the same time, Jake left at least $10 million on the table — or so it seemed at the time. He finished strong in 2007, but his early season injuries would have put at least a bit of a damper on his post-2007 free agency.
The difference, of course, is that Jake got everything he expected out of that deal — the money part, anyway — and the Indians got very little out of it. A grand total of 26 starts over three seasons, 162 innings pitched, and 1.4 marginal wins.
So if everyone’s still friends, you would think that Jake would feel like doing his friends a solid after all that. Thing is, though, I think he just gave us that solid.
Not sure I understand your terminology… Is “doing a solid” different from giving one? And what is “a solid?”
In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).
by V-Mart Shopper on Jul 31, 2010 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Here, let me google that for you.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Jul 31, 2010 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Like I said. Does “giving one” imply that Jake just imitated David?
In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).
by V-Mart Shopper on Jul 31, 2010 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Awesome.
I think we’ve had enough of your “feelings” on the subject.
Please clear some room in your skull for some actual facts.
I’m sorry for having inferior baseball knowledge. I apologize for any lost time. Have a nice day
Welcome to the Marte Parte
by tribefan2510 on Jul 31, 2010 3:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
See Jay, this is an aspect of sports that you consistently – hats off to indiansfan – fail to consider. These games are played by people, not pieces on a chess board. I’d liken Westbrook’s trade to the Zydrunas Ilgauskas trade. Z, because he felt some loyalty to the Cavs/LeStunod, sat for a month before he resigned whereas he couldda signed earlier with another team and made more money. Doofus goes to Florida and Z follows. Was this about money? winning a champ whereas he couldda madionship? Who knows? But it definitly was one of many plausible scenarios, but the end result was emotionally driven – i believe – and not driven by “actual facts”.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
I haven’t failed to consider it.
I have succeeded in considering (1) the real effect of a real person having multiple options in free agency, (2) the real role of money in the process, (3) the real budget considerations for the Indians, (4) the reality that while signing Westbrook as a free agent would be nice, it almost certainly wouldn’t represent a particularly good value for the club even at a discount, so (5) it’s really nothing to be upset about — from a wins and losses standpoint — if it doesn’t happen.
It’s never smart to ignore reality. I haven’t chosen “chess pieces” over people, I have spent years considering both types of factors very carefully.
So explain the Ilgauskas deal – you know, omitting any reference to feelings, or emotions, or loyalty.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
While I don’t entirely agree with Jay here, I think you’re making his point for him. The Cavs traded Ilgauskas away and he came back because he was loyal. If the player really wants to be somewhere, the fact that they were traded away is a very negligible factor.
I’m not sure that’s Jay’s point. I think that everyone agrees that trading Westbrook was the smart move, but the way I read Jay is that it all comes down to the Benjamins – with rare exception. Westbrook just might be that exception.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
I always think everyone’s that exception, until they’re not.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Aug 1, 2010 6:57 AM EDT up reply actions
I really is my point. Either it’s going to come down to the Benjamins or it isn’t. If it is, then it doesn’t matter, and if it isn’t, then it still doesn’t matter.
The reason that players usually re-sign with their new team is because their new team usually overbids for the player’s services. That other GM feels pressure to rationalize the trade, and it “feels better” to overpay for the free agent rather than to acknowledge that you sent too much talent away for a two-month contract, which is what really happened.
Remember, though, that the other part of the argument is that you shouldn’t ever really weep over losing out on a free agent — ANY free agent — because every free agent signing is inherently risky and rarely an especially good deal for the club. At the moment of signing, almost every single free agent contract falls into the category of “no great loss,” especially for our Indians. You should be making this argument for me; you practically invented it.
by Jay on Aug 1, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmm, not sure if I like this. Next years rotation is going to be pretty below average.
Why do people care what the rotation is going to look like for next year’s non contending team? If anything I’d rather give younger guys major league experience than to worry about the number of veterans in our rotation
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 31, 2010 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I think those making comments like these are thinking we would be contending in 2011, as that was the original plan, though I think it was “2011-2012.”
Still, I think having the youngsters gain experience is the real key, as you’re going to need those youngsters to carry the bulk of the rotation. You might have one veteran, but that’s likely it. You’re not going to have 2-3 veterans, and there’s always a veteran or two out there.
Heck, Columbus was beaten 3-1 by Louisville (I think – not sure) on Friday night in Pino’s return. Who outdueled Pino and held Columbus’ offense in check. Former ML pitcher RHP Ramon Ortiz (the former Angel – remember him?)
As you can see, there are always veterans you can get on the cheap and plug into the rotation, but the main key is that the veterans are not going to deliver championships for you unless you are a large market club; the youngsters are the ones who need to thrive, with a veteran supporting them. Even if you sign a veteran or two, if the youngsters don’t develop, it won’t matter if we have 1 or more veterans in our rotation anyway, and as mentioned, there are veterans everywhere that you can plug into a rotation, not just Westbrook.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Keith Law on Kluber (Insider):
Cleveland gets pitching prospect Corey Kluber from the Padres. Kluber lacks a big upside but has a chance to be a solid back-end starter. Kluber took a big step forward this year in command and control and has a legitimate swing-and-miss pitch in his slider to go with a solid-average fastball. At worst, he should be an above-average reliever who can miss a lot of bats and work in the seventh or eighth inning. He doesn’t have an average third pitch to get lefties out, but the Indians need starters and they should give him at least another year to try to figure it out after he made progress in other areas in 2010.
DBN Grammar Police. Watch you're language.
Seems unlikely, no? Our depth at SP is much much lower, and we don’t really do the whole thing where we introduce starters to the majors in the bullpen first.
Agreed – as mentioned above, our depth at SP at both AAA and AA is thinning (only White and Huff, along with Tomlin, Gomez, and Pino and maybe Carrasco if he remains healthy appear likely to help the rotation in the next year.) Conversely, you already have much of the bullpen filled at the ML level – C. Perez, Sipp, Herrmann are locks in my opinion for 2011, with some combination of R. Perez, J. Lewis, Smith, Todd, Stowell, Judy, Pestano added to that mixture. That doesn’t even include any of the guys at AA like Lee, Putnam (who’s actually now at AAA), etc.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
My prediction: Pain.
Is this the whale section?
by sarcasmdave on Jul 31, 2010 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 10 recs
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