Transactions: Prospect Invites

by Ryan on Jan 14, 2011 5:06 AM EST in Transactions

Invited 3B Lonnie Chisenhall, 2B Jason Kipnis, LHP Drew Pomeranz, RHP Alex White, RHP Yohan Pino, RHP Zach Putnam, RHP Bryce Stowell, C Juan Apodaca, 2B/3B Cord Phelps, and OF Chad Huffman to Spring Training

While some of these players won't stick around long, there's outside shots for a couple of these guys to make the Opening Day roster. It looks like the Indians are not going to sign a third baseman to a major-league contract, leaving that position wide open to any number of players on the roster.

Third Base. Cord Phelps, who had a very nice finish to his 2010 season, is being moved to third. There will be competition, but his competitors (Jayson Nix, Luis Valbuena, Jack Hannahan, Jared Goedert) have their own flaws. Even Jason Donald, who came up a shortstop and was moved to second in 2010, is a possibility to play some third. Even if you think that Lonnie Chisenhall will be the third baseman in 2012, I'm starting to think trading one of the second baseman for an actual third baseman, even if it's just for a year or two, makes sense.

Second Base. I think the reason the Indians are talking about moving Donald to third is that they think Kipnis will crowd out all the competition at second. He hasn't played in Columbus yet, so they could have him clear that final hurdle. If he has an exceptional spring, though, it will be tempting to just give him the job.

Outfield. The Indians should be set in the outfield, assuming Grady Sizemore will be ready. Shelley Duncan could serve as the fifth outfielder/backup DH/pinch hitter, but whether there's a spot for him depends on how the infield configuration works out. Trevor Crowe and Ezquiel Carrera will be battling for playing time in Columbus and the higher spot on the depth chart. Chad Huffman doesn't really have a shot at making the big-league club, but should get at-bats in Columbus.

Bullpen. I don't think the Indians would want to move Alex White into a bullpen role just yet, but Putnam and Stowell have outside shots of making the club.

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If my volume of posting lately is not evidence enough, let it be known that I am in full-on baseball withdrawal mode at the moment. Please let pitchers and catchers report soon.

by APV on Jan 14, 2011 8:59 AM EST reply actions

Forgive my ignorance but isn’t it more likely that it would be best to let the players with major league experience have a shot until June so Kipnis/Phelps etc. don’t have to start their service clocks at the beginning of the season a la Santana last year?

Does Phelps have prior 3B experience before the AFL?

by roywhitby on Jan 14, 2011 9:23 AM EST up reply actions

None of these invites have experience. But I don’t think the Indians are going to hold back a player like Cord Phelps just to save on arbitration a couple years from now…this method . With Kipnis they probably will, besides, he hasn’t played in Columbus yet.

by Ryan on Jan 14, 2011 9:46 AM EST up reply actions

Sorry, I cut off the middle sentence.

…this method is used for players more likely to command high arbitration salaries.

by Ryan on Jan 14, 2011 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

See I’m hoping Phelps/Kipnis and The Chiz are going to be stars and demand these salaries. Thanks for the reply.

by roywhitby on Jan 14, 2011 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

Phelps is not generally seen as having star potential, but who knows?

Bottom line, if you had to pick one of these guys to non-optimize, it would be Phelps.

Keep in mind, the reason to focus on June debuts is specifically for guys where you think it’s better than 50/50 that they’re never going back to the minors. Santana fit that criteria and Kipnis is going to make a play for that status this season. That doesn’t really apply to Phelps, though, and it’s too early to say on Chisenhall.

by Jay on Jan 14, 2011 8:42 PM EST up reply actions

Dude I hear you. Now that football is over for the Gators and Redskins. I’m really ready for some baseball.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Jan 14, 2011 9:58 AM EST up reply actions

I have to do a better job of preparing myself for the 2-3 weeks at the beginning of spring training before actual games start. It is like being a kid and associating Halloween with October, only to be reminded every year that it comes at the end of the month.

Also, it should go without saying for me, that I am probably more excited to follow the Indians at the minor league level than the major league level, and for that it really is hard to get much information until the season begins in April.

by APV on Jan 14, 2011 10:01 AM EST up reply actions

Good analogy on the October thing. I know exactly what you mean.

As for the Minor leagues, that’s cool. I live where the AA of the Dodgers play, so I know a lot about their players only because they cover them in the paper all day every day.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Jan 14, 2011 10:20 AM EST up reply actions

What about moving White to the big-league pen for a couple months and then easing him into the rotation? I know the Twinks have done this with guys like Liriano and Santana; what are the chances the Tribe does that, either out of camp or once the arbitration math lines up?

Come on, four billion!

by Joel D on Jan 14, 2011 6:41 PM EST reply actions

I know the Twinks have done this with guys…

hmm

by hans on Jan 16, 2011 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

I think that’s not an option with White because

1) The rotation is not so full of deserving candidates that White should take a back seat to anybody, and
2) White is a fastball/slider guy, and I think his biggest developmental issue was/is refining a third pitch. As a starter, he is forced to use the third pitch. As a reliever, he won’t have as many innings or the incentive to refine a third pitch.

by xrickx on Jan 16, 2011 10:36 PM EST up reply actions

Wouldn’t the potential to develop into a major league starter – where mediocrity can get you paid like a prince – be incentive enough to work on a third pitch while in the bullpen? If not, how about the Indians just having him do it anyway?

Come on, four billion!

by Joel D on Jan 17, 2011 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

That incentive exists for every player, no matter his level.

Jump out of the theoretical and into the practical — a reliever throws 50 to 70 innings a year, a starter 180-220.

The starter throws more innings, more pitches, and, most importantly, faces the same hitter three times a game. That repetition requires a greater repertoire to retire the same batter multiple times.

As for having the Indians force him to do it, I’d rather White throw his innings in Columbus and learn on the job there. When it’s the seveth inning and Konero is up with a man on second base and two outs, I want White (the reliever) going with his bread and butter to keep the Indians up by a run. That’s not the time to work on a changeup. And White (the starter) doesn’t make it to the seventh inning if he has only two pitches.

by xrickx on Jan 17, 2011 1:19 PM EST via mobile up reply actions