News and Notes: January 2, 2012

by Ryan on Jan 2, 2012 11:19 AM EST in News

As the offseason enters the final stretch, the Indians are still looking for that elusive corner bat. Meanwhile, there have been some moves elsewhere that indirectly affect the Indians:

Padres acquire OF Quentin from White Sox - Sacramento Sports - | Sacramento Bee
The White Sox dealt Carlos Quentin, who fits the profile of the type of hitter the Indians are looking for, to the San Diego Padres for two pitching prospects. Quentin is one year away from free agency, and with this and other recent trades, it looks like the White Sox are taking a step back in order to rebuild. Quentin would certainly have been on Chris Antonetti's trade radar, but making an off-season trade within the division is a rare occurrence.

For one year of Quentin, the White Sox received two pitching prospects, though neither are considered potential stars. Simon Castro has a good fastball/slider combination, and if he doesn't work out as a starter, he should move quite easily into a relief role. Pedro Hernandez could help at the major-league level, though his upside isn't that high. At first glance, it seems that the White Sox could have gotten more for Quentin.

BaseballAmerica.com: Majors: Trade Central: Blue Jays Reacquire Frasor In First Trade Of 2012
Ken Williams wasn't done dealing, as he also traded Jason Frasor, who will also be a free agent after the season, to the Toronto Blue Jays for a couple of more pitching prospects. Frasor came up with and pitched most of his 8-season career with Toronto. Frasor was dealt to Chicago last July as part of the multi-step, eleven-player deal that sent Colby Rasmus to Toronto. Logically, if you're going to deal Quentin, you also have to deal other tradable players who are that close to free agency. John Danks, who signed at extension just a couple days ago, presumably would have been trade bait as well if a deal hadn't gotten done.

RHP Myles Jaye, who is only 20 years old, has only pitched at the Rookie-League level, so is at least a couple of years away, though he does seem to have upside. Daniel Webb is also a couple years away, and projects as a reliever.

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I really like how the division for the most part really is in flux at this point.

With or Without the H

by johnf34 on Jan 2, 2012 1:12 PM EST reply actions

Yes, except the team that finished 15 games up on the Indians last year isn’t really in flux. Despite the expected regression from some of their older players, I don’t see how the teams are much closer today than the end of last year.

by callmrplow on Jan 2, 2012 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

Right, we aren’t really closer outside of anticipated regression. A full time 1B via trade or free agency would likely be the only thing to really bridge the gap, a small amount.

Matt LaPorta is the bane of my existence.

by USSChoo on Jan 2, 2012 2:05 PM EST up reply actions

But it sure looks like three teams won’t be seriously in the mix at this point. Obviously that’s a ridiculous thing to say right now but I’m counting on regression plus actually beating Detroit a few times this year and I think we’ll have a much better race in 2012.

With or Without the H

by johnf34 on Jan 2, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

I’m hoping for more offense from second, third, center and right. If we can get some additional offense from left and first on top of those hopes, and even acknowledging regression from short and uncertainty from Grady and who knows what injuries will pop up as we go along, I think we could score enough additional runs to advance next season.

by MTF on Jan 2, 2012 4:36 PM EST up reply actions

A full season of Kipnis and Chisenhall along with the expected regression from Choo could go a long way toward bridging that gap.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 2, 2012 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

I’m assuming you didn’t mean regression from Choo?

Matt LaPorta is the bane of my existence.

by USSChoo on Jan 3, 2012 9:14 AM EST up reply actions

I think he’s referring to the psychological use of regression, as in regressing psychologically back to when Choo was good.

by callmrplow on Jan 3, 2012 9:17 AM EST up reply actions

I think he must mean progression

With or Without the H

by johnf34 on Jan 3, 2012 10:08 AM EST up reply actions

or progression to mean

by mcrose on Jan 3, 2012 10:15 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Regression…to the mean. Which for Choo would be in a positive direction.

by APV on Jan 3, 2012 4:38 PM EST up reply actions

Yes, sorry for the confusion.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 3, 2012 4:39 PM EST up reply actions

More like boredom. I should have just assumed you meant what I thought you meant.

Matt LaPorta is the bane of my existence.

by USSChoo on Jan 3, 2012 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

One other point- the Indians adding Lowe and Jimenez to the rotation should mean we have a solid rotation next season (though- as usual- Carmona is the X factor). The thin positional depth has also been augmented a little.

I’m not going exactly giddy with enthusiasm yet, but I there seems to be some good chances for a better shot at Detroit in 2012. After all we fought them to a standstill through two thirds of the year before caving.

by MTF on Jan 3, 2012 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

Fister can’t be that good again, can he?

by JulioBernazard on Jan 3, 2012 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

I’m not sure how many puns he can take.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 3, 2012 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

One other point- the Indians adding Lowe and Jimenez to the rotation should mean we have a solid rotation next season (though- as usual- Carmona is the X factor).

Am I the only one interested in going after another starting pitcher on a 1 or 2 year deal?

"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl

by world dictator on Jan 4, 2012 9:07 PM EST up reply actions

If anyone is interested, here is the team-by-team listing from the Commisioners report of 2010 and 2011 payroll figures. Everyone seems to calculate payroll differently, but the Associated Press (to whom these were leaked) claims these are the figures used by the union and MLB to calculate luxury taxes, so there is some sense of “official” about them I suppose.

by MTF on Jan 2, 2012 4:43 PM EST reply actions

Bad link- sorry. Try this one.

by MTF on Jan 2, 2012 4:58 PM EST up reply actions

Wow. Never really gave it much thought, but check out the bottom line total: a cool 3 billion dollars in salaries.

by mcrose on Jan 2, 2012 9:00 PM EST up reply actions

It’s amazing to me how many teams are above $100M now. It seems like just a few years ago that $100M was the magical threshold that teams wouldn’t cross. Now, nearly half the league is above that (including 3 AL Central teams) with nearly a quarter above $125M.

by callmrplow on Jan 3, 2012 9:15 AM EST up reply actions

Round numbers are like that.

by Jay on Jan 4, 2012 10:53 PM EST up reply actions

It would have been nice to get Qunetin, however Ken Williams would have never traded him in the division. I agree that Choo and Sizemore numbers could be better than last year. I think the offense has the ability to be middle of the pack. If we plug in 2 to 3 more RH against tough lefties we will be fine (Cunningham/Duncan , Donald, and Hannahan). Maybe I’m drinking the coolaid, but I like the possibility of this lineup.

The Indians moves should happen at the trade deadline again if we are in contention. Maybe Quentin becomes a 2 month rental for our playoff run.

Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic. - Robert S. Wieder

by jerseywahoo on Jan 3, 2012 1:31 PM EST reply actions

They need a 1B. Otherwise, I’d agree that they can go into next year with the outfield they have and look to make a move if needed. But, they need to bring someone in to compete for the job at 1B at the very least.

by hans on Jan 3, 2012 2:02 PM EST up reply actions

Am I crazy or would Kevin Youkilis be a good fit at 1B? Granted he is a little injury prone, but we could rest him when Santana plays 1B. He is slated for $12m this year and $13m in 2013.

by Aussie Wahoo on Jan 3, 2012 5:01 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Who would you give up for him? Who would BOS take for him?

by JulioBernazard on Jan 3, 2012 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

The second is probably the better question.

Matt LaPorta is the bane of my existence.

by USSChoo on Jan 3, 2012 5:17 PM EST up reply actions

I’m sure they’d love to have Masterson back…

by PBH on Jan 3, 2012 6:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Let the record show that silverbackAXP’s response to this got 9 recs but had to be deleted anyway.

by Jay on Jan 4, 2012 10:54 PM EST up reply actions

Silverback’s total has gone up in absentia.

by YoDaddyWags on Jan 4, 2012 11:16 PM EST up reply actions

I brought this up last week. He’s a great fit for us but I don’t think we have the pieces to acquire him, assuming Boston would even trade him in the first place

"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl

by world dictator on Jan 3, 2012 5:21 PM EST up reply actions