Transactions: The Streak Continues

by Ryan on Feb 12, 2012 9:44 PM EST in Transactions

Signed SS Asdrubal Cabrera to a 1-Year, $4.55M Contract

The Indians came as close to an arbitration hearing with Asdrubal Cabrera as they did to almost any arbitration-eligible player since 1991. But although that team tradition has been maintained, another has been largely abandoned. Only two players in the organization (Travis Hafner and "Fausto Carmona") are under multi-year contracts that were signed with the Indians before they were eligible for free agency. Perhaps the pendulum is swinging back towards year-to-year contracts, with players and agents more content to deal with short-term risks in exchange for a big free agent payday.

It's been very apparent that Shin-Soo Choo is going to test free agency as soon as possible, and now it looks like Cabrera will be doing the same. This was probably Cleveland's best opportunity to extend Cabrera past free agency, as once his free agent season rolls around, what risk there is is swallowed up in the glare of bright, shinning reward. Chris Antonetti also seems resigned to this:

"We're appreciative of Asdrubal's contributions," Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said. "We certainly value him as a member of the organization and a member of our team. He was a key part of our team over the last few seasons, and we're looking forward to him contributing in the time that he's with us.

With this anticlimactic signing, the Indians will head into Spring Training with a little over $60.0M on their payroll, with just the pre-arbitration players to sign. They should start the season with about a $66.0M or perhaps a $67.0M payroll, and no player on the roster being owed a 2013 salary.

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Am I the only one who’d like to trade either or both Shoo and Cabrera?

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

by world dictator on Feb 13, 2012 1:38 AM EST reply actions

Shoo?

by Jay on Feb 13, 2012 2:23 AM EST up reply actions

by jayme on Feb 13, 2012 8:55 AM EST up reply actions

haha touche

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

by world dictator on Feb 13, 2012 10:10 PM EST up reply actions

touche?

by Jay on Feb 14, 2012 1:35 AM EST up reply actions

Toosh.

by emd2k3 on Feb 14, 2012 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

I have a feeling you’ll get your wish with at least one of them in late July

by Aussie Wahoo on Feb 13, 2012 2:48 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

who are we, mauichuck? This is spring. We ain’t dealing stars during our pennant run.

by gmfrodo on Feb 13, 2012 7:24 AM EST up reply actions

The gloom, it is rising.

by MTF on Feb 13, 2012 7:51 AM EST up reply actions

Twenty weeks of stony sleep are vexed by nightmares of Matt LaPorta; what beastly thoughts slouch toward Goodyear to be born?

by YoDaddyWags on Feb 13, 2012 8:43 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs

You had me at “beastly thoughts”, and it is also possible that you had me earlier at “nightmares of Matt LaPorta”.

by hans on Feb 13, 2012 9:10 AM EST up reply actions

What are you talking about? The Tigers won the 2012 World Series when they signed Fielder. Duh.

by ameliorate on Feb 14, 2012 5:14 PM EST up reply actions

I would agree assuming we are 10+ games out of the final playoff spot. Aren’t we starting our playoff window this year?

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

by jerseywahoo on Feb 13, 2012 11:07 PM EST up reply actions

I would only trade Shoe (sic) for pre-cancer Funky Winkerbean.

by emd2k3 on Feb 13, 2012 11:02 PM EST up reply actions

Counter-offer: I will give you the combo pack of post-cancer Winkerbean and Crankshaft and throw in Gil Thorp, in return for Shoe and Tank McNamara. Deal?

by InfiniteMonkeyTypists on Feb 14, 2012 8:03 AM EST up reply actions

What the heck am I going to do with post-cancer Winkerbean?

Swap Judge Parker and just Lois of Hi and Lois for the Winkerbean and you’ve got a deal.

by emd2k3 on Feb 14, 2012 9:34 PM EST up reply actions

Hey, man, I like Funky Winkerbean, and I’m loyal to the local guy of course. But Shoe is a HOF cartoon. It’s like saying you’d trade Dimaggio for Lofton.

by Jay on Feb 15, 2012 1:23 AM EST up reply actions

I just found out the other day that BD in Doonsebury was an actual Cleveland guy.

by kennesawmountainwahoo on Feb 15, 2012 7:23 PM EST up reply actions

Brian Dowling.

by YoDaddyWags on Feb 15, 2012 8:29 PM EST up reply actions

Went to grade school with my Dad…St. Ann’s in Cleveland Hts.

by The DiaTriber on Feb 16, 2012 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

Wow. I never really thought about analyzing trading comic strips.

In honesty, I wouldn’t do Shoe for Winkerbean. Maybe Frank and Ernest.

by emd2k3 on Feb 15, 2012 10:29 PM EST up reply actions

Jeff MacNelly was an idol of mine.

by Jay on Feb 16, 2012 12:46 AM EST up reply actions

Rumors of the Indians kicking Jon Garland’s tires…

by APV on Feb 13, 2012 9:12 AM EST reply actions

Don’t kick too hard, something might pop.

Matt LaPorta is the bane of my existence.

by USSChoo on Feb 13, 2012 9:25 AM EST up reply actions

Minor League deal?

With or Without the H

by johnf34 on Feb 13, 2012 10:12 AM EST up reply actions

pending a physical

by APV on Feb 13, 2012 10:14 AM EST up reply actions

Would we consider trying to extend Masterson?

by talonk on Feb 13, 2012 11:37 AM EST reply actions

Now would be the time to do it. They’d likely have to buy out this year’s salary and the next 2 to make it worthwhile for both parties.

by callmrplow on Feb 13, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

Year-to-year is a pretty smart way to go with pitchers.

I could see trying for an extension in another year.

by Jay on Feb 13, 2012 3:30 PM EST up reply actions

But what’s the incentive for either party at that point? Masterson would likely be willing to make the gamble that he’ll stay healthy for 2 more years and the closer he gets to free agency, the more likely he’ll want closer to market value, which makes the deal unlikely. You reduce the risk, you reduce the reward.

by callmrplow on Feb 14, 2012 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

I don’t know, but Sabathia went for it.

It is not a great bet for a pitcher to assume he’ll stay healthy for another two full years. If he likes where he is, it makes sense for him to take four guaranteed years and a friendly vesting option.

Most top starters sign extensions rather than waiting for free agency, and this is the reason.

by Jay on Feb 14, 2012 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

Interesting payroll for the Tribe in 2013 … according to BRef anyways …

Guaranteed $$ for 2013:

$2.75M buyout for Hafner ($13M team option), $1M for Ubaldo ($5.75M team option) and $0 Fauxto ($9M team option) … total $3.75M with a probable total of $8.5M (I believe Fauxto and Hafner are done with the Tribe after 2012) and a max of $27.75M if all 3 are retained.

Arbitration elegible for 2013:

4th year: none
3rd year: 8: Choo, C. Perez, Droobs, Masterson, R. Perez, Slowey, Hannahan, J Smith
1st year: 8: J Lewis, Duncan, Sipp, Crowe, Talbot, LaPorta, Marson, Germano

Pre-Arb guys for 2013:

3rd year (due for Arb-1 in 2014): Donald, Brantley, Herrmann, Tomlin, Santana, Carrasco, Pestano.

I doubt all 8 three year Arb guys make it, most likely cuts are Slowey, Hannahan, and I bet C Perez, R Perez and/or Smith are dealt. That leaves gueses for the rest: Choo ($9M), C. Perez ($8M), Droobs ($7.5M), Masterson ($6.5M), R. Perez ($3.5M), J Smith ($3M) … we will assume no trades at this point, leaving around $37.5M in Arb 3 guys for next season .. running total of $46M.

Of the 1st year Arb guys, I doubt Duncan, Lewis, Crowe or Germano make it that far either … guess all of them to be around (S1.25M) or $5M … up to $51M for 2013.

Non-arb guys guess of $450k equals $3.15M

So we now have 18 players for 2013 with a guesstimate of $54.15M …. obviously some will be call-ups from this season at league minimum and to fill out the rest of the 25/40 roster …. leaving a payroll just shy of $60M for 2013.

Any guess as to how high they would go if any FA signings happen … say $80M perhaps?

by talonk on Feb 13, 2012 1:19 PM EST reply actions

Wait, I thought Jensen Lewis was long gone. Dbacks?

With or Without the H

by johnf34 on Feb 13, 2012 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

that is correct .. I was pulling data from Bref and they havent updated him yet (they also had Fukadome and Buck on there). I tried to pull out guys as I saw them …

by talonk on Feb 13, 2012 2:02 PM EST up reply actions

Seems bullish on Choo. He went from $3.975m last year to $4.9m in 2012. I mean, I hope that he plays well enough this year to earn a $4m+ raise, but it seems high. I would guess somewhere closed to $7-8.

Matt LaPorta is the bane of my existence.

by USSChoo on Feb 13, 2012 2:20 PM EST up reply actions