Last week, I saw a comment in regards to the chain of Jerry Dybzinski to our Cy Young winner, Corey Kluber. Funny enough, I had already done this year’s research at that point for this post, but did not have adequate time to convert it into a post.
And now that the best season (or second best if you prefer 1995) in most of our lifetimes has completed, let’s take a quick peak as to how Mark Shapiro, Chris Antonetti, and Mike Chernoff have constructed our 2017 roster. Also, let us also give a tip of the cap to Phil Seghi, Joe Klein, Hank Peters and John Hart, who all had a hand in the Corey Kluber chain.
Corey Kluber still has the second longest active chain in MLB. And that is because David Wright is under contract to the New York Mets through 2020 ($20M in 2018, $15M in 2019 and $12M in 2020). Wright last played on May 27, 2016 with a shoulder injury. He tried to make a comeback this year, but was shut down again. It is likely he stays on the Mets roster until the contract runs out as the Mets do have an insurance policy on him (ala Albert Belle and the Orioles). But Kluber is likely to keep that chain active through 2021 as the Indians do have club options on him.
I seriously thought Trevor Bauer might have been traded by now, extending his chain, but thankfully the organization ignored my hesitancy, as he has become a valued member of the starting rotation. Bryan Shaw, who also has four chains, is likely to have his chain end as I suspect he will be not be re-signed as he is a free agent this offseason.
The only new chains created this year were Nick Goody, Joe Smith (welcome back) and Jay Bruce.
The oldest tenured draftee in the system is still Josh Tomlin from 2006. The next in line are the 2008 guys, Lonnie Chisenhall (1) and Roberto Perez (33). There are only two players left from 2009, Jason Kipnis (2) and Joseph Colon (12), but Colon was suspended for the second time this year and I suspect he will be released after the season. There is only one guy left from 2010, Robert Aviles (7). There are still 10 players from the 2011 draft though.
The oldest tenured amateur free agent is still Danny Salazar from 2007. Then you have Giovanny Urshela from 2008 and Erik Gonzalez from 2009. There are three amateur free agents from 2010 still around: Enosil Tejada, Juan De La Cruz, and Luigi Rodriguez.
After the list of all the team rosters with how each player was acquired is a list of players let go in the past year. If they have joined another team, they are noted in parentheses.
Notes: I have included compensation draft picks as being more than one degree as the Indians obtained that pick based on a player they formally held rights to. Also, when I have identified a free agent year, it is the year they signed for (i.e. December 11 would be 2012). Additionally, whenever I could not find confirmation of an amateur free agent signing, the year defaults to their first appearance. [aFA = amateur free agent, mFA = minor league free agent]
Today the focus is on the major league roster. Tomorrow will be the Columbus Clippers, Akron RubberDucks and Lynchburg Hillcats rosters. And then after that we will look at the Lake County Captains, Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Arizona and Dominican Rookie League rosters (including the one partnered with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Players on the roster
Cleveland Indians
One Degree
Draft 2006: Josh Tomlin (19)
aFA 2007: Danny Salazar
Draft 2008: Lonnie Chisenhall (1); Roberto Perez (33)
aFA 2008: Giovanny Urshela
Draft 2009: Jason Kipnis (2)
aFA 2009: Erik Gonzalez
Draft 2011: Francisco Lindor (1); Ryan Merritt (16); Shawn Morimando (19); Cody Allen (23); Cody Anderson (14); Shawn Armstrong (18)
aFA 2011: Jose Ramirez
aFA 2011: Francisco Mejia (international)
Draft 2012: Tyler Naquin (1)
Draft 2013: Kyle Crockett (4)
Draft 2014: Bradley Zimmer (1); Greg Allen (6)
aFA 2014: Yandy Diaz
Purchase 2015: Dan Otero [from PHI] (originally drafted 21 by Giants in 2007)
Waivers 2016: Tyler Olson [KCR] (originally drafted 7 by Mariners in 2013)
FA 2017: Boone Logan (originally drafted 20 by White Sox in 2002); Edwin Encarnacion (originally drafted 9 by Rangers in 2000); Austin Jackson (originally drafted 8 by Yankees in 2005)
mFA 2017: Craig Breslow (originally drafted 22 by Brewers in 2002; played with Tribe in 2008)
Two Degrees
Carlos Santana (originally 2004 aFA by Dodgers)
1. Trade 2008 Dodgers with John Meloan for Casey Blake
2. Blake - mFA 2002
Michael Brantley (originally drafted 7 by Brewers in 2005)
1. Trade Brewers 2008 (PTBNL) with Matt Laporta, Rob Bryson and Zach Jackson for CC Sabathia
2. Sabathia - Draft 1998 (1)
Zach McAllister (originally drafted 3 by Yankees in 2006)
1. Trade Yankees 2010 for Austin Kearns
2. Kearns - mFA 2010
Yan Gomes (originally drafted 10 by Blue Jays in 2009)
1. Trade Blue Jays 2013 with Mike Aviles for Esmil Rogers
2. Rogers - Purchase 2012 from Rockies
Michael Clevenger (originally drafted 4 by Angels in 2011)
1. Trade Angels 2014 for Vinnie Pestano
2. Pestano - Draft 2006 (20)
Andrew Miller (originally drafted 1 by Tigers in 2006)
1. Trade Yankees 2016 for Austin Kearns Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen
2. A. Frazier - Draft 2013 (1)
B. Sheffield - Draft 2014 (1)
C. Heller - Draft 2013 (22)
D. Feyereisen - Draft 2014 (16)
Brandon Guyer (originally drafted 5 by Cubs in 2007)
1. Trade Rays 2016 for CC Nathan Lukes and Jhonleider Salinas
2. A. Lukes - Draft 2015 (7)
B. Salinas - aFA 2015
Nick Goody (originally drafted 3 by Yankees in 2006)
1. Trade Yankees 2017 for Yoiber Marquina
2. Marquina - aFA 2012 (international)
Joe Smith (originally drafted 3 by Mets in 2006; played with Tribe in 2009-2013)
1. Trade Blue Jays 2017 for Thomas Pannone, Samad Taylor
2. A. Pannone - Draft 2013 (9)
B. Taylor - Draft 2016 (10)
Jay Bruce (originally drafted 1 by Reds in 2005)
1. Trade Mets 2017 for Ryder Ryan
2. Ryan - Draft 2016 (30)
Three Degrees
Carlos Carrasco (originally aFA by Phillies in 2001)
1. Trade 2009 Phillies with Jason Donald, Lou Marson and Jason Knapp for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco
2. A. Francisco - Draft 2002 (5)
B. Lee - Trade 2002 Expos with Lee Stevens, Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore for Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew
3. A. Colon - aFA 1993
B. Drew - Draft 1997 (1)
Abraham Almonte (originally aFA by Yankees in 2005)
1. Trade 2015 Padres for Marc Rzepczynski
2. Trade Cardinals 2013 for Juan Herrera
3. Herrera - aFA 2011
Four Degrees
Trevor Bauer (originally drafted 1 by Diamondbacks in 2011)
1. Trade 2013 Diamondbacks (and Reds) with Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw for Tony Sipp and Lars Anderson to Diamondbacks (Shin-Shoo Choo and Jason Donald to Reds; Reds sent Didi Gregorius to the Diamondbacks)
2. A. Choo - Trade 2006 Mariners with Shawn Nottingham (PTBNL) for Ben Broussard
B. Donald - Trade 2009 Phillies with Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson and Jason Knapp for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco
C. Sipp - Draft 2004 (45)
D. Anderson - Trade 2012 Red Sox for Stephen Wright
3. A. Broussard - Trade 2002 Reds for Russell Branyan
B. Francisco - Draft 2002 (5)
C. Lee - Trade 2002 Expos with Lee Stevens, Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore for Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew
D. Wright - Draft 2006 (2) compensation for Kevin Millwood
4. A. Branyan - Draft 1994 (7)
B. Colon - aFA 1993
C. Drew - Draft 1997 (1)
D. Millwood - FA 2005
Bryan Shaw (originally drafted 2 by Diamondbacks in 2008)
1. Trade 2013 Diamondbacks (and Reds) with Matt Albers and Trevor Bauer for Tony Sipp and Lars Anderson to Diamondbacks (Shin-Shoo Choo and Jason Donald to Reds; Reds sent Didi Gregorius to the Diamondbacks)
2 to 4. See Bauer details 2 thru 4
Nine Degrees
Cory Kluber, (originally drafted 4 by Padres in 2007)
1. Trade 2010 Padres (and Cardinals) for Jake Westbrook (to Cardinals; Cardinals sent Ryan Ludwick to the Padres and the Padres sent Nick Greenwood to the Cardinals)
2. Jake Westbrook Trade 2000 Yankees with Ricky Ledee and Zach Day for David Justice
3. Justice - Trade 1997 Braves with Marquis Grissom for Alan Embree and Kenny Lofton
4. A. Embree - Draft 1989 (5)
B. Lofton - Trade 1992 Astros with Dave Rohde for Willie Blair and Eddie Taubensee
5. A. Blair - Trade 1990 Athletics for Alex Sanchez
B. Taubensee - Waivers 1991 from Athletics
6. Sanchez - Trade 1990 Blue Jays (PTBNL) with Mauro Gozzo and Steve Cummings for Bud Black
7. Black - Trade 1988 Royals for Pat Tabler
8. Tabler - Trade 1983 White Sox for Jerry Dybzinski
9. Dybzinski - Draft 1977 (15)
Players who have moved on
One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)
mFA 2015: Jeff Manship (originally drafted 14 by Twins in 2006) [Korea-NC Dinos]
FA 2016: Mike Napoli (originally drafted 17 by Angels in 2000) [TEX-MLB]; Rajai Davis (originally drafted 38 by Pirates in 2001) [OAK/BOS-MLB]
mFA 2016: Marlon Byrd (originally drafted 10 by Phillies in 1999)
Purchase 2016: Chris Gimenez [from TEX] (originally drafted 19 by Indians in 2004; played with Tribe from 2004-2010; 2014) [MIN-MLB]