FanPost

State of the Tribe...what can we do?


Man oh man....things are getting ugly folks. While it is still early I think it is pretty safe to say the "stars and scrubs" concept where the Cleveland front office slashed payroll at a record rate (in the middle of what should be seen as a contending window and during a season in which the city will host the All-Star Game) turned out to be a failure. For the life of me I will never understand why the team decided to take a step back this year - we are in the window in which we still have Lindor under contract and have a once in a generation rotation. It is really beyond sad that ownership doesn't recolonize that a roster like this doesn't come around often and that if they actually attempted to build around this core the team would have as good of a chance as any to win the last game in October. I can't be the only fan that is saddened by this can I?

When you really take the time to digest the offseason you come to this conclusion: The Indians either A.) arrogantly decided that they won the Central before the season even started or B.) Contending is secondary to slashing payroll and saving money. Either choice is equally depressing. The Twins are one year removed from an 86 win playoff berth and actually went out and improved their roster a great amount this offseason - adding well over 100 home runs to their lineup with powerful bats like Nelson Cruz, Marwin Gonzalez, Jonathan Schoop and C.J. Cron. The Twins saw the Tribe sitting on their hands, dumping star after star left and right to save a few bucks - greatly decreasing the talent of their roster - and saw an opening to make some moves to greatly improve their team and as of right now are the favorites to win the Central. Simply put we as fans deserve better then this.

A quick recap of the worst offseason I've ever seen in my 30+ years as a Tribe fan. Two time Cy Young award winner and greatest pitcher the team has employed since Bob Feller - Corey Kluber was put on the trade block - along with potential Cy Young candidate Trevor Bauer. The reason why the team would put two of the best players in baseball in the trade block? Payroll "needed" to be slashed and the thought is that the Central is promised to Cleveland for whatever reason - so they could afford to part with legitimate aces that any team should be happy to build around. Trading one of them would cheaply "spread the WAR around" so the Dolans could continue to slash payroll. At the end of the day the Indians did not get the right offer but here are some deals the Tribe did make. All-Star catcher Yan Gomes was traded for prospects. This trade eventually could (and probably will) turn out to be a positive one for the Indians but as far as 2019 goes - the Indians lost a powerful right handed stick and the once in a generation rotation lost it's catcher (Kluber was especially expected to struggle without Gomes.) Yandy Diaz was sold for a song - I think $6 million to be exact - and he has already doubled that output with WAR/$ with what he is doing in Tampa Bay. Statistically Diaz simply put would be the best hitter on our team right now (and he is a right handed hitter - just to pour some more salt in our wounds ya know?) Bonafide cleanup hitter Edwin Encarnacion was dumped in a three way deal that did help bring Carlos Santana to Cleveland - but how nice would it be if they kept both? Seattle didn't particularly want Edwin - he was just put in the trade to offset Santana's salary. With all the money the team already dumped by shipping out Gomes, Yonder Alonso, Diaz, ect. Edwin could of been kept. The Tribe also did not attempt to re-sign any of their free agents (with the one exception of the guy that probably will never play in another MLB game) that includes letting MVP candidate Michael Brantley walk (to a super team - the one that stomped all over the Tribe last year) without even offering him a fucking qualifying offer. This might be the worst decision I've seen since I first purchased the MLB Ticket 15 years ago. It was beyond pathetic.

As awful as the start to the season has been - The Indians really are VERY lucky to be sitting at 18-15 right now. Credit to Tito Francona who is doing some of the best coaching of his career. I don't know if there is another manager in the MLB right now that could take this roster....second worst offense in the MLB behind only the Marlins, 26th in third order winning percentage, -14 run differential, half the roster is filled out with AAA players...and actually be above a .500 record. Credit to Tito - that is simply amazing and this team honestly has no business having a winning record with that nonsense the CLEFO has put on the field. All I can say is thank God for Francona!

So let's look at how the "stars and scrubs" idea has worked out so far. The idea of course was to fill the roster outside of the rotation and Jose/Lindor with the cheapest options possible and just assume that none of the stars would get injured, have a down year or that the Twins would dare try to compete for the Central. It's early and already Mike Clevinger has went on the IL and will miss at least half the season, Corey Kluber broke his arm and is in real danger of missing the rest of the season, Trevor Bauer while still being very good looks to have taken a slight step back and might just be really good instead of "Cy Young candidate" good, Lindor opened the season on the IL, Jose Ramirez has continued the woes that started in the second half of last season and is actually being outproduced by 95% of MLB regulars including Chris Davis. Jason Kipnis is easily one of the worst starters in the MLB (maybe the worst?) His triple slash line of .172/.250/.207 is good for an OPS+ of 24. To make room for Kipnis the team DFA'd Brad Miller who statistically was the second best player on the team at the time of his release.

With all this being said - if the Indians make a few big moves and get active in the trade market sooner then later - there still could be some hope. The Indians absolutely need to find a new second basemen, a right handed power bat that players corner outfield or DH and an elite right handed arm in the bullpen to match with Brad Hand. That's at least three trades that need to happen. We also might need a middle/bottom of the rotation starter depending on how bad things get with Clevinger and/or Kluber and possibly a utility infielder as well. So let's take a look at some possible trade candidates:

- RHP Yoan Lopez and UT Ketel Marte from Arizona.

- LHP Mike Minor and UT Asdrubal Cabrera from Texas.

- 2B Jonathan Villar, OF/DH Trey Mancini from Baltimore.

- OF Domingo Santana and UT Tim Beckham from Seattle.

- 1B/OF Jose Martinez and UT Yario Munoz from St. Louis.

- RHP Robert Stephenson and UT Jose Iglesias from Cincinnati.

- Free Agent Matt Kemp should be offered a contract after he clears waivers.

As you can see there are some decent and interesting options out there. The Indians also have some interesting pieces in the minors that could come up and contribute soon. I think the idea should be this: try and make up for the horrible offseason and build depth around the stars of the team. Trim the fat off the roster with good role players. With the injuries to Kluber and Clevinger and the youngsters like Bieber and Jefry Rodriguez needing to watch their innings adding a few guys in the mold of Yoan Lopez and Robert Stephenson - who can start or relieve and serve as an opener of sorts (or piggyback off other pitchers) would be an excellent idea. Also looking through the farm system some guys that jump out at me as possible call ups this season if needed: Bobby Bradley, Oscar Mercado, Eric Haase, A.J. Cole, James Karinchak, Zach Plesac and Nick Sandlin.

To put together a projected roster I am going to say we acquire UT Ketel Marte + RHP Yoan Lopez from Arizona, OF Trey Mancini from Baltimore, RHP Robert Stephenson and UT Jose Iglesias from Cincinnati and sign FA OF Matt Kemp after he clears waivers.

Possible post deadline roster:

C: Roberto Perez

1B: Carlos Santana

2B: Ketel Marte

3B: Jose Ramirez

SS: Francisco Lindor

LF: Jake Bauers

CF: Leonys Martin

RF: Trey Mancini

DH: Matt Kemp

C: Kevin Plawecki

UT: Jose Iglesias

RH OF: Luplow or Mercado

25th Man: CarGo, Kipnis or Naquin

SP1: Trevor Bauer

SP2: Carlos Carrasco

SP3: Mike Clevinger

SP4: Shane Bieber

SP5: Jeffry Rodriguez, Zach Plesac and Robert Stephenson as piggyback options OR

Yoan Lopez, A.J. Cole and Robert Stephenson as "openers"

CL: Brad Hand

7th/8th Inning: Yoan Lopez, Nick Wittgren, Tyler Clippard

Middle Relievers: Robert Stephenson, James Karinchak

ROOGY: Adam Cimber

LOOGY: Tyler Olson or Oliver Perez

Depth Options: Dan Otero, Neil Ramirez, A.J. Cole, Nick Sandlin, Jon Edwards

Possible Lineup:

SS: F. Lindor (S)

2B: K. Marte (S)

3B: J. Ramirez (S)

1B: C. Santana (S)

RF: T. Mancini (R)

DH: M. Kemp (R)

LF: J. Bauers (L)

C: R. Perez (R)

CF: L. Martin (L)

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***Thoughts and comments welcomed and appreciated***

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