Shapiro Outlines Indians' Needs

I wonder if Shapiro is already talking to Blake's agent? If so, the Indians could end up on the wrong side of a tampering charge.

Its hard to see how they could acquire someone better than Fausto Carmona and Cliff Lee. Adding some depth would be nice (bring back Byrd on a 1-2 year deal?) but I think they have more pressing areas to address in the pen and at 3B.

Royals

Shapiro didn't say he wanted to add someone better than Lee or Carmona, he said he ideally would like to add another top of the line starter (1-2-3 pitcher) rather than a back end starter (4-5)

Brian Roberts would be a perfect fit for the tribe... would a josh barfield scott lewis and chuck lofgren package be enough?

Interesting that Shapiro doesn't count Kerry Wood as a legitimate closer.

I really see Garland as a back of the rotation guy. I don't think he's any better than the in-house options (Laffey, Lewis, Huff, etc.). With their emerging depth in Price and Niemann, I wonder if the Rays would part with Sonnanstine? Also, I expect the Marlins to deal one of their arbitration eligibles (Nolasco, Johnson).

rememberthecoop, whatever you're smoking, you'd better hide it from the fuzz. Two All-Stars, a serviceable starting pitcher, and 2 minor leaguers for 1 guy? No one player is worth that.

"Brian Roberts would be a perfect fit for the tribe... would a josh barfield scott lewis and chuck lofgren package be enough?"

No, it wouldn't. If I were the Indians I would persue a power hitting 3B before going after Roberts.

I still like the idea of trading for Dan Uggla or maybe Garrett Atkins.

"I know on the surface this sounds crazy, but how about trading Sizemore? You could get an awful lot for him. For ex., the Cubs will send you Aramis Ramirez (solve your third base dilemna), cash (to offset the difference in their contracts), Carlos Marmol (great reliever, could be your next closer), Sean Marshall and 2 minor leaguers."

As a Cubs fan, I would do that deal in a moment.

Ramirez is our best hitter, and is signed long term at a reasonable price, and would fir the Indians' need for a big time 3B. Marmol is the elite power reliever that the Indians crave, and he would hold the closer spot for a while. Honestly if you included Marshall and Pie (to replace Sizemore), too, then I think the Indians would listen.

The only problem with all of this is that Grady Sizemore is arguably the best all around (position) player in the game, and I would consider him a top 5 player in all of baseball no doubt (I'd say with Pujols, A-Rod, Wright and Hanley Ramirez, with Mauer, Utley, M. Cabrera, Youkilis, Pedroia, Hamilton, Manny and Longoria on the fringes). Sizemore is an elite defensive CF who can make contact, hit for near 40-HR power, steal tons of bases and take lots of walks. He could bat leadoff or cleanup. He's young and under control for a while. He's just an awesome, awesome player.

If there is a single untouchable on the Indians roster it's Sizemore:
young, cheap, under control for 4 more years, good defense, good offense, good speed. He really is a complete player and a fan favorite to boot. I really can't imagine a package that would tempt the Tribe front office.

"I really can't imagine a package that would tempt the Tribe front office."

My thinking is that it would take one top veteran, another top young player already in the majors, an MLB-ready top prospect, and another top prospect on top of that.

Honestly I think that Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Marmol, Felix Pie and Sean Marshall is as close to a realistic proposal as there is. Most teams wouldn't be willing to give up what it would take to land Sizemore (deservedly so, he's 26 and is one of the best players in baseball. I'm talking a potential HOF player right here in Sizemore.)

I would argue that the Indians would want Pie included in the deal. He would give them an immediate replace for Sizemore with some nice upside, and at the very least he's ready to play top defense, even if he's not the hitter we all thought he would be. Pie is still a very legitimate prospect.

This is why Cubs fans are the worst. Isn't there a Philly thread where you could go suggest Pie for Howard?

If Peralta and Cabrera shift to third and short then our focus would be on aquiring a second baseman and I would love Orlando Hudson.

Also trading a combination Shoppach, Garko, or one of the 4th OFers Francisco or Guitierrez along with prospects for a big bat at either corner OF position or First bat would be up on the list. Maybe we could get Felix Pie???!!!!???!!!

Tribe In 09,
I'm sorry in the behalf of my fellow know what we asre talking about Cubs fans. I know the day dreamers fans ideas I was one of them. Until I talked to a scout which he helped me get a scholarships to Illinois State and Central Michigan for Baseball. Well again sorry for the day dreamers who can't accept reality.

Derrek Lee and Felix Pie for Ryan Howard isn't that ludicrous..

Howard isn't nearly the hitter that Lee is, he just has wayyyyyy more power and slightly better plate discipline. He's a little younger but shouldn't age well and will soon be a more expensive player than Lee, possibly starting this year, considering Lee only makes $13M. I realize that Felix Pie isn't exactly a huge commodity, but he looks to be at least a solid CF within a couple years. The Cubs would likely have to include another prospect, like say, Tony Thomas, but really it's not necessary to have to other people apologizing on behalf of Cubs fans. I mean yeah, that trade would never happen, but it's not like he said Felix Pie, Casey McGehee, Ronny Cedeno and Sean Marshall for Howard.

Josh Johnson isn't arbitration available and I highly doubt the Marlins trade Ricky Nolasco unless they get a HUGE haul. Dan Uggla is probably gonna get traded and might be for something like Frankie Guiterrez and some minor league pitchers.

"I know on the surface this sounds crazy, but how about trading Sizemore? You could get an awful lot for him. For ex., the Cubs will send you Aramis Ramirez (solve your third base dilemna), cash (to offset the difference in their contracts), Carlos Marmol (great reliever, could be your next closer), Sean Marshall and 2 minor leaguers."

That would be a terrible trade for the Cubs. Maybe Ramirez, Marshall, a MiLBer and cash for Sizemore. Maybe

AA. Let's not be absurd here. Even a hopeless "homer" should know that your proposal wouldn't get it done. Why would the Indians close a hole while creating another one in the process and also trade away their best player? We should all just agree that Sizemore would not get traded without the other team over-paying to a ridiculous degree and end this stupid discussion now.

"Maybe Ramirez, Marshall, a MiLBer and cash for Sizemore. Maybe"

And that's fair because Shapiro is running a farm system for the Cubs I assume.

TheChairman, I understand all that, my point is that the lineup lacks depth, and there are no guarantees Hafner and Martinez are going to be back playing their best next year. Then when I look at their lineup, I see obviously an absolute stud in Sizemore, I like Shoppach as a catcher and his offensive game at that position, I see Asdrubal Cabrera as an average offensive 2B, Peralta as an above average hitting SS but with a sub-par OBP, and the rest of that lineup doesn't impress me enough.

Then on the pitching staff, I see Lee as a very good pitcher, Carmona can be a very good pitcher if he can return to form, and that's not a small "if." Laffey, Sowers, Reyes... How much faith do you really put in those 3?

And those COF's don't do much for me at all unless Choo can continue his streak into next year.

All that being said, I wouldn't be shocked if they make the playoffs, I just don't have great confidence in them. Maybe a couple young pitchers have breakout years, and Martinez and Hafner return in full force and LaPorta joins the team in May or June and has a Ryan Braun-esque rookie year, stranger things have happened. That's just one man's opinion from afar.

If the Orioles traded Roberts (and maybe Sherrill) to the Indians, the Indians, presumably, would shift Cabrera to short and Peralta to third. In that circumstance, Wes Hodges would presumably become tradeable, and that might be the beginning of a match.

Yes, they scored the 6th most runs out of 14 AL teams, putting them right in the middle of the pack. Second, all I said is that there are no guarantees. All I meant is that when you miss more than half of a season, there can be lingering effects, I didn't even say I don't think he will. you're right, it was a generic argument, not a prediction. My main point was and is that, even with Martinez healthy and returning to the .300 hitter he is, the lineup lacks depth in my mind. I didn't say I even expect them to finish below .500, I think they'll compete for the AL Central next year, when I said contend I meant for the World Series, not to get in the playoffs. I think it's a good team with a lot of question marks, maybe they can find a way to fill those holes this offseason. 7th in the AL in OBP last year, 7th in SL%, 12th in AVG., just doesn't seem like it would strike fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers, and I don't think they have the pitching staff to make up for it right now.

1 sizemore wouldnt go anywher eand it would take alot more then that to get a player of his caliber. some players in the league are untouchable because they are worth more to their club then they are to anyone else despite what might be offered.

2 if they are looking for a number 3 type pitcher Scott olsen is rumored to be available from the fish, solid pitcher good potentials lefty and gets over 200 innings sure a team like cleveland could use that he keeps the ball down and puts up solid numbers a good defense would help him alot too.

I like the fit of uggla in cleveland too but not sure what cleveland really has in their minors that florida would want back for the 2 time all star (3 years controled till FA). He would cost more then roberts would most likely. I am sure they would be interested in laporta or mills (but why wouldnt the tribe just play mills themselves instead of trade for uggla then).

miller still needs to get a safety harness or something to keep himself from getting hurt, heck of a talent but more injured then an old man in south florida's retirement homes

For those of you thinking that Josh Johnson will be available, sorry but it ain't going to happen. Both Nolasco and Johnson have been considered virtual locks to be signed. The Marlins FO is trying to compose a team based on pitching, defense, and sound hitting for next year. So, trading away their best pitcher would definitely be part of the plan, right?

I understand that they are arbitration eligible, but I just find it funny that people automatically assume that they will be able to pry JJ with the right trade package because of the team's cheap FO.

The team president has said on his weekly radio show that JJ and Ricky are locks to come back. I expect Olsen to be trade bait not the other two.

Tribe has $20-22M to spend this winter....not just $15M.

I see a guy like Juan Cruz and Brian Shouse being added to the pen via free agency (about $7-8M spent there). Then trades for SP and IF help.

Shoppach will net something nice as will some of our prospects.

I'm looking forward to this winter.....

Tribe only has about 5 guys that are untouchable....but one is Grady (Martinez, Hafner, Perez, and Lewis are the others).

Anyone else I could see traded.....one of Shoppach and Garko will all but certainly be as well....

Shapiro was quoted a week ago as saying the only 2 guranteed spots in the starting lineup are Grady in CF and Hafner at DH. Hafner is untouchable. Tribe doesn't need the money back on Hafner to unload it on someone. He's untouchable, period.

Cabrera isn't untouchable either. If the right offer was made, he'd be unloaded as well.....but he's close.

Jensen is who I was talking about. The way he stepped up in the closers role makes him untouchable. Shapiro and company won't risk moving him after that.

Here's your 2008 Travis Hafner
B.A. .197
OBP .305
SLG .323
HR 5

If he's untouchable it's because no other team would touch him. I'm really wondering if you follow the team at all.

I think Hermie might be confusing "valuable" with "untouchable". Of course, Jensen Lewis is a valuable player and you wouldn't move him w/o getting significant value in return. But he's hardly untouchable. Most, including Wedge, see him more as a set-up guy than a true Closer.

There are very few, if any, players on a team that are truly untouchable. I would argue that, at this point in his career, V. Martinez isn't really untouchable. It would take quite a player(s) to pry Martinez away but I could see it happening, especially once Carlos Santana is in the rear view mirror.

If Sizemore was ever traded with the years he has left, it would be as bad as an entire second Cleveland franchise leaving for another city in our lifetime. It would be a surprise if anyone would even watch the games on TV let alone go to "progressive field"

People also tend to forget that the Indians were in first place in mid-May before Hafner and Victor went down with Injuries. Other than Grady, they are the two most valuable offensive players we have.