Even on a day filled with football news, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer has a pair of Indians articles up filled with some information on what we can expect from the Tribe in 2011. Let's look at some highlights:
- The upcoming season will play a large role in gauging the return that the Indians got from the C.C. Sabathia trade. Both Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley are expected to play full seasons as part of Cleveland's rebuilding efforts. LaPorta, who recently turned 26, is fully healthy unlike 2010 when he underwent two mid-season surgeries.
- Both Grady Sizemore and Fausto Carmona could be traded if they perform well in the first half. Sizemore is more likely, given that he's only under Cleveland's control through 2012 (the $8.5MM club option on his deal becomes a player option if he's traded). Carmona is through 2014 through a series of club options.
- The club is still interested in both Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Bonderman, though Hoynes says the Indians haven't changed their stance on Millwood's asking price; they don't want to invest $4MM-$5MM.
- Lonnie Chisenhall will open the season at Triple-A Columbus no matter what, according to Hoynes. He has a chance to push some current big-leaguers eventually, as do Jason Kipnis, Jared Goedert, and Cord Phelps. Keith Law recently ranked Chisenhall as the game's 39th best prospect. Kipnis placed 56th.
Lonnie Chisenhall.
Jared Goedert should get the first opportunity at third in my opinion. He has been grinding it out in AAA for a while now and he’s put up some pretty numbers there too. Chisenhall will obviously be the 3rd of the future but Goedert should be given the opportunity now.
Sizemore could still be traded before his option is picked up, but his contract essentially gives him veto power. If a contending team wants him and is willing to sign him to a long term deal, though, it would seem unlikely that he would say no.
I cant imagine anyone wanting to give him a long term deal–i have always like sizemore but the way he plays the game seems to tear him up. I dont think any GM would give him any length to a contract until he can stay healthy a whole year.
It falls under the “Mark Prior Doctrine”
Right now…you’re right. If he hits the way he used to, though, someone will pay him.
Hoynes settin the hook is the way this story is being reported. How can Paul Hoynes say with a straight face:
-What is playing a large role with LaPorta and Brantley? The “Evaluation By Hoynes”??
-Lonnie.. no matter what!.. huh? Manny Acta has given away his authority to determine who is or isn’t making the 25 man roster to Hoynes going forward?
-Sizemore and Carmona “could” be traded… The GM says they absolutely won’t be traded, yet this is what Hoynes “reports”?? (allegedly)
-Millwood’s asking price.. and Paul Hoynes is in charge of the purse strings.. great..
Paul Hoynes’ writes trash.. followed up with unsubstantiated trash. There is no reason for anyone to pay attention to anything he’s written about the Indians.. sheesh..
I don’t think they will put Chisenhall on the 25 man but they may make him a September call up. They don’t want to hurt his development in any way, and he hasn’t been beyond AA yet, and they aren’t going to want to start his arb clock in what looks to be a lost season. I don’t think much of Hoynes either, but I think he got that right.
Acta very well might have a say in it, but it’s one of the GM’s jobs to determine who is on the 40 man and 25 man roster. The way I see it, the GM has legitimate reasons to keep Chisenhall off of the 25 man roster, at least at the start of the season.
Chisenhall I guarentee barring injury will be the Indians everyday 3rd baseman at the All Star break for the next 5 to 6 years. All they have to do with Chisenhall and Kipnis is wait until around the all star break to keep them from super 2 statis from kicking in.
Right after the all star break you fielder should be
1st LaPorta
2nd Kipnis
SS Cabrera
3rd Chisenhall
Catcher Santana
Outfield
Brantley
Sizemore
Choo
with Weglarz on the heels ofa outfield spot and added to the roster when the rosters expand to DH and play some outfield.
Phelps will be a utility guy
and Alex White will be you 5th starter by the end of the season.
Rob Bryson could be a guy who break open a spot in the bullpen He most like will be the set-up guy for Perez in 2012.
The Future Look Bright we even have Levon Washington who IMO was the steal of the Draft he will be at AAA by the end of the season this guy is the real deal and will be the guy who takes Sizemores roster spot when he is traded in 2012.
Also remember this name Start another hugh steal in the Draft also was thought at one time to have been a 1st round pick but team was scared off due to a Injury which has ended up not beinf a big deal.
Robbie Aviles — Keith Law Loves this guy.
Manny Acta in a interview on All Bets Are off about a month ago was aked about the youngsters and Bruce Drennen said one things for sure that Kipnis and Chisenhall and Phelps would start the season at AAA and Acta stopped him in his tracks and said that may not be the fact of what actually happens he stated that the best players that win the jobs will go north with the team.
He questioned acta about the starting the clock early on players and he said they will not even look at that with these guys I was shocked to hear that but he went on to say he is in total control on who comes north and starts the season with Cleveland and he said that also includes Alex White who will contend for the 5th spot during Spriing training in the rotation.
I will say I do not see the Indians starting the clock early on White, Kipnis and Chisenhall they are way too important part of the future rebuilding blocks of this team if you wait until June-July time frame on the 3 then you do not lose 2 years of team service time like they did with Brantley last year.
Manny must have forgotten he’s managing in Cleveland. Cleveland DOES have to concern itself with starting the clock on their players. If Chisenhall has the kind of spring that forces his way onto the big league roster, maybe they put him there. There is no way they are going to promote all of them at once. They can’t take that chance of having them all hit their big payday at once, and having them all become free agents at once. Now if they grew a money tree out in Goodyear or something…..
Hoynes is right about Chisenhall..Why would they bring him up and start his clock as a big league player..They dont want him to end up being a super two..Correct me if I’m wrong but baseball players get two contracts. a big league pay and a minor league pay.