Next in our Offseason In Review series, the Indians.
Major League Signings
- Russell Branyan, 1B: one year, $2MM. Includes $5MM mutual option for 2011.
- Mike Redmond, C: one year, $850K.
- Total spend: $2.85MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
- Shelley Duncan, Austin Kearns, Jamey Wright, Saul Rivera, Jason Grilli, Anthony Reyes, Brian Buscher, Mark Grudzielanek, Mike Gosling, Luis Rodriguez
Trades and Claims
- Acquired SP Mitch Talbot from Rays for C Kelly Shoppach and cash
- Claimed Rule 5 pick P Hector Ambriz from Diamondbacks
- Acquired SS Brian Bixler from Pirates for 3B Jesus Brito
Notable Losses
- Jamey Carroll, Kelly Shoppach, Jesus Brito, Josh Barfield, Tomo Ohka, Jose Veras, Greg Aquino, Vinnie Chulk, Masahide Kobayashi
Summary
In Mark Shapiro's last offseason as GM, the Indians' winter hammered home the fact that they're in full rebuilding mode. Free agent spending was limited to a mere $2.85MM for Branyan and Redmond, while the Shoppach trade allows the Tribe to go younger and cheaper with their starting catcher. Otherwise, it was low-risk tinkering with additions like Duncan, Kearns, and Wright.
The Indians' veteran sell-off began last summer and should continue in 2010. Shapiro will defer to Chris Antonetti on decisions affecting the club beyond this year, as Antonetti will become GM after the season. The pair will presumably work to move the team's biggest remaining contracts: Travis Hafner, Jake Westbrook, Kerry Wood, and Jhonny Peralta. The light at the end of the tunnel: ESPN's Keith Law ranks the Indians' farm system fourth in the game.
Interesting to note that the Indians project to have a pretty good offense:
http://www.baseballmusings.com/cgi-bin/LineupAnalysis.py?Player0=Grady+Sizemore&OBA0=.370&Slug0=.484&Player1=Asdrubal+Cabrera&OBA1=.365&Slug1=.432&Player2=Shin-Soo+Choo&OBA2=.372&Slug2=.460&Player3=Travis+Hafner&OBA3=.351&Slug3=.446&Player4=Russell+Branyan&OBA4=.329&Slug4=.473&Player5=Jhonny+Peralta&OBA5=.328&Slug5=.408&Player6=Matt+LaPorta&OBA6=.337&Slug6=.457&Player7=Lou+Marson&OBA7=.344&Slug7=.352&Player8=Luis+Valbuena&OBA8=.328&Slug8=.400&Model=0
Will get a better picture on how they rank once I finish all the AL clubs though.
The lineup doesn’t look too bad considering… If everything works out right, they should be able to score some runs.
That’s the problem, how often does everything work out right? But even if their offense works out perfectly their pitching has more questions than answers… Westbrook hasn’t pitched 200 innings since 2006, Carmona hasn’t pitched effectively since 2007, Masterson hasn’t had a full season as a starter yet, then the best of the rest barely have made it past 120 innings in a season. I kinda like the Indians, but unless things turn out perfectly for them they’re going to be 4th in the AL Central again.
It appears I chose my words wrong. What I should have probably said is if nothing goes severely wrong. However, we know how likely that is too.
And yes, I was thinking the same about their pitching. They will probably score runs but until the pitching problems are worked out, this team is destined to go nowhere.
Jhonny Peralta is good Power hitting SS. He could help the Dodgers when Furcal gets put on the DL
Several teams could used him at this point. The Dodgers, Cardinals, and so on.
Which brings up another question about the Indians future… when is Choo going to have to return to Korea for his mandatory military service?
I saw somewhere at the beginning of last season that it’d be after this year but I am not sure about where I saw it.
Too bad, he’s one of the better right fielders in the game.
I just read an article on this and the author indicated that there was very little chance that he would go back to serve his commitment. Whether he gets a waiver or does something more drastic (like change citizenship) odds are that he will be playing with the Indians through his prime.
Really? The last thing I read said he would go serve his commitment.
Here is the most recent thing I have found per Anthony Castrovince: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100222&content_id=8113864&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb
The word is that the South Korean government told Choo that if he can get an exemption to participate with Korea in the 2010 Asian Games this fall, and the Koreans win the gold in the games, then they will exempt Choo from his military service.
Apparently, he’s told the media that he has a back-up plan if the one I mentioned above fails, but he’s told them that he can’t say what it would be yet.
I’m guessing that Cleveland fans will be rooting for Korea this fall, because he’s quietly emerged as an elite outfielder.
The Tribe and the Tigers are looking like very serious players in 2011 and beyond. They may take the division over from the Twins for a long stretch pretty soon.
Somebody must like the like button.
It all begins and ends with Sizemore. If he is healthy and plays well then they can probably contend, but if not they have to seriously think about moving him on the high note of him being young and having a nice contract to gain alot in return. I kno indian fans will be upset but if you can get a really nice deal with talent they can control for a number of years.
I don’t know..
I’m not sure that even a nice bounceback season from Sizemore would be enough to make up for that rotation. It flat out sucks right now.
Contend for what? 4th place?
I wish Amriz was in the NL, that guy can stroke it pretty good
It would make no sense for the Indians to take on expensive contracts for the mediocrity that is available on the free agent starting pitcher market. 2010 is the year to sort through Masterson, Huff, Laffey, Talbot, Carrasco, Rondon, etc.. to see what they have. The pitching could be dismal this year but with so much youth and the possibility of a bounceback year for Westbrook (recovering from injury) and/or Carmona (trying to recover from who knows what) it could also be decent. With all of the young talent already on board (Choo, Cabrera, Brantley, LaPorta) and one of MLB’s best farm systems, the Indians won’t be down for long.
These guys have signed 4 Twins castoffs this offseason. I cannot tell you how refreshing that is. It seems like just yesterday (the late ’90 really) that that phrase was the other way around.
Long live Mike Redmond. May you find yourself back in a Twins uniform in a few years.
Remembre when the Indians signed Kazuhito Tadano because he enjoyed appearing in homosexually oriented pornographies?
The Indians should take a clue fom the Cavs. You don’t gut your club of your veterans, you build arounf them. Another frustrating year is upon us thanks to inept leadership.