A look at the Indians players who will be eligible for arbitration after the season:
- First time: Shin-Soo Choo, Asdrubal Cabrera, Chris Perez, Aaron Laffey, Andy Marte, Joe Smith, Anthony Reyes
- Second time: Rafael Perez
Laffey, Marte, Smith, and Reyes have not impressed this year, so they're non-tender candidates. They wouldn't be too expensive to retain, but the Indians still might prefer to cut them loose or try to re-sign them to minor league deals. Rafael Perez figures to be tendered a contract, as he's building off a salary of just $795K and has excelled at least in getting groundballs.
Choo, Cabrera, and Chris Perez are the major cases for the Indians. Choo, a Scott Boras client, should jump up past $3MM. Josh Hamilton, who earns $3.25MM in his first arbitration year, could be a decent comparable. If not for Boras, Choo would be a good extension candidate. The Indians may prefer to wait a year with Cabrera, who missed two months this season with a broken left forearm. On the other hand, Cabrera has shown no ill effects in 36 games since his return, and perhaps the appeal of multiyear security would enable the Tribe to get a big discount.
If we're correct about the Super Two cutoff being around 2.125, Chris Perez will qualify. There's no rush to lock him up, unless the Indians think a full year of racking up saves in 2011 would artificially inflate his future salaries.
I always liked Smith when he was a Met. If he gets nontendered, I hope they bring him back.
Well I think he’ll be tendered. Andy Marte and Anthony Reyes might get non-tendered.
Needing starting pitching like they do, I’d be surprised to see Reyes let go. He won’t make anything through arbitration since he didn’t even pitch this season.
Marte needs to get the boot… talk about one of the most disappointing prospects in recent history.
No question about it. I wonder if Brett Wallace is the new Marte.
That’s a little harsh, seeing as how Wallace has only played 26 Major League games, compared to Marte’s 278. Lol. I agree though, major disappointment in Marte.
I didn’t mean it like that. But even in his pro career, like Marte, not good defensively, not so great on base skills, and he’s been traded tons of times like marte.
Curious how Marte isn’t a good defensive 3B. Every year he’s had decent playing time he’s posted positive UZR numbers and his career number is +0.5.
At worst, he’s an average defensive 3B.
Agree 100% on the offense. Just never developed. Wouldn’t oppose him being brought back on the minor league deal thanks to his defense but odds are he’s finally gone.
What are the issues concerning Choo’s required service time in South Korea’s military. He owes them 2 years of service time before he is 30 years old. I have not heard of any developments.
I’ve said this elsewhere….but there is a better chance of the world ending tomorrow than Choo skipping out on baseball to go back and serve his military obligation.
He has stated multiple times that he has a “backup plan” if he doesn’t get an exemption……about a week after these comments, he hired Scott Boras as his agent.
There is absolutely no way Boras will let Choo go back to Korea. Better chance of Boras working out a deal with the South Korean government to make Choo ambassador to the US.
I’d be SHOCKED if Laffey was non-tendered. Tribe has no lefty relievers other than Jeremy Sowers above A ball. Laffey pitched well out of the pen as a long man.
And Joe Smith hasn’t impressed? He’s been argueably better than Raffy Perez. And both Acta and Belcher (the pitching coach) have raved non-stop about Smith since his recall from AAA.
He’s a lock to be around next year.
Reyes…..well, it may come down to the Rule 5 draft with him. We need some open 40 spots to protect a few guys and he’s on the short list of possible DFAs. He can’t even get out of the first inning and has had 1 setback in his recovery.
Tribe has plenty of arms that can fill the rotation….probably better than him. I do hope he survives cause I’m a big fan…but not a huge loss. Carrasco has looked better this year (and obviously healthier). Heck, Aaron Laffey has had more success in the rotation in the last 2+ years than Reyes.
At the end of the day, only non-tenders I see here are Marte and possibly Reyes.
Agree with Hermie, although I believe you forgot Hagadone when talking about left handed relievers. And R. Perez and Sipp have been pretty good too as left handers. I see Laffey as a starter next year, but he hasn’t even made it through one whole year without being hurt or sent to the minors. No way Smith gets non tendered.
Not really. I still consider him a starter….and yes, I realize I’m holding on to a pipedream but he was moved to the pen to protect his arm. Still a slim chance he can rebound…..even if it’s extremely unlikely.
Raffy Perez’s batting average against is over .290…..not sure how that’s good. Yes, lately he’s been a lot better, but next year are you getting the 2009 Raffy or 2010 Raffy? He does have a nice ERA this year….but unfortunately, a reliever’s ERA is about as meaningful as a hitter’s batting average. His WHIP is 1.49….
Sipp….IS Wild Thing. Guy doesn’t know how to pitch to save his life. A great arm and if he learns how to use it he could turn into a Matt Thornton type reliever….but not a huge fan (again, I’m in the minority here). But the guy has a walk rate of 6 per 9 innings! His HR rate is also a horrible 1.7 per 9. Kid strikes people out….but you’re playing with fire everytime you bring him in.
I see Laffey as a reliever next year. Tribe will need a guy in the pen that can go 3-4 innings if needed and Laffey can be that guy IMO.
I say keep Laffey, either arbitration will make him cheap or offer him a minor league deal. Get rid of Marte, Smith, and Reyes, I can’t wait for them to no longer be Indians, it’s just brutal to watch.
Smith has been arguably better than Raffy Perez this year….no clue why you DFA him. Other than Chris Perez, he’s been our best right-handed reliever.
Smith WILL be an Indian next year unless he’s traded. MLBTR hasn’t been paying attention to the team this year. Again, he’s been one of our best relievers since his recall. He is not a candidate to be non-tendered.
I have to agree that I that I think Smith will be an Indian next year. I don’t think he should be, and I think he deserves to be non-tendered. I’m not really sure which Joe Smith you have been watching, but the one I have has looked absolutely awful. That 5.04 ERA doesn’t help, and I just feel like every time I watch him he struggles. If we have to tender him a contract, trade him PLEASE.