Headlines

  • A’s Promote Shea Langeliers, Release Stephen Piscotty
  • Rangers Fire Manager Chris Woodward
  • Walker Buehler To Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
  • Orioles Promote DL Hall
  • Fernando Tatis Jr. Suspended 80 Games For Performance-Enhancing Drug Violation
  • Tarik Skubal Visiting Specialist With Elbow Issue; Expected To Miss Remainder Of Season
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

AL Central Links: Indians, Avila, Berrios

By Mark Polishuk | August 9, 2015 at 7:35pm CDT

The Indians have a lot of offseason work ahead of them, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes, particularly when it comes to upgrading the team’s lineup.  The Tribe could use help at several spots around the diamond, and Hoynes intriguingly wonders how much the club could be counting on from Carlos Santana in 2016.  Santana entered today hitting .222/.355/.381 with 12 homers and a league-leading 74 walks over 439 plate appearances — still above-average offensive numbers (109 wRC+), though the power dropoff has to be a concern for Cleveland.  The Tribe wasn’t interested in dealing him before the deadline and since Santana is owed only $8.25MM in 2016 (plus a $12MM club option for 2017 with a $1.2MM buyout), I’d think he’s enough of a cost-effective asset that it makes more sense for the offense-starved Indians to keep him.  Here’s some more from around the AL Central…

  • Also from Hoynes’ piece, he doubts the Indians will make any big moves in free agency given how little return they got from Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, the Tribe’s last two major steps into the open market.
  • Alex Avila’s pending free agency creates even more of an awkward position for both he and the Tigers now that his father Al is the team’s general manager, Fangraphs’ David Laurila writes.  “No one doubts the professionalism of either Avila,” Laurila notes, though the catcher’s concussion history, lack of hitting and James McCann’s emergence hurts his case to return to Detroit.  Though retirement isn’t necessarily in the cards for the younger Avila anytime soon, Laurila notes that Alex has been tabbed by many as a potential future manager or front office member once he calls it a career.
  • In other Detroit front office news, Laurila also noted Sam Menzin’s promotion to the Tigers’ director of baseball operations and calls Menzin “a future GM.”
  • Jose Berrios is performing well in Triple-A and, with the Twins’ rotation struggling, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press suggests that Minnesota could turn to its top pitching prospect.  Twins assistant GM Rob Antony didn’t give any hints about a promotion, though he did praise Berrios and noted that the organization had no plans to shut the righty down as he approaches his career high in innings.  The Twins picked Berrios 32nd overall in the 2012 draft, and he ranked highly in preseason prospect lists from MLB.com (32nd) and Baseball America (36th), as well as a bump up to 19th on BA’s midseason top 50 prospects list.
Share 7 Retweet 29 Send via email0

Cleveland Guardians Detroit Tigers Minnesota Twins Alex Avila Carlos Santana Jose Berrios

Minor MLB Transactions: 8/9/15
Main
Rays Notes: Hickey, Torres, Prospects
View Comments (7)

Comments

  1. thestevilempire

    7 years ago

    Interesting situation Avila falls into. I see him as a very promising comeback candidate in 2016 with a change of scenery. I think he will have a number of suitors. If I were to throw out a guess, this would be some interesting landing spots for him.

    For full time duty (catching 100 plus games)

    1. Angels – The catching void has been prominent, he could find new life in LA.

    2. Rangers – Another team with a void at Catcher, finding himself in Arlington could help his offensive production in such a hitter friendly park.

    3. Reds – With Devin Mesoraco’s catching career in doubt, he could find plenty of time behind the plate in Cincy

    Platoon jobs

    1. Red Sox – a solid compliment during the Blake Swinhart development.

    2. Orioles – With Matt Wieters possible departure, he could be a serviceable platoon with Caleb Joseph. Baltimore loves reclamation projects.

    3. Rays – a companion to Curt Casali right handed bat. Seems like he has a Rays jersey on already being a Florida native.

    Reply
    • Brixton

      7 years ago

      Rays have Rene Rivera, who despite his struggles, has good potential. I think they’d rather go with him then Avila. Rivera had a 3+ WAR season in 2014.

      Sox aren’t a fit. They could have Vazquez back some time next year, plus they have Ryan Hanigan signed for next year.
      I think that Avila can do better than back up to Mesoraco. He’ll get a starting job. Even if Mesoraco can’t catch every day, they aren’t going to give up on him yet

      Rangers have Chirinos (1.6 WAR over 70 games this year, 2.4 WAR over 93 games last year)

      Reply
    • Vandals Took The Handles

      7 years ago

      Avila is exceptional at handling a pitching staff, calling a game, and he’s OK on D. Your points on the Angels and Orioles are well thought out.

      There will be other teams interested depending on off-season moves.

      Reply
    • Mookie's Lip

      7 years ago

      Red Sox have Swihart, Hanigan and Vazquez all signed through next season. They don’t need Avila. I think he settles for a backup role or a minor league deal. His concussion issues are troublesome and he has been a zero with the bat for the last three seasons.

      Reply
    • Matt Galvin

      7 years ago

      Could just put him on Waviers because no way making Playoffs.

      Reply
  2. Lance

    7 years ago

    Avila is five years removed from his very good season. The last four have been mediocre to poor (with the bat) at best. I can’t see teams rushing after him with big money contracts for a 29 year old catcher with close to 700 games coming off a sub 200 season.

    Reply
  3. Pat Baker

    7 years ago

    Avila had one good season at the plate, his first. Ever since then its been an accelerated decline into oblivion (sub .200), Defensively he is grossly overrated by those from the outside looking in. He USED to throw runners out but no longer. He USED to call a great game, but no longer. The Tigers wasted $5-mil plus on him season because they weren’t sure McCann was ready for full time duty. Now that they are, Avila is gone. Avila is a semi-walking Mash unit. Daily injuries and far too many concussions, but if you want him, have at him. Just lower your expectations.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    A’s Promote Shea Langeliers, Release Stephen Piscotty

    Rangers Fire Manager Chris Woodward

    Walker Buehler To Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery

    Orioles Promote DL Hall

    Fernando Tatis Jr. Suspended 80 Games For Performance-Enhancing Drug Violation

    Tarik Skubal Visiting Specialist With Elbow Issue; Expected To Miss Remainder Of Season

    Mariners Designate Ken Giles For Assignment

    Michael Brantley Undergoes Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery

    Tigers Fire General Manager Al Avila

    Matt Carpenter Expected To Miss 6-8 Weeks With Foot Fracture

    Braves Select Top Prospect Vaughn Grissom, Activate Kirby Yates

    2022-23 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: August Edition

    Tim Anderson Out 4-6 Weeks Due To Torn Ligament In Hand

    Blue Jays Sign Jackie Bradley Jr., Designate Matt Peacock

    Chris Sale Fractures Wrist, Will Miss Remainder Of Season

    Cubs To Release Jason Heyward At End Of Season

    Cubs Claim Franmil Reyes From Guardians

    Fernando Tatis Jr. To Begin Rehab Assignment

    Rockies Claim Dinelson Lamet, Designate Ashton Goudeau

    Cubs Release Andrelton Simmons

    Recent

    A’s Promote Shea Langeliers, Release Stephen Piscotty

    Braves Promote Freddy Tarnok, Ryan Goins

    Carlos Carrasco Headed For MRI After Experiencing Side Discomfort

    Rangers To Select Kohei Arihara

    Rangers Fire Manager Chris Woodward

    David Dahl Opts Out Of Minor League Deal With Nationals

    Dodgers Planning To Reinstate Dustin May On Saturday

    Mets Select Deven Marrero

    Walker Buehler To Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery

    Mets Place Luis Guillorme On Injured List

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Cubs Decline To Trade Contreras, Happ
    • Giants Keep Rodon, Pederson
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • MLB Player Chats
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version