The Indians, in their quest to find a right-handed hitter to add to the middle of their lineup, have talked to Mark Trumbo as well as Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Mike Napoli, Jon Heyman of FanRag tweets. (They also pursued the left-handed Mitch Moreland, who ended up with the Red Sox.)
Of those, the new name is that of Trumbo, who has lately been connected to the Mariners, Orioles, Rockies and Rangers. Trumbo, who swatted 47 home runs in 2016, would add a big power bat to the Indians’ mix at DH, corner outfield and first base, filling a role similar to the one Napoli filled last season. Trumbo is reportedly seeking $80MM, a huge number for the Indians, but one they might be able to at least approach, given their windfall from reaching the World Series and their evident interest in other high-dollar players.
Any team that gives Trumbo anything remotely close to 80 mil will instantly regret that. Indians would be better off giving a two year deal to Napoli. Or spending a bit more to get EE.
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Truer words were never spoken. Trumbo has one great year in a bandbox and all of a sudden he’s comparable to Encarnacion (much less Napoli?) The Tribe would be nuts.
Save the money for extensions to our core and we’d be much better off in the short and long term.
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Yeah 47 dingers last year. Who would want that guy. HRs undervalued in MLB nowadays imo. Chris carter not worth 8 million per year? Just don’t understand it.
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Trumbo makes no sense at that price for anyone, much less the Indians. The best thing that could happen to the Indians is that the bottom of the market falls out for one of the four, and they can be opportunistic. I wonder if the competition isn’t starting to thin out at bit. Boston has loaded up, Yankees took Holliday, Toronto may be cautious..
Exactly. Be opportunistic, not desperate. Small market teams should never act like they have small windows in which to compete. You may feel valiant jumping through them until you realize halfway down you’ll be going splat on the sidewalk (see: Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn).
No one can predict the future (anyone think the Tribe would be in the World Series this year?) and no one player will ensure Cleveland gets there again next year. Don’t do anything reckless with the payroll and maintain what little flexibility we have for extensions or mid-season opportunities. The division is most likely the Tribe’s to lose whether or not they sign one of these guys.
The 2016 season for Trumbo was most likely the best season he will have as a major leaguer why give up a draft pick and 60million plus for a guy who will have a low OBP and a guy who won’t hit more than 25 home runs into his 3rd and 4th year of the deal which would take away all of his value not to mention he has low defensive valu
4 years, 60 million would be a steal for Trumbo… especially in the Indians lineup. 60 I’d do. 80 I wouldn’t.
4 years of Trumbo for 15 million a year sounds like a nightmare to me.
I guess I should clarify that by being a “steal” is that he’s asking for 80, so youd be getting him at 75% of his asking price.
I would still grade the deal as a C+/B-, however. Certainly would be happier with him than Heyward’s contract… or Alex Gordon, or Pablo Sandoval, etc. I honestly don’t think we’re going to look back on any of these deals for EE, Bautista, Trumbo, or hell even Yo and say they were “good deals”. But I think Trumbo (aside from Yo, who obviously isn’t available any more) is the remaining slugger I’d want if I got to choose.
I think that be a bargain compared to what Napoli is asking for. 3 years at 15 mil for nap or 4 years 15 mil for trumbo. I’ll take big mark
I really wish the Tribe could get Wil Myers. Man, he’d be awesome in that lineup…
Myers would be nasty. Really hope they sign EE or Trumbo though. Really like those two players.
Cleveland has no interest in him or the other guys mentioned, they’re merely trying to show Napoli they have options and will look elsewhere hoping he takes their offer.
Thought… if the market falls apart on one of these guys, can you convince them to take a 2016 Dexter Fowler deal for 1 year? The player could hit FA and not have the QO attached next year (since they would have already had one QO). so you lose a first Round pick, but if the team is good you make another playoff run and make some more money that may be more valuable than 1st round pick. If the team stinks, you trade the player for a prospect which could theoretically replace your first round pick.
Is it possible/plausible?
Certainly conceivable. I think if anyone is going to agree to a one-year deal it will likely be EE or Trumbo. They’re far more likely to build more value for next year’s trip through FA than Bautista or Napoli. I think those two are looking for that one last pay day.