The Indians and right-hander Trevor Bauer have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $3.55MM, reports FanRag’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link). Bauer’s 2017 salary comes in a bit shy of the $3.7MM projection from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz.
Bauer, 26 next week, logged a career-high 190 innings with the Indians in 2016 and posted a 4.26 ERA that represented an improvement over his 4.55 mark from the 2015 campaign. The former No. 3 overall draft pick averaged 8.0 K/9 against a career-best 3.3 BB/9 to go along with a career-high 48.7 percent ground-ball rate. He drew his share of criticism in the postseason for injuring his finger in bizarre fashion, as he was repairing a drone. Bauer’s ALCS start was pushed back from Game 2 to Game 3 and ultimately proved to be an abbreviated outing, as he lasted just two-thirds of an inning due to the injured hand. He did, however, go on to throw 8 1/3 innings in the World Series.
Cleveland originally acquired Bauer alongside Bryan Shaw, Matt Albers and Drew Stubbs in the three-team deal that sent Shin-Soo Choo to the Reds and Didi Gregorius to the Diamondbacks. Bauer has emerged as a reliable fourth starter for Cleveland, following up excellent right-handers Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar in one of the game’s more talented rotations. He reached arbitration as a Super Two player this year and will be eligible thrice more before hitting free agency upon completion of the 2020 season.
With tomorrow set as the deadline for teams and players to exchange arbitration numbers, there figure to be plenty more agreements in the 24 hours to come. You can follow all of the updates using MLBTR’s 2017 Arbitration Tracker.
Good, funniest man on twitter by far, I hope he reaches his full potential.
I still don’t get why az have up on him so quick. They basically turned him into Robbie Ray. They both have 2 years service time and 4 years left of control. Who would you guys choose to have on your team for the next 4 years? I’m interested to see who the majority would choose. They are both 25 yo as well.
If I remember correctly, he was immature and Montero would try to help him as a catcher normally would but he wanted to do his own thing.
They also didn’t like that he did long toss before his starts. Management told him to stop doing that before games and he refused.
Yes, he’s always had “coachability” concerns, and is a bit of a head case on the mound.
As for your question, I think it’s tough. Ray seems the more reliable of the two. Bauer has the more upside. Ray (when his defense is decent) looks like a solid 2-3. Bauer shows flashes where he looks like he can be an ace, and then follows it up with a start that makes you wish he was in the bullpen. I’m a gambling man, so I’d take Bauer. But I think it’s close.
I’ve always bought into the hype of Bauer, but I worry his routines will put him on the path of Daisuke Matzusaka. If he stays healthy, at this point I see him as a number 3 starter…which is still very valuable. I think he has the higher floor of the two, but it’s also usually a pretty good indication of things to come when a guy puts up eye popping strikeout numbers as Robbie Ray did last season. I also think being a lefty is a benefit for him. I’m starting to feel like Bauer may just be better at utilizing what he has while Ray may have been a little more raw coming up and could be finally coming into his own. 6 months ago, I would have said Bauer, but I’m now leaning towards RR.
I’d take RR.
Easily Ray imo
I don’t know much about Ray, but as a Tribe fan I am always on edge when Bauer pitches. He has command issues and when he is on he is dynamite. When he is off he struggles mightily. There were several times it took 30 pitches to get out of the first inning. To the credit of Bauer, he never gave up a large number, but it puts a strain of the bullpen. I was hoping that he had enough upside this offseason they could trade him for a young center fielder. I just don’t trust him to take the mound every fifth day and give us a shot to win. I guess that is what you get with a 4th/5th?
bauer for ray, 1 for 1, isn’t a fair assessment of the trade. tribe also acquired bryan shaw, who has been incredibly consistent and durable for 4 straight season. tribe easily wins the trade when you take that into consideration.
It is so close for me as well. This upcoming year will tell us a lot. Who will take a step foward or who will regress. I like what I saw from Bauer this year, he seemed to be moving in the right direction. I expect him to improve.
If Ray struggles in the rotation I wouldn’t hesitate moving him to the pen. He would be excellent there. He Could be the next Andrew Miller type reliever. Could be used in multiple situations and would be able to pitch over 1 inning .if needed. If they do that id like to see him pitch 80 plus innings. Makes a lot of sense to do that because az has starting pitching depth and are lacking in the bullpen. They have greinke miller (hopefully) Corbin Bradley Shipley Godley and de la Rosa is also coming back.
True, but while that is depth in terms of numbers of starters, only one of those pitchers is someone who can be counted on to perform. Otherwise, I mostly agree.
That is very true stryk. Young pitching is so hard to predict. I’m so over a pitcher having great stuff or not. Locating pitches and changing speeds effectively is the most important thing. I always wondered how the hell clay bucholz wasn’t so much better. Had the most ridiculous stuff but never produced. Same with ruby de la Rosa. When I watch that guy I’m like damn 95 mph heat wicked breaking stuff. He will mow through a lineup twice then give up 4 or 5 runs in the 5th.