The Indians and Orioles were in contact last month about a trade that could have sent Manny Machado to Cleveland, Jon Morosi of MLB.com writes, although he adds that the two teams are no longer actively discussing a deal. The O’s have a notable dearth of viable starting pitchers, while Cleveland is said to be willing to trade right-hander Danny Salazar. For their part the Indians are one of the few teams who could afford to deal from their rotation in order to add a premium position player like Machado. Morosi describes 2018 as a “pivotal year” for the Orioles franchise, while Dave Cameron (formerly of Fangraphs) wrote a piece a month ago detailing the Tribe’s limited window of eliteness as a reason to splurge on Machado now. A Machado acquisition would likely push Jose Ramirez to second base and push Jason Kipnis back to positional limbo, which complicates a hypothetical deal from a logistics standpoint.
More news and rumors about the Indians…
- Lefty fireman Andrew Miller is well-known as a force on the mound, but he’s also got a big voice in the MLBPA. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN discussed the subject of pitch clocks with the Indians reliever recently. One of four elected representatives of the association, Miller hopes that the pitch clock negotiations don’t lead to “some sort of ugly showdown.” He told ESPN that the players understand that they need to put out the best product possible from an entertainment standpoint, and that there’s certainly a need for an adjustment. However, he expresses that the lack of a ticking clock is “one of the things about the sport that makes us so appealing and so unique.” Miller’s viewpoint, while level-headed, reveals a polite distaste for the way MLB is going about the process.
- Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal outlines his case for an Indians-Marlins trade involving outfielder Christian Yelich. Such a move, Lewis says, would help improve the Tribe’s competitive window through 2020, by which point they stand to lose the bulk of their core (Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Edwin Encarnacion and Jason Kipnis, to name a few). Lewis does take care to mention that the team already has a large surplus of left-handed-hitting outfielders, but also points out that Yelich would serve as an upgrade in 2018 regardless, and would fill what could be a potential hole in right field starting in 2019. From my own standpoint, it seems that while the Indians make sense as a potential fit (I mentioned them when I explored Yelich’s trade value last week), adding the 26-year-old Yelich to the fold would involve dealing heavily from their depth to add a player who seems more of a luxury than a necessity.
Yelich can’t play RF. His arm isn’t good enough.
His arm doesn’t matter that much this isn’t the 1980s the right fielder doesn’t need a cannon anymore
You need a good arm in RF. 1980 has nothing to do with it. That was silly to say
He can and has played aall OF spot., Range is strong and arm is enough.
I don’t think Machado is a good fit for the Indians. They seem to have an abundance of Infielders on hand.
They don’t have the need, but wow it would be fun to watch Lindor and Machado team up left side of the infield, offensively and defensively.
Second Base/Third Base could potentially be open, so its not like they’d have to move a star player out of position. If the price is right, you don’t worry about whether or not Machado is a great fit right away. You bring him in and hope he plays like normal and eventually fits in.
I think you’re forgetting with all the 2nd base, 3rd base talk that he is a shortstop by trade, moving to 3rd for the O’s, and has expressed his interest in moving back to short rather that continue to playing 3rd.
If he’s moved this season, he has little choice. However if the Indians would try to re-sign him to a longer term contract, dollars will definitely increase if his slot is 3rd.
Nobody, not Machado, nor any rumors have floated the idea that he would move to 2nd.
Kipnis could come back in the deal to Baltimore. Schoop could slide over to 3rd. Would clear that salary out for the Indians and give the orioles an infielder. Assuming the Indians put together a solid package to go along with kip.
Schoop can’t play 3rd. It was brutal when they tried him there before.
Schoop was a minor league 3rd baseman. He played 2nd because of machado. Machado played 3rd because of JJ. Schoop has only played 14 major league games at 3rd 4 years ago so there’s really no interpretation of his ability from a 14 game sample size.
Machado is not going to second base and why the heck would you want to waste him there
Didn’t mean to imply that Machado would be going to second base. Jose Ramirez is the incumbent 3rd basemen and Lindor is at SS. The easy fix is to move Ramirez to 2nd. If Lindor is willing, then maybe he moves to 2nd and Machado goes to 3rd. But didn’t mean to imply that Machado would be going to 2nd.
Yes. But Machado is the kind of talent you make room for if you can reasonably make that move.
Just imagine the fun fantasy infield of Machado at 3rd, Frankie at SS, andJosie at 2nd.
can we PLEASE get a FA prediction contest going?! the only silver lining within this agonizingly slow offseason is the fact that you fellas have ample time to re-introduce the best feature of this site. Thank you.
They said quite a while ago they weren’t going to do it this year.
I will . First person to guess correctly which starting pitcher of darvish,arrieta,Cobb,Lynn will get $50 Buffalo Wild Wings card from me
They goes to cubs
they all sign with the KBO Ham Fighters
We have to guess all four? How about the person closest gets that gift card. Don’t be a Boras on this.
Just in case, I’ll go Yankees, Cubs, Phillies, and Red Sox.
Just have to guess which one goes to the cubs
Darvish/Rangers! Cobb/Cubs! Lynn/Twins!
Arrieta/Yankees!
Bruce Wayne if Cobb to cubs bdubs is yours
Machado would be a good fit if Jason Kipnis is included as part of the trade.. With the Orioles, that would be unlikely.. There is a team in the same division as the Orioles where Jason Kipnis would be a good addition: The Toronto Blue Jays.. If a deal can be cobbled together where Kipnis /Salazar/Mejia are sent for Josh Donaldson (and perhaps a high upside A or low level lottery ticket e.g. Angel Perdomo ) returns.. both clubs win..
jays would dump JD in a heartbeat if Salazar and Meija were offered.
No way the Indians would give up that much. Keep in mind they’ve already got All-Stars at 3B and SS. And Kipnis should hopefully bounceback from an injury-plagued year. I’m not a Indians or Jays homer, but I just don’t see Cleveland giving up an ace, the best catching prospect in baseball, and a more than serviceable 2B for an aging Donaldson. This would have more legs if the Indians didn’t have Ramirez to play the hot corner. (Yes, i realize that making this trade would bump Ramirez to 2B. But i still think what you’re proposing is far too heavily favored for the Jays).
2017 Kipnis trade value is at his lowest in the past 5 seasons. Stop thinking about Kipnis as the one of the central pieces of a trade.
*as one of the central pieces…
I just appreciate the fact that you took the time to correct the grammar in your initial post.
I just appreciate the fact that you took the time to appreciate chichitogs correction of his grammar in his initial post.
I appreciate all of you
He’s a buy low candidate so while I agree he shouldn’t be the headliner or second main piece, he’d be more than a throw in piece. In a presumed trade for an infielder (third base or second base), Kipnis could temporarily fill that spot and also be used as trade bait near the trade deadline if he’s playing decently.
The deal as stated, Salazar, Kipnis & Mejia for the one year of Donaldson and Angel Perdomo ( Angel Perdomo hasn’t been discussed much.. ) is also augmented by the draft compensation the Indians would receive when the 2018 season is completed and they offer Donaldson a QO.. A comp pick after the first round is worth a LOT to the Indians..
Yelich for Alex verdugo, yadier alvarez, jordan Sheffield and will Smith
Fish would pull the trigger on that deal.
It would be interesting to have another strong team in the AL power up with one of these two. Would the Twins still even pursue a top SP as a result?
A move for Yelich IMO would mean that Yelich of course would be the CF period as long as he was here Yelich would be under team control through 2021 I would guess that would mean a Zimmer move to RF with Brantley covering LF. ( If Healthy )
I would guess that would also mean barring a trade Chisenhall would become a super utility type and the 4th outfielder with Guyer / Naquin or Allen being the #5..
I would think a deal for Machado would look like Salazar / Ryan Merritt or Cody Anderson & Tyler Naquin or Greg Allen type deal and maybe even a lower level prospect.
But that would not bother me with our pitching depth I would rather try and get them to take Tomlin over Merritt. because I believe we need to start lining up our future pitching staff.
Doubt they’d want Tomlin as a main piece of the deal. Tomlin is basically a 4/5 pitcher in the rotation.
Josh Tomlin and some b level prospects for Manny Machado? Don’t think so
Instead of pitch clocks they should just track pitchers average times and fine or suspend the worst offenders..
Oh sure suspend pitchers for that. What a dumb idea
Do you know what ‘or’ means?
the pitch clock while a valid approach does not address the REAL reason games run long. The style of umpiring feeds the length of games. If umpires would call the REAL strike zone and not their own personal view of said zone, then the real pace of the game would speed up. No more working the count either swing or get down on the count. The ultimate reason games run long is the between innings advertising that only increases in the post season. But this will never be addressed or admitted to since it involves revenue!!!!
1. You can’t mandate that the umpires call the “REAL strike zone” without completely removing the home plate umpire from the game. They don’t have the luxury of seeing a strike zone when they’re behind the plate. And the differences in strike zones has as much to do with umpires calling it differently as much as pitch framing.
2. You can’t tell players to stop working the count. That’s just idiotic. It’d be like telling basketball players to shoot as soon as they get the ball or football players to stop playing defense. If you’re going to force players to swing at every pitch, pitchers are just going to throw it outside the zone. And then the whole “REAL strike zone” would be useless.
3. I agree that in-game/between inning advertising lengthens games, but theres no other plausible alternative. Teams and the MLB needs to make money somehow. Ticketing and merchandise sales is not enough to cover those lost revenues from advertising. If you have another practical solution that won’t result in a loss of revenue, I’m sure the MLB would be all ears.
so your solution to fixing baseball is to not play baseball take a human element out of the game. umpires… No opinion. batters… No opinion. why even have catchers decide on pitch selection as the shakeoffs take up time Too
yeesh
let’s go back to when you had to pitch it where the batter wanted
48-45 final scores
but it saves time guys!!! lol
now I could argue rounding the bases after a HR over the wall should be eliminated to save time.Run to first but if it’s ruled a hr then skip the rest
Raise the pitching mounds back to the old height. Offense is actually what is the root cause of the time increase. You have pitching changes and mound visits in an effort to confront offense. So do something that hinders offense.
Oh yeah, get rid of the DH while you are at it.
You realize I hope that any quickening in the pace of play will ultimately go towards longer commercial breaks. The between-innings clock is already timed to coincide with commercial breaks and is set longer in postseason games because the advertising time is more valuable. They are also now splashing ads all over the screen during the games.
So players now have to swing no matter what? The dumbest comment in history!
Indians are in a good place I don’t think it’s worth it for them to Target yelish as It would likely cost both Mejia and McKenzie or Mejia along with some of their young pitchers
Clint Frazier for Salazar. 😉
Maybe Miller should have expressed his distaste for that CBA but he already got his money and obviously wouldnt want a work stoppage and lose any paychecks. One would think players could get strike insurance though
Pillar to the Indians for pitching?
Between Yelich, Machado, and Donaldson you have 3 of the top players in the game. The O’s and the Jays would be stupid not to get something for them by the deadline. They are both going to get paid next year, and will not resign with their teams. As for Yelich, you better start with a top 10 prospect so I would say the White Sox and Braves have the rprospects the Marlins want right now.
Make Machado to Cleveland happen please