The latest buzz from around the AL Central…
- In a look at what the Indians’ lineup could look like in 2019, Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that “serious consideration” is being given to the idea of deploying Yandy Diaz as a regular third baseman. With Diaz at the hot corner, All-Star Jose Ramirez would move back to second base while Jason Kipnis shifted into a left field role. The 27-year-old Diaz posted above-average numbers (115 OPS, 115 wRC+) over 120 plate appearances for the Tribe last season, batting .312/.375/.422. Though Diaz’s .353 xwOBA was only slightly ahead of his real-world .346 wOBA, it’s safe to say that a healthy .371 BABIP surely contributed to Diaz’s success, especially given how Diaz continued to have issues avoiding ground balls. (To this end, his 53.3% grounder rate in 2018 was actually an improvement over his numbers in the minors.) When he has put the ball in the air, however, Diaz has shown some tremendous exit velocity, and he has consistently posted strong on-base skills in the minors and in Cuba. Diaz has played all over the diamond during his pro career but has spent the bulk of his time as a third baseman, giving Cleveland an internal option at the position as they figure out how to best maximize Ramirez’s production, as well as try to solve the twin struggles of Kipnis’ two-year-long slump, and a lack of outfield depth on the roster.
- Speaking of that latter issue in Cleveland, Pluto notes that “the outfield screams for help via a trade.” Michael Brantley could leave in free agency and Bradley Zimmer is recovering from shoulder surgery, leaving the Indians with a projected outfield mix of Kipnis, Greg Allen, Leonys Martin, and Tyler Naquin. The Tribe won’t have much in the way of extra payroll to spend in free agency, so signing a big name outfielder or perhaps even re-signing Brantley could be difficult. Re-signing one of their other veteran free agents (Rajai Davis, Lonnie Chisenhall, Melky Cabrera) wouldn’t be a substantial upgrade, leaving the trade market as the most logical route.
- The Tigers have been a power-heavy team for years, though as the team now rebuilds, the next generation of Tigers prospects could be developed with speed and contact-hitting in mind, MLB.com’s Jason Beck writes. The idea would be to find fast and athletic players with the ability to both deliver doubles and triples in Comerica Park’s spacious outfield, as well as catch such potential extra-base hits when opposing hitters send liners into the alleys. Finding such multi-dimensional players and teaching them to be fundamentally-sound in all aspects of the game is a big focus for manager Ron Gardenhire and VP of player development Dave Littlefield.
- The White Sox are still in rebuilding mode, so The Athletic’s James Fegan (subscription required) figures the team will take the long view on offseason roster placements in regards to out-of-options players and potential Rule 5 picks. Since Chicago is likelier to keep players who can provide more help for the future than help in 2019, thus leaving the likes of Leury Garcia, Kevan Smith (both of whom are out of options), and others on the bubble.
I am extremely impressed with all the team-friendly contracts the Indians managed to secure and keep their payroll within reason. Jose Ramirez, Carlos Carrasco, Corey Kluber – if those guys were headed towards arbitration or already in it, it would be killing the Tribe.
That team friendly deal for Kluber is changing for 2019 & beyond. It was reported a week or so ago that if Kluber finishes in the top 10 for the 2018 AL Cy Young award (seems very reasonable), the 2019 salary will increase to $17M and each option year (2020 & 2021) will increase to $18M or more.
Yes, its still less than what he would get on the open market as a free agent but its much closer then in the past..
I saw that report and was a little confused by it. Cot’s Contracts says the bump for his CyYoung awards comes in his option years. This isn’t an option Year. The report you cite is from Paul Hoynes who is kind of notorious for getting numbers (or any sort) wrong. I’m not saying Cots didn’t mess it up – but Paul has been wrong in the past.
The Tigers have been talking about speed, defense and pitching since they moved into Comerica in 2000. They always seem distracted into going after the home run hitters and slow base cloggers.
The Royals did it, and they’re doing it again.
I think it was more from interference from then owner Mike Illich. The Tigers had an all or nothing swinging / station-to-station offense in the mid 1990s. They hired Buddy Bell and went after contact hitters and speed and by 1997, they improved significantly. Then, they had a regression, fired the Manager, gutted the team again and went a different direction two more times until 2004.
I have had season tickets since 2000 & they never ever focused on drafting players to fit that huge park. Pitching and Defense is what they were saying but at the end of the day, Illitch kept trading for and drafting players that would have been great fits at Tiger Stadium. 18 years later, Al Avila is actually drafting players that fit the Comerica mold. They need players like Benetendi in Boston. He’s the quintessential perfect player for Comerica. Athletic, slashing gap hitter with an occasional homer. It’s going to take 3 more years before Al Avila’s hitters come of age but his pitchers are going to start coming up next year so things are going to get worse before they get better but at least I can see they are sticking to plan. Only Zimmerman and Cabrera are signed to long term contracts. Zimmerman has two more years and Cabrera has 4 more years. The Whitesox will soon start to make noise so the Indians have two more years of clear sailing but that window is closing for sure.
The Indians always seem desperate to move their guys to another position.
With their financial issues, they need positional flexibility, and the most creative of ways to make a roster.
It’s not like moving Ramirez to second is playing him out of position. He’s a natural second baseman and moved to third to get his bat in the lineup.
Yes….
Kipnis was an OF that was moved to 2B. To this day he crouches for ground balls at 2B like an OF. He does not have the dexterity or fluidity of a middle infielder.
Rameriz came up as a 2B, moved over from SS. As a 2B he could have won a gold glove. But the Indians tried to make him a Zobrist-type utility player, even using him in the OF. Then a funny thing happened – he started to hit like crazy. Since Kipnis was the fair-haired boy playing 2B, they had Rameriz learn to play 3B. Being that it is a far less important position then 2B; and since Kipnis is a below average 2B, they wasted Rameriz’ defensive ability. So now both players are now where they belong on defense.
While the Indians retain great starting pitching, their bullpen going into 2019 is questionable – especially considering the awful pitching coach they brought back. Additionally, for most of 2018 the Indians batting order was sub-par after the first 4 hitters. Diaz showed some after he was called up again, and Donaldson sure looked good on paper. But if they lose Brantley, then 2019 will be a replay of 2018 – 1st place in the worst division in MLB, but not enough hitting to go anywhere in the playoffs.
As for Brantley, he can hit. But he’s not the defender in LF that he was, and always had a weak arm. As a left-hander he could be converted, and would be a great fit for a team looking for a quality defensive 1B (LH throwers have a huge edge on RH’s at 1B). He would be perfect for the Nationals as their other infielders make poor throws to 1B fairly regularly, and the loss of Harper’s LH bat will need to be replaced. But Zimmerman is at 1B, and while he’s lousy at it, he is signed and is the face of the franchise. Then again, if Harper leaves, Brantley could be brought in to play LF, and Soto can move to RF which is where he belongs.
Very interesting. Wonder if Cards eat salary tribe would be interested in Fowler
If the Gnats were to sign Brantley, and pit him in LF, and you have Soto in RF, then you’d just be creating a log jam again in Washington’s Outfield.
The way I see it, the Nationals would be much better off spending their financial resources elsewhere. They’ll put Eaton in LF, Robles in CF, and Soto in RF, and they’ll be more than adequate, with plenty of room for growth from all three players, especially Robles and Soto continuing to develop and mature..
And it sort of worked when they had a lineup they had but guys get old, stuff doesn’t work like it does. I mean Miguel Cabrera can’t be young forever.
The window can be short. The Tigers went all in and it didn’t work out. Sometimes when you do that you put yourself in a position to fail for a few seasons. Its happens!
The White Sox are slightly ahead of schedule. More reason to remain patient and continue stocking their minors system with depth.
Drafting rule 5 players that you have to keep on your major league roster is not a way to create minor league depth next year
I think the phrase “potential rule 5 picks” in that last paragraph is meaning players that CWS could potentially lose in the rule 5
I agree with your conclusion but not your premise. They need to be patient because they fell significantly behind schedule this year with all the injuries and disappointments.
Ahead of schedu;le? I’m a Sox fan but this just isn’t accurate.
If Yandy could ever learn to lift the ball in the air he’d be a top 20 hitter easily given the rest of his skill set.
At his age I doubt it, so he’s stuck as the guy with the biggest pipes and weakest singles.
The Indians need to go after Broxton or Santana in a trade with their excess pitching finally
Any good GM will tell you that you never trade pitching unless you absolutely have too because you can never have enough and with all the innings there guys have thrown over the past two years they are going to need all the depth they can get
Look, all I have to say here is that the team that trades for Nick Castellanos is going to be ecstatic as long as they have a regularly open spot in a small outfield corner or at DH. He’s one of the most underrated hitters in the majors.
The tigers won’t end up giving up Castellanos. They will however move Fulmer once he regains some value after a down season
Leury Garcia should be considered for the role Yolmer Sanchez has for the infield. A bench of Yolmer Sanchez and Leury Garcia and a catcher is cheap and versatile.
As for catchers, I’d trade Wellington Castillo. Yes he’s coming off a suspension, but I’d still dump him. Give the job to Narvaez and Collins or Smith.
Zaby is another catcher to keep an eye on.
Leury Garcia and Yolmer Sanchez should both be traded before 2019. A non-competitive team really has no use for either player.
I wouldn’t get rid of Sanchez.
Move Brantley to first and improve infield defense……..
May improve infield defense but Kipnis is trash in the outfield
He’s trash with the bat, too.
And do what with Alfonso and EE that they’re stuck paying for?
What would be nice is if the Indians could trade away that expensive EE contract and play Yandy in a platoon at 1B with Yonder. Then Ramirez could play where he’s an all star, at 3B. Kipnis could stay at 2B, because him playing the outfield is a scary thing.