Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor and second baseman Jason Kipnis will open the season on the 10-day injured list, per Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com. It’s disappointing but not surprising news for Lindor, who’s working back from the right calf strain he suffered in early February. Kipnis is also dealing with a right calf strain, one that has forced the Indians to shut him down for seven to 10 days. Lindor’s absence will leave shortstop to the unheralded Eric Stamets, a 27-year-old with no major league experience. while Max Moroff could fill in for Kipnis. However, the Indians are in the market for second base help, according to Hoynes, who names free agent Brad Miller as a possibility. Miller opted out of his contract with the Dodgers on Thursday.
More from the majors’ Central divisions…
- Having demoted Ian Happ to the minors on Saturday, the Cubs are looking for a center fielder via the trade and waiver markets, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reports. Additionally, the Cubs remain in the market for depth at catcher, Levine relays (Twitter links). Happ had been the Cubs’ projected season-opening starter in center field, but that role could now go to Albert Almora Jr. Meanwhile, lacking an experienced backstop behind Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini, the Cubs have prioritized the position in recent months. They came up short in attempts to sign Brian McCann and Martin Maldonado dating back to the offseason.
- More on the Cubs, who announced that they’ve assigned infielder Cristhian Adames to minor league camp. The recipient of a minors deal in January, Adames had been competing for a place on the Cubs’ bench prior to his demotion. He made a case for a roster spot by slashing a stellar .386/.440/.705 with three home runs in 44 exhibition at-bats, though the 27-year-old hasn’t been nearly as successful in meaningful major league action. Adames combined for 343 PAs as a Rockie from 2014-17 and hit an unsightly .206/.283/.278 with a pair of homers.
- Righty Jimmy Nelson, still on the mend from a September 2017 surgery to repair both labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder, felt “some elbow soreness” after throwing in a side game Thursday, tweets MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. The club still believes Nelson will begin his AAA rehab stint on schedule, per McCalvy, but it’s nonetheless a concerning development for the one-time Brewer ace. Milwaukee set its early-season rotation yesterday, with the high-upside Corbin Burnes/Freddy Peralta/Brandon Woodruff trio bookended by the iffy combination of Jhoulys Chacin and Zach Davies, whom the club seem higher on.
- Royals lefty Danny Duffy told Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com this week he’d “love” to shift to a relief role eventually. For now, though, Duffy remains a starter. “We’ve had discussions, but they haven’t gone further than that. As long as I’m helping the team in some capacity, that’s all I want and that’s all they want,” said Duffy, who’s likely to start the season on the IL because of shoulder tightness. Shoulder issues were also a problem last year for Duffy, who didn’t take the mound past Sept. 4. It was an underwhelming season before that for Duffy, as the 30-year-old only managed a 4.88 ERA/4.70 FIP with 8.19 K/9, 4.06 BB/9 and a 35.4 percent groundball rate over 155 innings. Still, given the success Duffy has had as a starter (which helped him net a five-year, $65MM extension in January 2017), it’s an eye-opener that he’s so willing to change roles. Duffy has thrived in 34 2/3 frames as a reliever, though, having registered a 2.08 ERA/2.02 FIP with 11/42 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9.
Chacin “iffy”? Arguably the best (and certainly the best value) among last year’s SP free agent signings. (I’ll grant you that Davies is iffy.)
I thought the exact same thing when I read it. Chachin, iffy???
I mean, he wasn’t even a league average starter as of 2016, and since then is basically league average exactly
2017 and 2018 – 4.14 FIP, 99 FIP-
NL average 2017 and 2018 – 4.24 FIP, 101 FIP-
But I dunno if iffy qualifies, but it’s hard to really rely on him as a lock for a rotation moving forward. He’d either need higher performance, or more sustained success.
There is a reason the brewers relievers pretty much started warming up as soon as games started last year.. Chacin being the best starter they had explains it all. A back end starter on most teams being the Brewers so called ace.
It was still a sheisty way to describe him considering the author used a positive modifier on the players who have done nothing.
^^^This exactly. The positive vibe toward prospects and the negative vibe toward veterans around here is ubiquitous.
Precisely. Chacin may not be a legitimate ace, but he pitched BETTER last season than he did in 2017 without the advantage of pitching in noted pitcher’s haven Petco Park.
Zach Davies may be iffy but Chacin doesn’t seem to merit that label.
They have a great center fielder.
Who
@ Bryzz—-I’m pretty sure you are talking about Almora. Maddon’s usage of him had been masterful and almost to the day Maddon relented and said Almora had made strides to play more—-Almora went into the tank…hit .232 the second half of the season. I am hoping Almora’s off season dedication and weight program helps him get to that next level and he can become an every day player. He got very close last year and then regressed terribly once he seized that opportunity.
Most of the Cubs hitters have regressed over the past few years. Some of it can be attributed to physical issues like Kris Bryant’s shoulder and back problems last season. Some of this regression can also be blamed on the “Genius” in the dugout with his incessant lineup changes and lack of defined roles for them in the batting order. Additionally, the carousal of hitting coaches during the Maddon era has done nothing to provide stability for the hitters, particularly the younger ones who are still trying to find their way and make their mark versus MLB pitching.
Javier Baez was an exception but most of the remaining Cub hitters have struggled and not approached their high ceilings since they made their MLB debuts under Maddon.
Yes I was talking about almora. Go back to the April 20th series vs the Rockies at Coors. Field. I went to all 3 games. Almora made easily the 6 best plays of the year out of 100 of the very best. He made 3 in on game. Which was the game Bryant was hit in the head.
shame on you cleveland, this is what you get when you sit back and roll in your profits all offseason.
“Profits”?
lol
Trust me Vandal,
THEIR WILL BE PROFITS!
How does their will generate profits?
By selling off the word “there” to fans.
also, did Yu Chang die or something? He’s hitting .300 in ST and probably is more usable at short then some guy who hit just over the mendoza line at AAA last year.
He had some hand injury which led to him being reassigned to minor league camp, has appeared sparingly in said camp.
That, and if it’s only for a few games I’d rather just stick with Stamets because of his defense. I’m a huge Yu Chang fan, but I think he’s a third baseman long term.
Could resign Ryan Flaherty who they just let go to this time MLB Contract.
They could, but I wouldn’t bet on it. When Lindor comes back, they can just send Stamets back to Columbus. Signing Flaherty would mean having to clear a spot on the 25-man roster. This avoids that.
Bryan Holladay & Drew Butera are two veteran catchers that are available. Both are good defensively. Neither are great hitters, but they could be had for a lot less salary than trading for the light hitting Sandy Leon.
Why would the Cubs carry 3 catchers? Most teams don’t…..
They have before. Contreras was gassed by August last year and it showed.
I could see the Cubs using Almora more often and signing a vet such as Eric Young Jr. or Denard Span or Cameron Maybin as a backup. I would go Span, Young, Maybin in that order.
What do you mean? The cubs are “broke”.
Cubs aren’t broke but they’re badly bent
Austin Jackson is possible too
Enough of these Jimmy Nelson updates. He’s never going to be healthy again.
Yeah and who’s this “Lindor” guy? Can’t we stick to news about actual players?
Man the Cubs look washed up. They might as well demote everybody except Baez and maybe Rizzo at this point. Contreras, Happ, Bryant and Schwarber look done. Almora is nothing but a fourth outfielder. Pitching looks really bad too. They might be hard pressed to win 79 games as constructed. PECOTA nailed it.
Still 20 games better than the White Sox.
Ok. Typical White Sox fan!!
We don’t need Bryant, we got Bote!
Huh??
ChiSoxCity, I dislike the Cubs a whole lot as well, however, I’m not going to be delusional enough to think the Cubs are washed up. So much is wrong with your post here, but lets take the low-hanging fruit you put out there. Kris Bryant looks done? Are you insane? He had some injuries last year, so I guess he’s done and washed up? Come on now dude!! You’re giving our White Sox fans a bad look here.
Are the Cubs perfect? No way! They have questions in a lot of spots. Are they the 5yr juggernaut that I thought (and feared) they’d be? Nope!
Are they still a team capable of winning 90+ games the next few years? Absolutely. Did they win a World Series in the last few years? Unfortunately, they did.
I predict a NL Central division title at 91 wins.
ChiSoxCity is famous for trolling Yankees fans as well. Makes you wonder if he’s making these posts while being on inpatient status.
Why is Happ considered better than Almora? Almora makes way more contact and the defense isn’t even comparable. Almora could run 3 circles around Happ on his way to a better route to the ball.
I’m sure there is a team out there that is out of options with a logjam of outfielders and are probably willing to take one of the Cubs bullpen pitchers rather than releasing. Happer is the odd man out with options. This is a move setting up a payroll move.
Cleveland needs to sign Brad Miller! That man can rake! Great addition to that lineup!
Good call.
C Sandy Leon and CF Rusney Castillo for Ian Happ, IF Trent Giambrone and RP Craig Brooks.
The Indians have one position player now: Jose Ramirez. Maybe they should go after Ian Happ
lol
This reveals real reason Indians needs to trade a starter, they have no depth in the lineup and no outfield. Sad. A lot.
Somehow the people that aren’t Indians fans have more to say about how they should spend their money and deal their talent than the true Tribe fans. Sad. A lot…
Yep, and when I defend the Tribe and voice my opinions, seems like I always get ragged on. It’s very tiring.
Wonder if the Cards would consider “trading” Dexter to the Cubs….I think he would be happier there and the Cards could make a spot to play O’Neil and Martinez more.
The Cubs are already crying poor, enough so that they can’t address their bullpen or closer situation with a stud like Craig Kimbrel who is still available and would probably settle for a decent one year pillow contract at this point in time…kind of like the one that Dexter Fowler got from the Cubs back in 2016 ahead of their championship season.
Fowler won’t be traded to the Cubs anytime soon unless the Cardinals would like to swap him for former RF Jason Heyward which wouldn’t be the worst idea I have ever proposed. lol
Honestly, as a Cubs fan, I’d love to do a Heyward for Fowler swap. Even if the Cubs had to eat part of that contract. It makes sense.