JAN. 29: The signing is official, per Zack Meisel of The Athletic. The club option is worth $6MM. There’s no buyout, according to Heyman.
JAN. 26, 1:21pm: Hernandez will earn $5MM, Heyman tweets.
9:12am: The two sides are in agreement on a deal, pending the completion of a physical, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
9:02am: The Indians are nearing a deal to re-sign free agent second baseman Cesar Hernandez, reports Daniel Alvarez Montes of El Extra Base. If completed, it’d be a one-year deal with a club option for a second season in 2022. Hernandez, an Octagon client, has left his winter league team in Venezuela in order to finalize the new contract, according to Alvarez.
The 30-year-old Hernandez spent the 2020 season as Cleveland’s primary second baseman after signing a one-year, $6.25MM deal last winter. That contract paid off nicely for the club, as Hernandez turned in a characteristically solid .283/.355/.408 batting line with three homers and an AL-best 20 doubles while playing in 58 of the 60 games during last year’s shortened slate. He also went 3-for-8 with another double in his tiny sample of postseason work.
Beyond his strong showing at the plate, Hernandez enjoyed an excellent year in the field. The eight-year big league veteran took home his first Gold Glove in 2020 after posting strong marks in Defensive Runs Saved (6), Ultimate Zone Rating (3.8) and Outs Above Average (4).
The Hernandez reunion will be the first move made by Cleveland this winter that actually adds to the payroll. The Indians have been largely focused on shedding as much salary as possible, having declined a $10MM option on Brad Hand — he recently agreed to a $10.5MM deal with the Nats — and traded both Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to the Mets. Prior to the new agreement with Hernandez, the Indians were projected to carry a payroll of less than $40MM, which was far and away the lowest projected payroll in the game.
That said, an affordable deal for Hernandez could provide some indirect cost savings down the line. Cleveland picked up middle infielders Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez from the Mets in that Lindor/Carrasco blockbuster, and if Gimenez spends even a few weeks in the minor leagues this year, his path to free agency would be pushed back from the 2025-26 offseason to the 2026-27 offseason. That surely isn’t the sole reason Cleveland brought Hernandez back — he’s a solid player at a reasonable price who can now be retained through 2022 — but starting the year with Rosario at short and Hernandez at second undeniably has some added appeal for that reason.
Final judgment on the Indians’ chances in 2021 will be reserved until we see what further additions (and/or subtractions) the team makes between now and Opening Day. But it’s clear that after trading away not only Lindor and Carrasco but also Mike Clevinger, Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer and buying out Hand’s option that the team is aiming for a radically lower payroll that will render it difficult to compete with an aggressive White Sox club and a Twins roster that has won consecutive division titles.
Was hoping for traction on the JRam to Atl rumor
Was hoping to trade in my pennies for a bar of gold
Collect enough and you can
That’s not a rumor. That’s just someone dreaming!
no, there’s rumors going around about this. just showed up on my reddit feed too
still cant believe Reddit fancies itself a news site now
Do we really have any “news” sites anymore?
Awesome. I am glad that Hernandez is back with the Cleveland Indians. He played well with the team last year.
Hey, give the guy a break. I have that same fantasy of Jram to the Braves but it won’t happen. The Braves have stated a couple times that they intend to move forward with Riley. He’s only 23 so I don’t want to give up on him but over the last two seasons he doesn’t look like he can be trusted with 3B yet.
Even if the Braves did the unexpected and traded for him, there is little chance they would extend him so it’s probably for the best.
JRam is under contract for 3 years..one plus two club options.. extension would be needed in a few years.. at the earliest..
@gson. You’re right. I have to stop using B.Ref for a quick reference on a players free agent year.
NP.. thanks for the response..
the contract is actually even more favorable to the club as JRam has a year of control then two club options.. both still club friendly..
I thought that was a cheap buy for Cleveland. Decent lead off bat with gold glove fielding for 5 mil.
He will be traded next off season. Don’t worry, it’s coming.
Dang, I was hoping he would’ve went to DET
Paredes, after his winter league batting title, is the likely 2B, with Candelario moving back to 3B. Goodrum and Harold Castro are the insurance. Tigers seem to be looking to add at 1B. Don’t see room to add a 2B.
Yupp, you’re right. Idk why I was thinking SS..
@stymee … Paredes more likely to play 3b with niko.goodram at 2b. side note. young guys who dominate winter is often a sign of future success in mlb. paredes a superstar or all-star? I don’t buy it but a solid producer most definitely
im not sure about that. Winter League numbers tend to be fairly small samples. sometimes you see 20 year olds who were already cut loose by their first MLB parent club do better then established players in their prime. not saying Paredes wolnt do well – there is much to like – but its hardly as good an indicator as you suggest.
Winning a batting title is never a bad sign!
Not saying Paredes can’t end up at 3B, just know that the Tigers first choice will be to move Candelario back there. If they don’t acquire a 1B, everything changes back. Hoping for a Cron reunion.
Not a bad sign, but sometimes a false signal due to sample size, competition, etc…
Dang, I was hoping he would have GONE to DET.
Another member of the grammar police….I love these guys lol
Phillies really hurt themselves letting him go to play Kingery at 2b. Glad for his success.
Do you think Phillies would consider a salary dump and move him along with a prospect (similar to the Ottavino deal)? Or, is Philly INF depth pretty weak?
I was surprised they moved on both him and Franco really.
they arent moving him as a salery dump
I’m a little curious why the Indians aren’t going full-on rebuild. If we have expanded playoffs again (really hope we don’t), the Indians might still not make it, as the White Sox, Yankees, Rays, Astros, Twins, and probably Blue Jays and A’s all still better, leaving just 1 spot left.
Meanwhile, the absolute haul they’d get for J-Ram and Bieber would each dwarf what they got for Lindor. They have some prospects now, but the trades of those two would give them one of the best farm systems in baseball.
Why try to build the major league team when you can build the minors! Is there a trophy for that?
Yes, ownership’s bank account.
The Cubs tanked and built a WS winner. The Astros tanked and have been the best team in that division for years, even if their title is tainted. The Padres had a strong farm system that has yielded a contender this coming year. Same for the White Sox. Blue Jays haven’t hit (yet) on all their top prospects, but could be a contender, too. A strong farm is no guarantee of success, but having a no-offense team that’s almost certain to finish 3rd in the division is at least as unlikely to result in the trophy that matters.
White Sox rebuilt when the Central was theirs for the taking. By getting rid of Sale, Quintana, and Eaton, they delayed their window until now and watched those three take a Ring with other teams. No guarantee this window will produce anything, and the Central is a stronger division now than a few years back. Trading young cost controlled players for prospects is a good way to never have young players to build around.
Trading young cost controlled players for prospects is a good way to never have young players to build around.
======================================================
But that’s not the way it usually works. 2016 was the last year they had those three together, and they finished 78-84, 16.5 behind Cleveland. if the goal is to finish .500 each year, you keep the players. If the goal is to contend for the WS, sometimes you have to a lot worse before you get a lot better.
One commonality of those teams is an ownership willing to spend money. The Cubs, Astros, Blue Jays, and White Sox all can develop prospects, could blow their international signing limits (when that was still a thing) and then buy whatever players they were missing.
The indians ownership will never buy played like that; so they have to develop everyone. They operate more like the Rays. Both teams are trying to compete every single year and avoid a full rebuild.
For the Indians, being slightly competitive will get the team money and keep them relevant. They flip players when they get close to free agency and develop more. They have to just keep doing that and hope one year, everything brakes perfect and they win more.
Let’s see when the games are played. Pale hose are division favorites and expected to go far this year. They have bungled some things- Sale not being one of them. His current contract might end up being one of the worst ever. BTW the reason he was sent packing was he cut up special uniforms the team was to wear before the game.
As a Pirate fan I can relate!
I think the front office wants to avoid a full-on rebuild while they still have Bieber, Plesac, Civale, and McKenzie in the rotation
@enjoylindor, they have the makings of a fine rotation (though I’m not completely sold on the latter 3), but they have absolutely no offense after J-Ram and they lost Carrasco. The team, as currently constructed, is unlikely to make the playoffs and, even if they do, they’re not true contenders. Cleveland is wasting these assets by not moving them and also not building a workable offense around them. The return from them could catapult the Indians to true contenders in a few years; holding them and then trading them with just a year left makes Cleveland above .500 every year, but with no realistic shot at a title.
The notion that they were above .500 with no realistic shot in 2018-2020 would be correct. However, there’s no guarantee though that a full tank and rebuild would catapult them to being true contenders.
I did say “could” instead of “would certainly.” It all comes down to whether they believe they realistically have a better shot overall with their current roster, making the playoffs some years, but always as underdogs, or taking the risk that the rebuild might fail. If it doesn’t, though, they might vault themselves into the upper echelon. If the return includes pitching, as good as the Indians are at developing pitching prospects, I’d have to like their odds of at least breaking even on the deals.
You can roll the clock back and say they didn’t want a full on rebuild with Kluber, Bauer, Clevinger and Carrasco in the rotation yet look where they are now.
I get what you’re saying (to an extent), but if they traded Jose Ramirez, they would demand MLB ready talent in addition to highly ranked prospects. It’s hard to imagine anyone meeting the Tribe’s demands given his production and his salary.
As for Bieber, if a team is rebuilding, they’d be looking for MLB ready prospects so that they could have years of team control. The guy just won a Cy Young and he’s still pre-arbitration. Why in the world would they trade him now, rebuilding or not?
They’d be foolish to demand MLB ready talent. There’s no rule that you have to be over .500 every year, no rule against tanking for a few years, either. As for Bieber being pre-arb, that only adds to his value. The longer they hold him, the lower that value becomes. Cleveland didn’t get hosed in the Lindor/Carrasco deal, but they’d have gotten more if they’d done it a year or two earlier.
I’d argue that they’d be foolish NOT to demand MLB ready talent for Jose Ramirez. The pitching, despite all the subtractions, is still really good. I’ll take 1-2 young, controllable guys who have produced in the majors over the same number of potentially higher ceiling, but unproven prospects any day.
Are you suggesting they trade Bieber for a boatload of low level, high ceiling prospects? If they go full rebuild, they won’t be good again for another 5 years or so minimum. Why trade him now? It just doesn’t make any sense.
I understand your point about rebuilding vs. not, however unless he completely tanks, Bieber is going to have solid value for years to come. It’s not like if we trade him with two or three years of control that the return will be horrible. If we’re not in a position to contend in a couple years, then that trade becomes way more plausible.
Because the snake oil they’re selling is hope. If they dealt JRam and/or Bieber they would be flushing the hope facade down the drain & tv ratings with them. Also they are betting that pitching & Tito will keep them above .500 for long enough to get a new round of prospects up to the majors.
You don’t trade a #1 starter with years of club control, they are too hard to come by. As for JRam, he would definitely bring back a haul. Then again, without Ramirez the Indians have no one worth paying to see.
@trout27, you do if the package is good enough. There’s no player in baseball who’s truly untouchable. That word just means “very expensive.” As a White Sox fan, I’d be ok with Cleveland locking themselves into perennial 3rd-place in the division. As good as they are at developing pitching prospects, you’d think they could get a top arm and a power-hitting OF prospect plus more for Bieber. Develop the arm to where he’s nearly as good as Bieber and you have him for more years plus the OF you desperately need. They’re going to trade Bieber eventually; for their sake, I just hope it’s before he’s only a rental and the return plummets.
@hyrax … I have read a couple of your posts suggesting the Indians should trade Bieber and Ramirez right now to maximize. I am interested in who you think Cleveland could/should get. Can you provide a return from another team for one of the two please?
@trout … in the last four seasons, jose.ramirez has finished top 3 in mvp voting three times. his salary for the next three seasons is $33,000,000. If ramirez was hitting free agency during this winter, 20-21, I would think he would approach that $33mil in a per season fashion. Ramirez is a f’ing fantastic player and extremely entertaining to watch.
The Indians don’t rebuild. They’ve never really operated in that fashion.
then why were they bad for so many years prior to their recent run of success?
I know, it’s kind of a question of why not? Do they fear the fans won’t have the patience for it? Or do they honestly believe they are contenders every year? Or is it just some management philosophy that the fans deserve a team who tries every year? Having watched the White Sox try (to an admittedly much lesser rate of success) throughout the early 2010’s, I celebrated the rebuild when it happened because the team wasn’t going to win with the current roster. I didn’t like watching all the losing – who would? – but for the winning they’re capable of now, it’s worth it.
I don’t even know why it is a question. They finished with the 8th best record in baseball, are relatively young, and have a decent pipeline of prospects. Their rotation of Bieber, Civale, Quantrill, Plesac, and McKenzie, with Patino up after his service time is deferred, figures to be one of the best in the league.
And no, I have no idea why I included Patino with Cleveland.
hankins, espino, burns, cantillo, allen(s), vargas, moss, torres and hentges have the Indians starting depth in very good order.. very good indeed.. There is no shortage of tribe created and developed starting pitchers..
what isn’t said about this year’s pitching staff is the return of clase to back up karinchak. This is going to be a strength of the team.. plenty to compete with the rest of the AL Central on the pitching side..
The offense.. is suspect.. for good reason..
Hot take: You can rebuild without sucking.
The Indians can retool and still compete unlike other teams apparently. They were in the hunt for the division last year. The Twins haven’t improved and the Sox arent some lock to dominate the division. I am a little surprised after the trade for Lindor/Carrasco they are spending resources on a 2nd baseman.
Look at how much success the Indians have had with their strategy of cutting costs without ever full-on tearing down. Why stray from what’s working?
Having a modest payroll with a perennially-competitive team is a lot more profitable than a microscopic payroll with a team that’s terrible for 5 years and wins the world series 1 year. Being competitive makes people watch.
The problem is that even with a good team and nice ballpark, Cleveland always seems to be in the bottom 10 in attendance every year. If they could only get people to come
watch this team, none of this would be necessary!
Seriously, the lack of gate revenue hurts the on-field product as they don’t have the extra income to invest in their stars. Is Cleveland one of the markets that still has television blackout if their attendance is low? If so, that’s a mistake by the lake!
Bottom 10. Try bottom 3. Tho gotta like driving by Cleveland on a midcountry jaunt, see the lights starting to come on, and being able to waltz in and grab a nice seat for like 8 bucks just before gametime. Best deal in the midlands. Beats a reststop on the Ohio turnpike
If they sign 2 outfielders they are wild card contenders. They have failed to address this for awhile so not having much fair they will this year.
If they sign 5 outfielders they’ll win a playoff game. Sign 9 and they might win a series.
@ hyraxwithaflamethrower
C’mon, that’s just ridiculous. What is wrong with people? Can’t you see the difference between an insanely overpaid guy like Lindor ($22.3m. this year after hitting .258 with an OPS+ of 102 and 200+ games of hitting less than .190 w/RISP) who has one year of control left compared to a REAL MVP candidate in Ramirez with three years of control left and Cy Young winner Bieber with four? This is a team that finished one game out of first and you’re telling me they need Lindor or Carlos Santana (.199) in order to compete again?
I blame guys like Steve Adams who wrote this article for the failure of fans to understand how cleverly the Tribe runs things in a difficult market. Instead of lauding the Indians for their successes, and blaming players for their failures (I’m looking at YOU, Francisco…and you too, Brad Hand) we have guys like Adams who can barely write anything positive on the Tribe. He must have choked when he saw the Tribe sign Hernandez….”What? You mean the Indians are actually TRYING?!?” Yes Steve, they are…you can say you are “reserving judgment” all you want; Tribe fans know you are constantly making snap judgments about the team that aren’t warranted.
Preach it, brother.
Avory needs a nappy. Sleepytime sleepytime
I created an account just to agree with this. CLEFO is awesome to watch operate. I wouldn’t trade them for anyone in the league although I have a lot of respect for the Rays and the Dodgers.
Maybe MIF market beginning to develop. Anybody want ODOR. LOL
No one wants Odor because he stinks.
Can’t spell ODOR without AAAA
This is a pleasant surprise. Hernandez was clutch last year for CLE, so they’ve spent wisely at long last. I think they realized how much they’ll miss his bat especially with Lindor gone.
From 2016-2019 Cesar Hernandez (with the Phillies) averaged 80 runs, 15 SB, 67 walks, and a .753 OPS in 569 AB. He also accrued a 9.1 WAR. So he’s definitely not a total zero with the bat in his hands. And, as was mentioned in the article, he came away with a Gold Glove award. I like the signing by Cleveland, either to push Amed Rosario to an OF spot or to have Andres Gimenez begin 2021 in Triple-A.
Didnt they drop the “indians” from their team name?
I think it’s on hiatus at the moment
its going to be after the 2021 season likely. they said they’d drop it but wouldn’t do what Washington did and drop it without an immediate replacement.
Nyet.
Maybe the mods are tired of being ridiculously PC? Doubtful, but I can dream.
It’s not “being PC” its not demeaning other people by making them a mascot. Im sorry you are defending racism in public like this, but you have to change your ways you appear to be cemented in. How are you supposed to evolve like that though? We all can’t live in 1995 forever, the future has to come somehow, and making petty differences between groups of people is what has always held us back. “PC” and “cancel culture” were never real things, society just forgot to hold people accountable for their actions for decades, and now they are. Simple.
for what it’s worth, they already took a probably nessicary step in nixing Chief Wagoo a few years ago. I dont think your whole “mascot” comment really makes sense in that way. simply having a team with a certain name isnt the problem, its the name used. thats why the greatest heat was on Washington and the Indians, because of the teams with Native American related names, those were fairly clearly the ones that were the most dubious. not taking a stance on what names should be changed, but again, I think the whole “macot” statement doesnt really make sense.
(insert face palm here)
*Wahoo
Marty McRae
It’s not “being PC” its not demeaning other people by making them a mascot.
==============================================
Like the Celtics and the Fighting Irish? Or the Yankees?
Take a look at how those other teams are presented vs how Chief Wahoo was presented, there’s your answer – it’s also why the Braves dont get as much heat as Cleveland did. The Indians could have made Wahoo into an intimidating warrior, but instead wen with racist caricature.
Speaking of Heat, we literally have pro sports teams named after weather, not groups of human beings, maybe we should stick to that?
I agree on Chief Wahoo, but I have no issue with team names like the Celtics and the Fighting Irish.
@smuzqwpdmx
Bingo!
You’re ridiculous and just plain dumb if that’s how you perceive things.
The is the final season of them being called the Indians, it’s been announced everywhere. Next year comes the long-awaited name change/rebrand.
Says the sanctimonious and virtuous one. Thank you for enlightening us so. We would be so mean and awful without you telling us we were. I’m so appreciative.
Nap much?
They’re switching their mascot from a raging marauding screaming Injun to the genial, always eager to please, Apu from the Quickee mart. What could be more all American than a respectful, upwardly mobile immigrant?
What does this mean for Rosario?
Amed I assume? His fielding is bad from what i’ve heard so he could go to DH. I also heard before he was traded he might’ve played some outfield. So probably DH or outfield. Not an indians fan so Idk
Teams often acquire players with the intention of flipping them shortly after, this is what the reloading Indians are going with Rosario. Cleveland already said they would try to move him to CF, but most likely he will be flipped to a team who can play him at SS.
I could see Oakland opting out of the FA SS market and trading for Rosario instead to bridge the gap to Nick Allen.
it probably just means Gimenez starts at AAA or moves to superutility.
Nope, it means Amed Rosario is a goner or is moving to the OF. Gimenez is better and is the everyday SS.
Rosario has played three total minutes in the outfield in the Majors and probably not many more in the Minors. how is he a slam dunk to be the one moved? if not Gimenez to AAA or utility then I’d feel R-Ram is on the move.
Wonder if Rosario could play 3b, if he could and Rangers could move Andrus that might be worth considering?
my immediate assumption would be in regards to moving Gimenez to 3B given he’s moved around more as a pro, but yeah, they might try Amed at 3B. though i personally wolnt assume CLE’s feelings on Amed’s positional versatility is the same as NYM’s was. (and perhaps NYM’s was a marketing ploy)
Why send Gimenez to AAA when he was bought in specifically to replace Lindor? The Indians FO has said this. Rosario was going to move to 2B, but this seals the deal. That’s the logic.
Yes, young players with great athleticism, especially SS’s, can play anywhere but C. Rosario in the OF might not have happened much before, but there’s no reason to think he can’t move there. But my money is on Rosario not staying in Cleveland long due to his salary and the SS market being bigger ticket players.
Gimenez is ridiculously good. You are far undervaluing him, he is going to be a top 10-15 SS this season, not in the minors, bet on it.
i dont follow this supposed inevitability that Rosario will be dealt. why is Gimenez the Lindor replacement and not Rosario? and just because Amed is athletic, doesnt mean he can play anywhere well, and by the same logic the player who has proven to be playable in more places, Gimenez, should be a better lock to be able to move around.
@Marty McRae,
Do you have any reason to say Gimenez is going to be the better one other than emotions? From what we saw last year Rosario and Gimenez they are incredibly similar guys, good defense with weak bats. And yes, the metrics on Rosario show his defense has improved greatly in the last two seasons to the point I would call him good. Their statcast data also show almost identical players. There is no real reason to think Gimenez is more than a low .700 OPS guy with a good glove. Basically Cesar Hernandez 2.0. Sure he could improve but you could say that about anyone. I am wondering if there is a reason you think he specifically will other than your gut?
Giminez is a true SS, but likely a lesser hitter. It makes sense to keep him at SS.
@JoeBrady gets it.
@Steve Nebraska – Gimenez is a much better defender, but like I said in my original post, I think they are both going to be everyday SS’s next year, just not on the same team.
Talking numbers based off a short season isn’t particularly wise either. I will take an eye test on any 2020 player over numbers – but only in this one instance.
Cleveland could also trade Gimenez too, but he’s so cheap I doubt it. Ultimately Rosario’s salary is why he will be moved.
@Darkside830 Salary, mostly. Cleveland is incredibly cheap.
Did you read the article? No, you did not.
Gimenez is likely ticketed to AAA to lengthen his player control. And a smart move it would be, as talented as the kid is.
Stop acting like you know how the Tribe–yes, the Cleveland Indians–are operated or what’s in their best interests.
@Marty McRae
No, Cleveland is incredibly SMART. Big difference to the teams who spend so much more and are constantly looking up at the Indians in the standings.
Marty, they will do this to manipulate service time. He is at exactly at one year of service. To start the year it will be Rosario at short, Hernandez at 2 and Chang as utility. My hope is that Rosario plays well enough for them to package him with another prospect and put Jimenez at short. He is a much better defensive player. Rosario has no takers do you try him in Center?
Rosario will be the SS until Tyler Freeman is ready. Gimenez will get the opportunity to be the utility guy, battling Yu Chang for that spot.
There’s literally no chance Gimenez isn’t a SS for someone next year, its total stupidity to move the better defender.
Look at Francona’s history. He loves players who can play multiple positions. That would be Gimenez. Therefore, utility guy.
Thai is why I understood the Cardinals not picking up Wong’s $12.5M option. He’ll sign for significantly less, though maybe not with St. Louis.
Just saw the Ramirez to Braves rumor
Would Waters, Contreras, Muller & Wright get that done Cleveland fans ?
I would have no problem with that package and I think it’s fair
A 55 grade prospect, 2 50 grade prospects and a terrible AAAA SP, btw Cleveland has a mountain of pitching so there’s no way they’d be interested in this.
Ramirez is elite and one of the best players in MLB. You aren’t getting him for scraps. Think Pache, Contreras, Harris and 2-4 other pieces. The Indians can get so much more from the Dodgers if they wanted to move him (which they dont).
Probably almost as much as the Dodgers were unwilling to give up for Lindor ???
Pache has been 1 & Waters 1A for a couple years now
You need catching & Contreras is close to MLB ready you prefer Langeliers that’s fine. I wouldn’t object to that.
Wright seemed to had turned it around the end of last year I was just thinking a MLB ready arm & Muller is a Top 10 organizational prospect. I have no problem giving up Harris either.
Waters, Langeliers, Harris & Muller if you say that’s not enough your are nuts.
That is an overpay but I would still be willing to do it because the Braves are trying to win now.
Steeler, Cleveland does not need catching. It is apparent that the Indians value game calling and defensive superiority behind the plate. They have to of the best and a youngster two years away. Anyways the rumor is completely false because I don’t remember a team trading an remote player with three years of control. I do think Ramirez will be traded next off season because he will get a haul due to his talent and his incredibly friendly contract.
I don’t know enough about those prospects, but since you said you’d be ok with it and it’s fair, then it’s probably light. I mean that seriously. To acquire an MVP-level player like J-Ram on his contract should be painful.
Switch out Wright for Langeliers and a deal is clearly there.. The Indians have a pair of defense first catchers and not much depth. This is an area the Braves have a lot of depth, so, it would work.. If the Braves wanted to keep the other pitcher (Muller),. the add in Riley.. he can play LF/3B.. and would fit..
Thoughts?..
Any team with a rotation as good and as deep as the Indians has is a contender. Cleveland has built successfully on pitching and defense for years. They contended last season with virtually no offense, outside of Ramirez, Reyes, and Hernandez. Lindor and Santana produced very little at the plate. On paper this years offense is at least as good as last years, with the possibility that some of the younger players, like Naylor and Rosario will improve. They are also sitting on a boatload of high end prospects…esp pitchers and MIFs…to acquire MLB players who can produce now.
I’m kinda surprised that they brought back Hernandez instead of an outfielder. They’ve brought in five infielders in the past eighteen months plus they have two near ready homegrown infs.
Yeah I guess they’re going to play a 2B out there on the field instead of another OF. Should work.
Look for the Tribe to flip Rosario and finally sign an outfielder. Nolan Jones is getting a shot in the outfield and I expect a bounce back year for Mercado.
I’d love to see them run a lineup like this out there….
1. 2B – Caesar Hernandez
2. SS – Andres Giminez
3. OF – Joc, Eddie Rosario or JBJ
4. 3B – Jose Ramirez
5. DH – Franmil Reyes
6. 1B – Bobby Bradley
7. LF – Nolan Jones
8. CF – Oscar Mercado
9. C – Roberto Perez
Josh Naylor will be starting in RF. I expect a breakout year from him.
CORRECT!!!! I’m not sure what I was thinking. He may play 1B instead of Bradley.
This is the perfect year to really find out what the team has in Bauers, Bradley, Zimmer and Naylor. I don’t see the need to block them with a free agent signing at this point.
That’s really good. The Indians will see them self having to trade J-Ram though because of all the surplus of INF/OF that they are getting. They need to do some clean up if they want to keep him around!
I thought he would’ve gotten more money than 5 Million, but that’s just me
Glovey 2B are the cheapest commodity in sports sadly. Yolmer Sanchez won the GG in 19 and was barely able to get a ML deal. Meanwhile Dustin PEDroia is still hemorraghing $
1.Hernandez 2B
2.Rosario SS
3.Ramirez 3B
4.Reyes DH
5.Bradley 1B
6.Mercado LF
7.Naylor RF
8.Perez C
9.Zimmer CF
Bench:
Hedges C, Bauer 1B, Johnson OF, Gimenez INF.
or Luplow over Johnson.
They’ll keep fineness in the minors to manipulate service time. Luplow will be on the bench as so will Chang, he is out of options.
Hmmm. No that won’t work. Won’t work at all. Move Mercado to 7th. Bauer 8th. Give Rosario a running start. Bat Perez for Jones against lefties. On Wednesdays. Great. Now I think we’re set.
Or:
1.Hernandez 2B
2.Naylor RF
3.Ramirez 3B
4.Reyes LF
5.Bradley 1B
6.Rosario/Luplow DH
7.Zimmer/Mercado CF
8.Perez/Hedge C
9.Gimenez/Rosario SS
1.Beiber
2.Plesac
3.MacKenzie
4.Civale
5.Quantrill
Why would you be in love with finishing last?
Another playoff berth and first round exit! And then trade Bieber for spare parts while the stands sit quietly. The cycle of life
That’s a lot of characters expended and genuflecting over an 82 win team. Hmmmm, if we move Luplow here over by the furnace and place Naylor over by the Hedges, maybe we can get to 82.5 wins. What do you think Honey? Is this picture frame straight?
Depth..depth is good.
Think they need at least 1 outfielder and should be set.
Outfielder who can standout hit. No Terry Pluto-type players, please.
I like Pederson. If he is too expensive Pillar. Guess JBJ is already in too much demand. Last year I thought they should have got Pillar. And at trade deadline. They must not want him. I liked Joyce is years past but now dunno about him.
I’m guessing Gimenez gets sent down to tack on that extra year of controll. So Ramirez at 3B, Rosario at SS, Hernandez at 2B, and Nayolr/Bauers at 1B for the Tribe.
Head scratcher! Like they needed another middle infielder
It helps suppress Gimenez’ service time as he will likely open the season at AAA to get regular playing time. In the meantime Hernandez gives the Indians a quality 2B that can be flipped at the deadline if they are not in contention
Good point. Mets likely only gave Giménez a MLB roster spot last season so he wouldn’t stunt his growth but more seasoning at AAA could be beneficial for him to play everyday next season after Cesar is a FA again.
I really don’t understand why Boston signed Kiké Hernandez, a below average hitter and fielder to a 2 year, $14M contract when Cesar Hernandez, last year’s leader in doubles and gold glove winner at second base was available for $5M per year. I have no problem with Kiké and I think he’ll fit in very well with Boston but from a pure talent and production standpoint, Cesar Hernandez seems to be the better choice by a mile. The only thing I can think of is that Boston really values Kiké’s ability to play multiple positions, but if they signed him to play 2B primarily, they flat out signed the wrong Hernandez.
This is a great deal for Cleveland, he’ll be a Top 5 2nd baseman in the AL at a bargain of $5M per year. Well done, Mr. Dolan. Good to know you aren’t bankrupt!
Dolan has plenty of assets. His moves have nothing to do about lack of money. Although I am sure he enjoyed cutting payroll. Yeah I don’t care about position flexibility enough for 7 million a year. Indians got a bargain here.
$5 million will buy 4 million meals on wheels dinners for poverty stricken hungry home bound shut ill elderly. If your grand mother is starving maybe a second baseman will bring her something to eat.
Nah, we good. 5 mill for a solid glove will save a lot more runs with that pitch to contact stuff that Tito craves than granny meals. Bus those geezers to the Jake. For the same $1.25 per you can get a decent seat in the upper deck, a senior value meal (hot dog, junior pop, chips) and some cool Wahoo swag)
I guess you know no one who is old, sick, broke or hungry.
You should go spend some time with the elderly instead of wasting it trolling on here. I hear some are so desperate for company that they may even welcome a visit from you.
Take dumpster with you.
Could be because they expect Downs to join the team at some point during the season and Kike can come off the bench and move around the field. Cesar is only a 2B and would either block Downs or have to be moved later. I’m purely speculating though
Caesar it’s too late now but fire your agent! Or if this was your idea listen to your agent. Shouldn’t have taken that club option. Can’t believe you couldn’t do better than 5 million but it’s either no option or just do a 2 year deal. Love this contract for Cleveland. What a steal.
I must be missing something, but why isn’t Hernandez a more sought after player? He seems solid offensively and great defensively.
Id’d prefer if the Indians had donated the $5 million plus what else they will spend to the Food Bank of Greater Cleveland. It would have done more good to more children than a baseball player will.
Let them eat goo
This charity shaming has got to stop
#safespace
This is my mission. You are my ministry.
Like nearly all sports teams these days, the Indians do a lot of good in the community through their charity org. The team, players, staff, and fans all chip-in.
Did you hear about the MLB Home Plate initiative yet?
mlb.com/press-release/press-release-50-mlb-players…
Some Cleveland players were involved, 160 000 meals provided to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank as part of this initiative.
Brad Hand was Cleveland’s Clemente nominee with a focus on children’s baseball being a highlight of his efforts.
More baseball players needed. So much good is happening right under your ignorant nose.
Jah, wassup w dat? Mystery
Solid deal, dude rakes in baseball sims plus throws leather. One of the best deals out there.
it very sad that a major league team has to operate with that kind of budget.
Great signing but this certainly makes things interesting at SS.
After the Lindor trade, I just assumed that Gimenez was going to be the starting SS on opening day. Maybe they give Rosario first crack and start Gimenez at AAA or flip Rosario for an OF’er. I cannot see Rosario in the OF or either guy being in a utility role.
People are so full of negativity. Was wondering has anyone ever played stratomatic? I’ve been playing since I was a kid. Better than fantasy leagues.