DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Kenny Lofton back with Tribe

Just heard on WTAM. The Indians aquired Lofton, but no other details of the deal were available yet.


Editting the post: Here's a link that just came up:

http://www.wtam.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=122520&article=2441293

Indians give up Adam Miller and Andy Marte to the Rangers...







JUST KIDDING!

I always liked Lofton. We have a vet with playoff experience as we make the push. If Lee and Westbrook remember how to pitch, we'd be ok.

I wish I can find a link to see what they gave up, but I guess if the info was out there, the guy on WTAM would have mentioned it.

HMMM...I can't even fathom to guess what we paid. I like Lofton because our team speed sucks, but I'm not sure how this is going to cure what ails this team right now. They need a sports psychologist for Lee, Westbrook, and Sowers more than a player like Lofton.

for what? the guy is old old old... Maybe it was a mutual thing... he wants to retire an Indian and they figure they can use him for PR to get for fans in the stands?

To hit leadoff and move grady to where he belongs. #2 or #5 Probably 2.

If we gave up cash and a small time prospect I will be very happy about this move.

Old or not the guy can still hit and steal bases.

KENNY IS old????

He is hitting 20 point higher than Grady, strike out less and only has 5 fewer stole bases (20) to grady's 25

THINK BEFORE YOU POST PEOPLE!!

I have heard a lot of rumors as to who we gave up. I heard one deal with us giving up Francisco, Stanford, Barton and a lower minor leaguer for KLove & Benoit and then i also just heard we gave them Max for Klove, so who know, presser is at 4pm i think.

Just heard Max Ramirez (from Wickman trade) is one of the players in the deal.

I read Max on a different board too. Is anyone not happy giving him up? I don't know much about him - but it seems to me he wouldn't get much of an opportunity with us in the bigs.

Man this is like insanely awesome news...

KENNY FREAKIN LOFTON IS BACK!!!

Lofton
Grady
Pronk
Victor
.......

Quote:

---

Third time is a charm.

---

I heard Kenny's grand kids wanted to see him play in a tribe uniform, now they get thier wish....

Just poking fun, i hope it works out, always liked kenny

When my grandpa was a kid, Kenny Lofton was his favorite player.

If Kenny is hitting leadoff, Grady is hitting 3rd and Pronk 5th because of their splits against LHP.

I'm not huge on this if it is Max Ramirez. The Tribe is deep on catching prospects, but he's the best hitting catcher in the system.

Just took a peek...#7 is available. I never owned a Lofton jersey, but if I did, it wouldn't come close to fitting.

Wow, welcome home Kenny! Here's to the third times a charm indeed.

WOOOO

oioioioi

great news, knew this was comeing


just got a text message that said tradeing A prospect, so just 1

Lost in all this hype....Cliff Lee was sent packing to Buffalo. He should stop by a psychologist on the way. Too much talent. The problem is between the ears.

Cliff Lee became the first Indians pitcher since the 30s to give up 7 or more runs in 3 consecutive starts... what a wonderful thing to "accomplish"...

It is Lofton for Ramirez, per the Tribe's official site. Its an okay move, but it is a high price to pay.

Ramirez was a Class A player. He was top 20 material for the Braves last year, but still a class A prospect is far from a sure thing. Basically we traded Wickman for a Lofton rental.

Ramirez is the best hitting catcher in the system. He is developing power and may have the best eye of any player, at any level of the system. His defense is mediocre, perhaps mediocre at best, but he'll be a major leaguer barring injury. He can be a lot more than just a "major leaguer".

Yes. You can't keep sitting on the eggs. Just remember we sat on Jarrett Wright and his potential when we were offered Pedro Martinez in his prime.

I would hope everyone in our system has the promise of being a major leaguer. If not, why are they there? So time to throws some chips in the pot and bet a good hand. Why wait for a catcher that might be 3 years away when the window might be closed?

FYI there is a lot of talk that the Indians are close to acquiring Octavio Dotel as well, for Ben Francisco. Can't wait for the 4 PM press conference this afternoon.

Lofton is in the starting lineup this evening and wearing #7 according to the AP story.

CLEVELAND -- Kenny Lofton is coming back to Jacobs Field, and the Indians hope the third time is the charm.

The Indians acquired Lofton from the Rangers in exchange for Class A catcher Max Ramirez on Friday afternoon. This will be the 40-year-old Lofton's third tenure with the Tribe. He played in Cleveland from 1992-96 and again from 1998-2001.

Corresponding moves to get Lofton on the active roster and the 40-man were not immediately announced.

With All-Star Grady Sizemore already manning center field, it's expected that Lofton will be moved to left field. He could potentially platoon with Jason Michaels, who gets the starts in left against left-handed pitching.

It is also conceivable that Lofton could take over Sizemore's leadoff duties, allowing Sizemore to move down a couple notches in the order. That, however, is mere speculation, at this point. The Indians are expected to address their plans for Lofton before Friday night's game against the Twins.

Lofton was batting .303 with a .380 on-base percentage, seven homers, three triples, 16 doubles, 21 stolen bases and 23 RBIs in 84 games this season entering Friday's action. He was on a one-year deal with the Rangers worth $6 million, and he hasn't played any other outfield position, other than center.

For his 16-year career, which has included stints with 11 teams, Lofton has hit .299 with 130 homers, 620 stolen bases and 766 RBIs. He is a six-time All-Star, a four-time Gold Glove winner, and he is listed on the Top 100 Greatest Indians roster. The 620 steals is most among active players, and he holds the Indians' franchise record with 450.

When the Indians were in Texas last week, Lofton told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that the idea of returning to the Tribe was "interesting."
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"I just want to get a ring," he said. "This is my 16th year, and I feel like it's all been for nothing. I don't want to be like Charles Barkley [who played 16 NBA seasons without a championship]."

The Indians would certainly like to see Lofton meet his goal.

The Tribe hasn't quite received the production it hoped for from the corner outfield spots. David Dellucci was batting just .234 before he went down with a hamstring strain in mid-June that is expected to sideline him another month. Trot Nixon has hit just .243.

On the bright side, youngsters Franklin Gutierrez (.301 average, seven homers, 16 RBIs) and Ben Francisco (.273, 3, 7) have been pleasant surprises from down on the farm. And Michaels has met expectations as a part-timer with a .276 average, six homers and 29 RBIs.

Lofton brings the left-handed bat the Indians hoped to acquire before Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline. He also brings a wealth of playoff experience, having been on teams that reached the postseason in 10 out of the last 12 years.

The Tribe is still actively seeking another arm for the bullpen.

To get Lofton, the Indians had to give up the catching prospect they received one year ago, in the deal that sent closer Bob Wickman to the Braves. The 22-year-old Ramirez was batting .303 with 12 homers and 62 RBIs at high-Class A Kinston, and he played in the All-Star Futures Game earlier this month.

Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

I'd really love to see Adam Miller brought up for a couple starts or even out of the bullpen. He's gotta get his feet wet sometime.