DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Indians' Off Season Begins - Perez Released

Perez released, Giambi re-signed, LH reliever Colt Hynes acquired.

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2013/10/chris_perez_released_by_clevel.html#incart_river

Who closes in 2014? My guess is Cody Allen.

I don't know who'll close but I like the idea of Cody Allen closing for the Tribe.

I think Cody will be fine as closer if he can throw a 2nd pitch for strikes consistently - can't just throw gas unless you're Aroldis Chapman. Allen gets it up there 95-96, but he has to develop his breaking pitch and/or a change up. I won't miss the drama from Chris Perez, although to be fair, he was more effective statistically than Indians' closers from the past (Mesa, Wickman, etc). Its just that his fails were so spectacular ...

I sure won't miss him....CP was behind in the count on almost every batter, blew too many saves, and was far too vocal for someone who really couldn't walk the walk.

how about the Tribe acquire a stick at 3rd, and another strong starter for '14?

Not that Perez was the answer, especially at $9 million next year. But, they've got some work to do in the bullpen. Perez gone, Pestano is an unknown, Smith and Albers are free agents. Allen, Shaw, Rzepczynski, and perhaps Carrasco are the only known entities going into the pen right now.

Joe Smith has to be a priority to re-sign. I think the Indians are hoping Pestano comes back strong this spring after struggling with tendinitis after the World Basesball Classic last spring. Then, if we could get Hagadone and Bauer to listen to Mickey Callaway and simply use their great stuff, it could provide a huge boost to starting rotation and the bullpen. Last, I think the Indians hope Matt Capps could be their next reclamation project in the bullpen. I know he pitched at Columbus last year, in a limited role. No idea if he has anything left.

i want a legit Power hitter and a third baseman who is power or hits for average .

I'd like to see us re-sign Joe Smith and maybe Matt Albers.

I would also hope that we make Ubaldo a qualifying offer, ensuring us a 1st round pick if he signs elsewhere.

Regarding Ubaldo, I would think the concern with making a qualifying offer would be: what if he accepts it? He had a good season, but given his history of being up and down, do we really want to pay him $13.3 mil? The other thing is, we would not be ensured a 1st round pick - it would be a compensatory pick probably sandwiched between the 1st and 2nd round. So you'd have to weigh the risk of being on the hook for 13.3M to a player who might suck canal water vs a chance at drafting a top 35 player in the amateur draft.

I think that Ubaldo at $13.3 million would be a bargain if he pitched at anywhere approaching the same level he did last year, and well worth the risk on a 1 year deal. (especially after getting rid of Perez's potential arbitration raise)

J/C...

Curious as to whether all fans are allowed to comment in this thread about the off-season or does there need to be an "all others" thread?

And for your Tribe... you make the qualifying offer to Jimenez - their's no debate about it. You just do it.

Fine with me if you, or anyone else, want to post about their team's off season moves. I just like hot stove baseball through the coming 4 months of dark.

Ubaldo will, without doubt, get a qualifying offer. I believe its at $14.1 million this year. I'll hold to the prediction I gave on this board much earlier, he's going to get a $75-90 million contract. Tim Lincecum got 2/35, for a year not nearly as good as Ubaldo's. With that contract in mind, there is absolutely zero chance that he would take the one-year, $14 million deal. They just got an extra pick.

Its more interesting with Kazmir. I think I would offer it to him as well. I'd be killing his phone right now. He was overshadowed by Ubaldo, but was dominant in the second half, and being left-handed always adds money to the contract. Kazmir might accept the $14 million for one season, just to continue building value. He and Ubaldo are the same age and will be looking at one gigantic deal. Ubaldo is getting it regardless of the qualifying offer. Kazmir is much more questionable.

The other thing to remember, as the Lincecum contract points out, is that you have to re-evaluate your salary scale this offseason. With the new TV money kicking in this year, basically every team has an extra $20 million to spend. There are going to be some HORRIBLE contracts this offseason.

Cleveland Indians extend $14 million qualifying offer to Ubaldo Jimenez

Ubaldo Jimenez has received a one-year qualifying offer from the Indians. (Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

Paul Hoynes, Northeast Ohio Media Group By Paul Hoynes, Northeast Ohio Media Group

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Indians have made a one-year $14 million qualifying offer to free agent right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez.

Jimenez has until Nov. 11 to accept or reject the offer. If he accepts it, he will be bound to the Indians for one year at $14 million. If he declines and signs with another team, the Indians will receive an additional 2014 draft pick at the end of the first round.

When the Indians signed free agents Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn before this past season, they had each received qualifying offers from their old teams, the Yankees and Braves, respectively. The Indians didn't lose their No.1 draft pick as compensation because they finished with one of the 10 worst record in the big leagues in 2012. Instead they lost their second and third round picks.

Jimenez, 29, went 13-9 with a 3.30 ERA in 32 starts this year for the Tribe. He was especially effective after the All-Star break.

When No.1 starter Justin Masterson was injured in early September, Jimenez helped pitch the Indians into their first postseason appearance since 2007. He went 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA in six September starts.

Jimenez was the only free agent to receive a qualifying offer from the Indians. Their other free agents include Joe Smith, Scott Kazmir, Matt Albers, Jason Kubel, Rich Hill, Chris Perez and Kelly Shoppach.
http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2013/11/cleveland_indians_extend_quali.html#incart_river

Good decision, was hoping for an offer for Kazmir as well.

Yes I would offer him the $14 million, I have looked everywhere but I can't find it, but I read an article that says due to a new TV deal, each team will get an additional $20 million this off-season, with that and C. Perez money, thats enough for the Jimenez and Kazmir offers. What other options are out there? Recycle another pitcher?

I also agree Jimenez doesn't take the money here, but they had to make the offer to get the compensation.

Masterson
Kluber
McCallister
Salazar
Tomlin, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco

Maybe we don't need to sign Kazmir, we have a little depth there, but they are all RH pitchers.

I think if we want Kazmir, then we don't need to offer him $14mil/year to get him though. No reason to spend more than necessary.

I'm going to guess Kazmir, now without a qualifying offer, gets a 3/30 type deal. I don't think he would have accepted the qualifying offer, but it would have been close. With the QO, I don't know what type of deal he gets, obviously less. I would have extended the offer myself, but its a very close call.

JC

Ubaldo Jimenez expected to reject Cleveland Indians' $14 million qualifying offer at GM meetings

Paul Hoynes
The Plain Dealer
November 09, 2013

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Baseball’s general managers meetings begin Monday in Orlando, Fla. They will dovetail into the owners’ meetings Thursday in the same city.

This much is clear from the Indians’ point of view even before the meetings begin.

No. 1: Reborn right-handerUbaldo Jimenez is expected to turn down his $14.1 million qualifying offer before Monday’s deadline. The Indians can still negotiate with him if he does reject it.

No. 2: Reborn left-hander Scott Kazmir and his agents have given no indication that he will return to the Indians. He’s looking for a multiyear deal, while they prefer another one-year arrangement.

No. 3: Right-hander Joe Smith, who gave the Indians five quality seasons out of the pen, is probably gone as well. Smith is looking for a three-year deal, but the Indians don’t want to go beyond two.

No. 4: Right-hander Matt Albers, who absorbed a lot of bad relief innings, could be headed down the trail as well.

Jimenez, Kazmir, Smith and Albers are free agents. So are Jason Kubel, Chris Perez and Kelly Shoppach, but the first four were contributors to last season’s AL wild card team. So was Perez in his role as closer, but since the Indians released him a couple of hours after the final out of the World Series, it was clear his stay in Cleveland was over.

The Indians would like to keep Jimenez, Kazmir, Smith and Albers, but it appears they’ll find more lucrative opportunities elsewhere. Negotiations have taken place with little progress reported. The Yankees have already been linked to Jimenez, while Colorado has expressed interest in Smith.

Improvement seen

At least the Indians know what holes they need to fill. Right now, they’ve lost two starting pitchers and three relievers, including their closer.

“I feel we’re in a better position at the end of this season than we were at the end of the 2012 season,” said Antonetti. “We have the ability to bring back our whole position club, a club that tied for fourth in the American League in runs scored and finished (tied) for fifth overall.

“We have seven quality major league alternatives in the starting rotation with Justin Masterson, Danny Salazar, Corey Kluber, Zach McAllister, Carlos Carrasco, Josh Tomlin and Trevor Bauer. And we have some talented pitchers in the back end of the bullpen.”

Antonetti and his staff have been concentrating on a couple of things since the end of the season. They’d like to add a veteran starter and fill some holes in the bullpen. Then they’ll take a look at improving the offense.

Veteran starter needed

They’ve already talked to Tim Hudson, whose season with Atlanta ended prematurely because of a broken right ankle. A.J. Burnett, Jake Westbrook, Bronson Arroyo, Bartolo Colon, Bruce Chen, Aaron Harang, Roy Halladay and Barry Zito are among the other veteran arms available.

Last winter the Indians thought Brett Myers, who signed a one-year $7 million deal with a vesting option, could fill that role, but a sore right elbow scuttled those plans in April.

It sounds as if Antonetti will try to fill the closer’s job from within. Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw are the leading candidates. If not, there are plenty of veteran closers on the market with Grant Balfour, Brian Wilson, Fernando Rodney, Edward Mujica, Joe Nathan and Joaquin Benoit looking for work.

If they stick with Allen or Shaw at closer, the Indians will still try to add relievers to bridge the gap from the starters to the late innings.

Big spenders no more?

The Indians were the surprise big spenders of last year’s offseason, paying Nick Swisher $56 million and Michael Bourn $48 million along with $7 million for Myers and $6 million for Mark Reynolds. Antonetti had money to work with because owner Paul Dolan sold his regional TV network, SportsTime Ohio, to Fox.

There’s TV money coming in this winter as well, about $25 million, from the new national broadcasting contracts. But since each team is getting the same amount, the Indians won’t have the advantage they did last year.

The Indians payroll is expected to stay around $80 million. It’s estimated that they already have $69,400,000 committed. That includes anticipated raises to nine players who are eligible for arbitration: Masterson, Drew Stubbs, Michael Brantley, Marc Rzepczynski, Vinnie Pestano, Tomlin, Lou Marson, Blake Wood and Frank Herrmann. Some of those players could be non-tendered or not offered contracts on Dec. 2.

Long-term deal for Masterson?

Sometime this offseason the Indians are expected to take another run at Masterson regarding a multiyear deal. Mlbtraderumors.com speculates that Masterson is in line for a five-year deal worth between the $65 million John Danks received with the White Sox and the $85 million Jered Weaver received from the Angels.

Masterson, the Indians’ No.1 starter, is currently on a relief mission in Africa. He can be a free agent after 2014.

The Indians have already made offers to free agents and proposed trades. Those negotiations will continue when the meetings begin Monday. Antonetti will co-chair the meetings with San Diego’s Josh Byrnes, which will make three busy days even busier than anticipated.

© 2013 cleveland.com

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2013/11/gm_meetings_expected_to_start.html#incart_river

I think Jimenez might regret not having pitching coach, Mickey Callaway around. On the other hand, he's going to score a big contract, so I don't blame him for taking his one shot at mega bucks. Ditto Kazmir - I feel a little silly for thinking he might be grateful for the shot the Indians gave him, and signing a team-friendly contract. He won't get Ubaldo's money, but he'll get a 3 year contract around $30-35M from someone, I bet. The Indians can't spend that kind of money on a 5 inning, back-of-the-rotation starter. Still, I feel pretty good about our first 4 starters, Masterson, Salazar, Kluber, and McAllister. Maybe Carrasco, Bauer, or Tomlin could fill that 5th spot. Wish we had a lefty, though. In the bullpen - we're going to miss Joe Smith.

Dustin Fox will be happy. He hates Perez.

David Murphy, Indians near deal

November 19, 2013
By Richard Durrett
ESPNDallas.com

Outfielder David Murphy is working out the details of a two-year deal with the Cleveland Indians, sources familiar with the negotiations confirmed Tuesday night.

A Dallas Morning News report says the deal is believed to be worth more than $10 million.

Murphy, 32, hit .220 with 13 homers and 45 RBIs in 142 games for the Rangers in 2013. It was Murphy's sixth full season with the club. He joined them midway through the 2007 season as part of a trade deadline deal that sent reliever Eric Gagne to Boston.

Murphy's numbers in 2013 were the worst of his career and came one season after he batted .304 with 15 homers and 61 RBIs.

In 27 postseason games, Murphy hit .257, including a .412 average in the 2011 ALCS against the Detroit Tigers with a stout 1.147 OPS. He also recorded the final out of the 2011 World Series.

Murphy has a career .362 batting average (27-for-74) with three homers and 15 RBIs in 21 games at Progressive Field.

not the worst signing. he's likely not the guy from '12, but he's a guy who should hit above league average and can be another guy with double-digit homers. we don't have a single power guy, so we substitute with overall team power. not the best, but it's what we can do on our budget.

Should make a nice OF platoon with Raburn, although I'm not sure he plays RF. I wonder if this means Stubbs gets dealt.

yep, Murphy's career stats are better against RHP, so he should be a platoon guy with Raburn.

even if he stays in LF, Brantley can shift to RF one those days (as Michael can play all 3 OF spots).

Generally, you want your best throwing arm in RF for the throw to 3rd base.

Just seen Prince Fielder traded for Ian Kinsler. think its a great trade for Detroit. fielder had a horrible contract, and this gives them the room to sign max long term.

Murph is a good pick up for the Indians. Hustle guy, crowd favorite. Decent in the field, just keep him away from right, where he can be a liability at times for some reason. Super streaky. When he is on he is on, but when he is cold it's ice cold.

Keep in a platoon situation, and you'll like what he brings to the table.

yea up until last year he put 4-5 good years together.

JC

Joe Smith signed with the Angels. Big loss for our bullpen, I think.

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2013/11/cleveland_indians_probably_won.html

Huge loss for the Tribe.

It was almost a foregone conclusion though. They just weren't going to be able to spend the money necessary to re-sign Smith, and they had already offered him a 2 year deal, but he wanted 3. Looks like he got it.

I hate to see him go though, He's been a rock.

I know Perez sucked most of last year, but our 8th and 9th inning guys are gone.

Hope they know what they're doing over there.

Meanwhile, the Yankees signed C, Brian McCann, to a 5 year $85M deal. And they still have to pay Robinson Cano while chasing (reportedly) Carlos Beltran.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/...ew-york-yankees

Kazmir to the A's. Unbelievable a 5 inning pitcher gets 11 million per.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/100690...eal-sources-say

yep, Kazmir completes the moneyball circuit (TB, Cleveland, Oakland)

Minny has been pretty active. They seem to be willing to go extra long on contracts to get the players they want (Mauer, Willingham --- now, Nolasco, Hughes, and possibly Piece-o-zynski).

At least it was only 2 years.

I'm a HUGE Kazmir fan, but I wouldn't have gone 2/22. After a few Christmas Ales, you could've talked me into 2/20, probably. Its a calculated risk for the A's, and if he truly is back, its probably a good deal. Just couldn't have talked myself into it.

j/c

The money average pitchers get in the MLB is absolutely amazing. We have been known for revitalizing careers of pitchers, Millwood, Kazmir, Pavano, etc on one year deals only to see them vastly overpaid the following year.

I'm ok with Kasmir leaving but not Joe Smith. I think Antonetti dropped the ball BIG TIME not giving him a three year deal as opposed to the 2-yr one desired by the Indians.

Our bullpen is up in the air right now and it would have been nice to keep one of our best pitchers over the past few years. Poor form.