The offseason begins... Tribe Hot Stove 2016-2017

• HitsRus

  

  http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/11/04/indians-exercise-options-manager-francona-slugger-santana/93285834/
  
  Tribe picks up Santana's $12 million option.
  Tribe picks up Tito's option for 2019- 2020.
• BRF

  

  Go Tribe.
• Laley23

  

  Both no brainers.
  
  As for Napoli, he was no doubt, a HUGE addition to this team. That said, it was basically a career year on the wrong side of prime. I would be happy if he is back, but if not, we need to replace him with a RH stick. Matt Holliday? Not a great year by any means, but still power and plays the OF. Someone else? Point being, I doubt Nap has another year like this year, so I won't be upset if he leaves provided we replace him with someone who can replicate his production.
• sleeper

  

  I'd go ahead and give Kluber more money.
  
  I know he's signed for forever, but my god, he is dirty cheap in comparison to other top level pitchers.
• Crimson streak

  

  Laley23;1821947 wrote:Both no brainers.
  
  As for Napoli, he was no doubt, a HUGE addition to this team. That said, it was basically a career year on the wrong side of prime. I would be happy if he is back, but if not, we need to replace him with a RH stick. Matt Holliday? Not a great year by any means, but still power and plays the OF. Someone else? Point being, I doubt Nap has another year like this year, so I won't be upset if he leaves provided we replace him with someone who can replicate his production.

  Agreed. I love what nap did but it's extremely unlikely he comes close to doing that again. If we can't go after a big time first baseman, move Brantley to 1st or have Santana play first and sign Holliday to dh/ rotate with Brantley between the 2
  
  
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• thavoice

  sleeper;1821948 wrote:I'd go ahead and give Kluber more money.
  
  I know he's signed for forever, but my god, he is dirty cheap in comparison to other top level pitchers.

  True, he is dirt cheap, but if I were the Indians I wouldnt start up that conversation whatsoever. He is signed through 2019. Maybe start talks before the 2018 season to try and keep him..wait until before the '19 and he may just wait for FA....but to do it now I think would be premature and not the best business model.
• sleeper

  

  thavoice;1821957 wrote:True, he is dirt cheap, but if I were the Indians I wouldnt start up that conversation whatsoever. He is signed through 2019. Maybe start talks before the 2018 season to try and keep him..wait until before the '19 and he may just wait for FA....but to do it now I think would be premature and not the best business model.

  I'd rather him feel comfortable and paid than see him look distracted because his salary isn't what he wants it to be. He's out performed his current contract and he deserves more.
• Sonofanump

  The biggest decision is 1B/right handed power hitter.
  
  Santana played about 40% at 1B this year, been more in past years.
  Nap will be 35 during the 2017 season.
  Steve Pearce (34) has less power, about .30 higher BA, and will cost about 2M less.
  Encarnacion and Trumbo will be too expensive for Cleveland.
• thavoice

  sleeper;1821958 wrote:I'd rather him feel comfortable and paid than see him look distracted because his salary isn't what he wants it to be. He's out performed his current contract and he deserves more.

  True. Or maybe you want him to stay hungry to be able to cash out big time in 2 years. It really is not unreasonable for him to have to wait for a new deal. I bet the list is pretty short of guys who get extensions when they have 3 seasons left on a deal.
• Laley23

  

  Also, I think Dolan will spend if it's a true star.
• Sonofanump

  Laley23;1821964 wrote:Also, I think Dolan will spend if it's a true star.

  That would be unusual. I predict wait until 2nd tier to find the platoon for days that Santana DH.
• Laley23

  

  Sonofanump;1821970 wrote:That would be unusual. I predict wait until 2nd tier to find the platoon for days that Santana DH.

  Well, the star would have to want to come here, which is the biggest issue and doubtful...so I guess we will never know lol.
• thavoice

  Laley23;1821973 wrote:Well, the star would have to want to come here, which is the biggest issue and doubtful...so I guess we will never know lol.

  $$$ talks, and coming off a WS and having a great manager would help entice them.
• HitsRus

  

  Don't forget you have 2 starting catchers in Gomes and Perez... I could see the Tribe trying one of those guys at 1B. (Santana likely gone after 2017).
  
  Word is the Tribe would like Davis back.
• Sonofanump

  HitsRus;1821982 wrote:Don't forget you have 2 starting catchers in Gomes and Perez... I could see the Tribe trying one of those guys at 1B. (Santana likely gone after 2017).

  I don't want .210 10-12HR at first base.
• Sonofanump

  HitsRus;1821982 wrote:Word is the Tribe would like Davis back.

  Platoon with Nyquin would work.
• BRF

  

  I would def keep Davis. (did you see how he was choked up on the bat before his hr pitch? .....and still smoked it down the line..........gamer.)
  
  Plus his defense. Keep him.
  
  Keep Nap. See what the old horse still has to give.
  
  And it looks like we have sleeper as a regular Tribe poster now.
• HitsRus

  

  Sonofanump;1821991 wrote:I don't want .210 10-12HR at first base.

  Either of those guys healthy will have much better #'s than that.
• ts1227

  

  Looks like they declined the option ($13M) on Coco
• HitsRus

  

  ts1227;1821998 wrote:Looks like they declined the option ($13M) on Coco

  
  
  I wasn't sure they had a choice, but I don't think he's a $13mill/year player anymore.
• cat_lover

  I like Coco but I agree with Hits. $13 million is too much. Would like to see Rajai back and Napoli too. If not Napoli, I would like to see them go after Trumbo(yes i know this is a long shot). The Matt Holliday talk is interesting. He seems like a player they would go after.
  
  Go Tribe
• HitsRus

  

  I have bumped the off season thread from last year for "shits and giggles".....Read thru it, there's some pretty good stuff in there, as we reacted and voiced our thoughts on the moves that built this championship team.
  
  For instance: my "high point"....comments on Carlos Santana who finished with a 3.5+ WAR.

  I've been one of Santana's biggest critics on this site, but I believe he may be poised to have a career year. For the first time in a while the pressure of playing a new position is off.....no more moves from catcher to 3B and back....then to first or DH. There are few players who when moved out of their comfort zone defensively, don't suffer at the plate. Additionally, the addition of some bats in the lineup (the emergence of Lindor, the resurgence of Kipnis, and the addition of Napoli) may result in Carlos seeing some better pitches to hit. Combine that with his keen batting eye, and we may see the Carlos that we had hoped for the past few years.

  My comments on the Napoli signing ?..... "Meh"
  
  LOL
• like_that

  

  +1 on not bringing back Coco. I like him, but thats a hefty price tag. I also don't think bringing back Nap is necessary. He is 35, how many years left will he be batting cleanup?
• HitsRus

  

  I'm sure Napoli will try to hit the jackpot and get a multi year deal.whether the Tribe can get him back or not will depend on what others are willing to offer him. I can't see the Indians offering him more than a one or two year deal ....and I think 2 is unlikely.
• iclfan2

  

  Agreed on the above points. Crisp was a stop gap bc Almonte is an idiot. My buddy's scout friend with the Yankees said they were looking into going after Napoli (but that was prior to the post season slump). Definitely want Rajai back. I'm not as low on Chisenhall as y'all are. Has a good arm and at one point was hitting at a pretty good pace. (Edited to add he ended 2016 with a .286 average)
  
  
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