2019 Cleveland Indians Season Review

Be careful what you wish for.

That should have been the motto for the Cleveland Indians' 2019 season. At the start of the year I hoped for a more competitive campaign, as the previous years of AL Central dominance left the fanbase somewhat wanting in terms of drama and excitement. Division titles are not something you should take for granted, but I wasn't alone feeling underwhelmed at the ease in which the Tribe waltzed to success. What made it worse was the seemingly inevitable postseason collapse that followed.

A division race or playoff chase was welcomed then. Until it got a little close for comfort, that is.

I don't think anyone in the league expected the Twins to win over 100 games and break records. The very respectable 93-69 Indians ran them close for a while but credit must go to Minnesota, they deserved what they got. Missing out on postseason baseball in Cleveland was disappointing of course, but would the fans and players have experienced further pain and humiliation at the hands of New York and Houston anyway?

Ultimately we'll never know, but after the Twins were swept away by the Yankees with such ease, the defeatist in me is glad we were saved that pain after all. (Who am I kidding, of course I would have loved seeing them play in October!)

With the playoffs now in full swing and the World Series on the horizon, the regular season is beginning to feel like a distant memory. The Indians front office are already looking towards 2020, but I thought I'd take a minute to reflect on 2019 before we move too far forward. Let's get into it:

Injuries And Even More Injuries

The Indians featured 54 players this year, their highest roster turnover since 2002. Terry Francona and his staff were constantly juggling their lineup cards, and the poor clubhouse guys must have been exhausted with all the comings and goings in the locker room.

A host of key players missed significant time on the injured list, leading to this high turnover rate.

The rotation, traditionally a source of strength for the Tribe, were decimated by injuries and illness. Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, and Mike Clevinger combined to make just 40 starts between them, over half of what they produced in 2018 (when they tallied 95 starts). Trying to compete without three of your top tier pitchers was always going to be challenging.

Injuries affected the offense as well, with Francisco Lindor, Jason Kipnis and Jose Ramirez all missing time with their respective aches and pains. In their absence the Indians' lineup faced a lot of adversity, particularly when Ramirez was struggling (more on that to come).

Important role players like Jordan Luplow, Tyler Clippard, Dan Otero, and Tyler Naquin also missed decent chunks of time, and overall it felt like the club were battling themselves almost as often as they were battling other teams.

The Rotation

Despite missing Kluber, Carrasco and Clevinger for large portions of the season, the men called upon in their stead performed more than admirably.

Shane Bieber emerged as a talented pitcher in 2018 but he truly broke out this year, creating memories for life when he collected the All-Star Game MVP award on home turf. Bieber carried the load with his 214.1 innings pitched, and lead the AL in complete games (3), shutouts (2) and walk rate (1.7). His 259 punchouts, 3.28 ERA and 144 ERA+ marked him out as one of the top arms in baseball, in just the second year of his career. Bieber fever indeed.

I mentioned Clevinger and despite missing a large chunk of the season through injury, the man dubbed Sunshine was still as dominant as always, if not more so in 2019. In 21 starts Clev pitched 126 innings with 169 strikeouts, for a 2.71 ERA and a 174 ERA+. If he hadn't gotten hurt I am certain he would have garnered serious Cy Young award attention.

Rookies such as Zach Plesac (21 starts, 3.81 ERA) and Aaron Civale (10 starts, 2.34 ERA) played their part in guiding the club to 90+ victories, and were largely impressive during their maiden auditions in the show. Both pitchers built strong cases to be included on the 2020 Opening Day roster and will hopefully have long and distinguished careers at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.

Adam Plutko (21 games, 4.86 ERA) and Jefry Rodriguez (10 games, 4,63 ERA) didn't make the same splash as Plesac and Civale but were important contributors nonetheless, especially considering they weren't expected to feature if everyone had stayed healthy.

Finally, a word must go to the departed Trevor Bauer, who pitched 156.2 innings with 185 strikeouts, for a 3.79 ERA (that he couldn't replicate with the Reds unfortunately). The enigmatic pitcher stayed healthy all year and tallied the second highest number of starts for the club prior to joining Cincinnati, making 24 valuable appearances. Also, we cannot forget his final moment in a Tribe uniform. It's the stuff of legend.

Jose Ramirez

What a perplexing year for Jose Ramirez.

Coming off an MVP-caliber 2018 season, when he slashed .270/.387/.552 with 39 home runs, 34 stolen bases and 8 WAR, great things were expected from our lovable infielder.

What occurred next was absolutely mystifying. Despite those fantastic numbers, he ended 2018 poorly, mired in a terrible funk that stuck to his cleats like dog shit. The stench never left him even as his 2019 campaign began. He looked completely lost at the plate in April, May and June, an entirely changed man. His first three month's of production looked like this:

340 PA, .214/.309/.325, 5 HR, 30 RBI, .634 OPS.

Horrible. People were beginning to seriously worry, myself included.

Thankfully Ramirez found himself in July and August, and embarked on a torrid run at the plate, posting an OPS of 1.020 and 1.077 that effectively carried the club on his back, driving them back into playoff contention and keeping the Twins looking in their rear-view mirror.

Just as the Indians were preparing for the final month of their playoff push, Ramirez fractured the hamate bone in his right hand. He would miss a month, and although he returned in late September, the season was essentially over by that point. Who knows what difference the rejuvenated Ramirez could have made to the Indians' season down the stretch.

His final line for 2019:

.255/.327/.479, 23 HR, 83 RBI, 24 SB, .806 OPS and 3.3 WAR.

Oscar Mercado

To say I was excited for Mercado's promotion was an understatement. When he finally arrived he was exactly as advertised, the perfect tonic for the Indians' outfield woes. Given the keys to center field, Oscar took his opportunity and never looked back.

Called up on May 14th, Mercado became the catalyst that reinvigorated a sleeping offense, and the youngster put together an impressive debut season. He batted .269/.318/.443 with 15 home runs, 15 stolen bases, 25 doubles and a .761 OPS. His grace in the outfield led to nine defensive runs saved as well; a solid contributor in every aspect of the game.

Like any rookie, he experienced his share of ups and downs but there's no denying Mercado established himself as one of the key players in the lineup. Overall, I liked what I saw and his progress will be fun to monitor in 2020. His Rookie of the Year campaign will surely be overshadowed by the glitzier prospects on the Astros and Blue Jays, but Mercado is certainly deserving of consideration.

In my eyes, the Indians have found their center fielder for the next decade.

Roberto Pérez

When Yan Gomes was traded in the off-season, I had my concerns about the future of the catching position in Cleveland. Alas, I should not have worried, as Roberto Pérez took care of business and then some.

As a part-time catcher with the Indians over five years, we had grown to love Pérez for his defensive excellence and consistency. What Pérez lacked at the plate (a career .205 hitter prior to 2019), he more than made up for behind it.

This season, now elevated to a full-time role in Gomes' absence, Pérez's defensive numbers took a major leap, putting him among the elite catchers in the game. The 30 year-old ranked second in the majors in caught stealing percentage, gunning down 41% of his would-be thieves. Pérez led every player in the majors in defensive runs saved, with 29 (per Fangraphs). Even more remarkable, Pérez wasn't charged with a single passed ball all season. Over 993.2 innings, he didn't let one get past him.

That's ridiculous.

There is a legitimate argument to be made for Pérez as the best catcher in baseball. If he doesn't get the Gold Glove this winter, it will be a travesty.

And I haven't even mentioned the fact Pérez developed a swing that meant he was no longer an automatic out in the box. Though his slashline of .239/.321/.452 isn't the most eye-catching you'll see, he did post a .774 OPS and smash 24 home runs. Not bad for a guy who had never hit more than 8, at any level.

It's safe to say that what was once a position of uncertainty for the Indians is now one of strength, thanks to our beloved Bebo.

Honorable Mentions

• No Indians season review is complete without giving Carlos Santana his due. The All-Star first baseman made a spectacular return to The Land after an off-season trade. It was like he never left. The veteran had a fantastic year, batting .281/.397/.515 with 34 HR, 110 RBI, for a 135 wRC+ and 4.4 WAR. 
• The Tribe's trade deadline acquisitions Franmil Reyes and Yasiel Puig helped bring some spark and excitement to Progressive Field. Puig was everything we expected and more, and endeared himself to fans with that cannon-arm in right field. Time will tell if his stay in Cleveland was short-lived, but I would love the club to bring him back. Reyes got off to a slow start but soon found his feet, and will be a threatening presence in the lineup for years to come (37 HR this year and he's still only 24 years-old).
• Francisco Lindor made club history, collecting 30+ HR for the third consecutive season, joining Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome as the only men in Cleveland to do that. I felt the mood surrounding Lindor was slightly negative this year, with fans looking ahead to his impending free agency and the Indians' inability/reluctance to sign him long term, but Lindor is this team. His .284/.335/.518 line, 22 SB, 40+ doubles and 4.4 WAR is nothing to sniff at. 
• The bullpen, so long an enigma, were mostly excellent. The group recorded a 3.76 ERA, third-best in the majors, with standout performers including Nick Wittgren and Tyler Clippard. Even Brad Hand, who suffered a crisis of confidence late in the year, still recorded 34 saves, a good enough total for fifth place in the majors. 

With a winter of possibility now ahead of us, I'll spend some of that time looking at the burning questions facing this ballclub and what could be in store prior to the 2020 campaign. Until then, I'll watch the World Series and recharge my baseball batteries.

I want to say a quick thank you to anyone who has followed England Tribe this year. I have enjoyed this season immensely, and connected with a great number of you online and in person. It's been an amazing year for me personally, and my connection to the game has never been stronger.

2020 will be even better.

Goodbye Bauer, Hello Puig, Reyes and Co.

I was beginning to think the Indians weren't going to make a move at the trade deadline after all. As July 31st approached, I was lulled into the pretense that everybody would stay put, that the Tribe were content with what they had heading moving forward. 

Then, I wake up this morning to what can only be considered as a blockbuster.

Trevor Bauer, the Tribe's talented but enigmatic starting pitcher, is a Cleveland Indian no more. After nearly seven rollercoaster years of service, Bauer moves to the Cincinnati Reds as part of a three-team deal that also includes the San Diego Padres. Let's break down the moves:

Cincinnati get: Trevor Bauer SP (from Cleveland)

Cleveland get: Yasiel Puig OF, Scott Moss SP (from Cincinnati), Franmil Reyes OF, Logan Allen SP, Victor Nova 2B/3B/OF (from San Diego)

San Diego get: Taylor Trammell OF (from Cincinnati)

Upon first glance, this trade looks overwhelmingly favorable for the Indians - what a haul!

First, let's discuss the loss of Bauer. The Indians' front office had a delicate situation on their hands when approaching the notion of trading one of their best starting pitchers. To send him away to a contender would indicate weakness and admission of defeat this season. To avoid this, anything in return for Bauer was going to have to be big. And so it is with great joy we can celebrate this unique victory because, despite losing Bauer, this trade significantly upgrades the Indians' offense and puts them on track to not only stay competitive in 2019, but for years beyond.

Bauer has had a mixed 2019 thus far, but certainly not as impactful as his remarkable 2018 campaign (2.21 ERA, 221 strikeouts in 175.1 innings). He currently leads all of MLB in innings (156.2) but also walks (63), and possesses a 3.79 ERA, but a 4.17 FIP. Bauer is still one of the supreme strikeout artists in the game, and sits 5th in MLB with 185 K's. 

Whilst he might not be performing at the level he's capable of, the Reds are acquiring a pitcher of considerable talent. It's well known that Bauer's arsenal of pitches is unmatched. Still just 28 years-old, Cincinnati will have him on their books until 2020, his final year of arbitration, which might just be enough time for them to compete. Bauer joins a Reds rotation consisting of Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, Tanner Roark, Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani, so this upgrade to their pitching staff should help set them apart in this year's wild National League playoff race.

Bauer's history in Cleveland has had considerable highs and lows, but there can be no doubting his effort and love for the game. The clubhouse will be losing a beloved figure, and the majority of fans will acknowledge that on his day, Bauer was an unstoppable force. His personality might not be to everybody's tastes, but when discussing baseball, his knowledge and passion is indisputable. There were many times I wanted the club to wash their hands of him, but ultimately he won me over and I wish him nothing but success going forward.

What about who the Indians got in return?

The marquee name in this trade is Yasiel Puig, the Cuban phenomenon. Like Bauer, the 28 year-old outfielder has enjoyed his share of controversy throughout his career, but I've long been an admirer and have been advocating for the Indians to bring him aboard since 2015. Now we finally have him.

Puig is a right-handed power bat that fills a hole in the outfield the Indians have been trying to fix for some time. Tyler Naquin is quietly enjoying a productive season and his development has been remarkable, but Puig and his notoriously strong arm should take over right field duties immediately. 

Although he hasn't enjoyed the greatest success since his move to Cincinnati, his 2019 numbers are still welcome in Cleveland; in 100 games for the Reds, Puig batted .252 with 22 home runs and 61 RBIs, with 15 doubles as well. He has been more impressive of late, batting .311/.363/.610 with 12 home runs and a .929 OPS since the start of June. Puig will be looking to continue that form once he arrives at Progressive Field. 

Puig's tenure with the Tribe is likely to be short term, since he'll be a free agent after the season, but nobody will be complaining if he can deliver in October. He's exactly what was needed to make the lineup a more potent and dangerous proposition for opposing pitchers.

It might be Puig's name garnering most of the attention but the biggest coup in this trade may belong to Franmil Reyes, the 24 year-old power-hitting outfielder from the Padres.

Reyes' addition to the trade is a surprise, but a very welcome one. I'm still in shock that San Diego were willing to part with him. The Dominican slugger has 27 home runs this season already, leading the Indians by some margin upon his arrival, so his power bat should slot seamlessly into the middle of the Indians lineup. Over 99 games in San Diego he batted .255 with 46 RBIs.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect about Reyes' acquisition is his contract, as he'll be under club control until 2024. Whereas Puig is considered a pure rental in the Tribe's bid for a 2019 championship, Reyes will be a building block for years to come. A quick scan of social media shows just how highly Padres fan rated Reyes and how sad they are to see him go.

The other players included in the trade include pitcher Logan Allen, San Diego's 7th ranked prospect, who has seen time at the Major League level this year but will likely begin his Indians' career in Columbus. Allen was a 2015 8th round pick by the Red Sox and was dealt to the Padres in the deal that sent Craig Kimbrel to Boston.

Scott Moss was the Reds' 12th ranked prospect and the left-handed pitcher hasn't played above the Double-A level yet. Moss was drafted in the 4th round in 2016 and projects as a mid-rotation arm, maybe even a bullpen specialist with a deceptive fastball-slider combo that could hurt left-handed hitters.

Victor Nova is a 19 year-old infielder and outfielder, currently hitting .330 in the Arizona rookie league.

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Overall, I think the majority of Indians fans should feel content with the moves that have been made. Losing Bauer will sting for a while of course, but he was rarely shy about his long-term prospects in Cleveland, and often indicated his future lay elsewhere. The incentive to trade him was always high because of this, and that idea has now become reality. 

The return for him was more than I could have imagined - two powerful MLB-ready outfielders, and three interesting prospects for the future. It gives Cleveland a new foundation to build upon that could reap rewards sooner rather than later.

I consider that business well done.

How Not To Play Fantasy Baseball

On Friday 31st March I participated in my first ever rotisserie baseball auction draft. I've been keen to partake in one ever since I read Sam Walker's excellent Fantasyland many years ago. I've never been a big fantasy baseball player but I've always thought the auction format was how drafts were supposed to be done. This year I was lucky enough to join a group of fellow Brits in a 10 team league, complete with an auction draft, and I jumped at the chance to be a part of it. I spent all of my spare time last week researching draft techniques, brushing up on tactics and strategies, as well as all the latest news on players who don't play for Cleveland.

In this post I'll give you a rundown of the players I picked and my overall draft performance; what I did right, where I went wrong, and how you can avoid being an idiot and leaving $52 on the table. Yeah, I did that.

Without further a do, let's look at my first pick:

Miguel Cabrera, Det 1B - $30

Let's make one thing clear. Not a single draft strategy of mine set out to pick a Tiger with my first overall pick but I guess that's what fate had in store for me. Ahead of the draft my strategy was to avoid overpaying for superstars. Trout, Betts, Arenado and Altuve naturally went off the board fast but for prices that surprised me. Altuve only sold for $35 but I didn't chase him as I considered second base to have depth and my real target was Paul Goldschmidt. Goldy hits for average and power, plus he's a 30 steals man, which is rare for a first baseman. But as the bidding crept over $42, I stupidly decided not to go any further. I figured Trout only went $46, and I wasn't gonna go that high. I'm a fool and should have been more aggressive.

As more players came off the board I felt I was going to miss out on one of the elite position guys, and I decided I had to act with the 13th pick. Cabrera wasn't getting much attention and despite being a Tiger, he still performs at an elite level and he's consistent too. In his 14 year career he's hit under .300 each season just three times, the last time being 2008. When no one raised Cabrera's price above $30, I felt I'd picked up a minor steal. I considered Cabrera to be at least a $35 player so I got him at a very respectable price. May he hit 45 home runs this year but strike out in every plate appearance against the Tribe!

Charlie Blackmon, Col OF - $33

I didn't hang around with my next pick and won Blackmon for $33 with the 15th overall pick; he eventually turned out to be my highest priced player. Charlie is coming off the back of a sensational 2016 season and posted great numbers in every offensive category (.324 batting average, 111 runs, 29 homers, 82 RBI and 17 stolen bases.) Playing in the thin Colorado air of Coors Field, I have a good feeling Blackmon could repeat his numbers from last year, maybe even improve on them if the Rockies are better in 2017 (as they're predicted to be.) I had no problem at all ponying up $33.

Edwin Encarnacion, Cle 1B - $22

Next up was Indians new boy Encarnacion. Hey, I had to have one Cleveland guy on my team! Similar to Cabrera, Edwin wasn't getting a lot of love from the other draftees and I managed to snatch him up for just $22. Even though I'd already taken a first baseman, I felt having two of the very best on my team could only be a good thing, and I can play them both at the same time thanks to the 1B/3B position. Either one of them could make a great trade chip in the future should I need an upgrade in the pitching department. Edwin clubbed his first homer as an Indian in last night's Opening Day win in Texas. Here's to many more!

Andrew McCutchen, Pit OF - $12

It was when McCutchen came calling that I began to get a little more active. I started to notice many of my league-mates had already amassed quite a few players and I was lagging behind a little. I was still unwilling to overpay, especially for pitchers, and I was always on the look out for bargains. When I bid $12 for Cutch, I fully expected the bidding to continue. I had not planned to own him at all, considering he had a down year in 2016. But all of a sudden I became the owner of a brand new Andrew McCutchen, albeit unintentionally. I'm happy I got him at a decent price though and my fingers are crossed he channels his old self in 2017.

Jose Ramirez, Cle 3B - $11

Another Indians player but one I had prioritized early on. Ramirez is not only a very good player who can put up good numbers in every category, he's also incredibly versatile. He's third base and outfield eligible already, but because I knew Jason Kipnis was going to miss a big chunk of April, I had the knowledge that Ramirez is going to play a lot of second base, hopefully adding another string to his fantasy bow. If I can play him over 3 positions, I can utilize him a lot. For $11 I felt I had another steal.

Christian Yelich, Mia OF - $17

Yet another player I thought I underpaid for. I expected Miami's Yelich to easily clear $20+ so I was surprised nobody challenged my bid of $17. Giancarlo Stanton has the power numbers and gets most of the attention but personally I think Yelich is the Marlins' best all-around talent in their outfield, plus he hasn't missed as much time as Stanton has.

Kyle Seager, Sea 3B - $15

Seager was a player I targeted very early on when I was planning my tactics ahead of this draft. I was over the moon to grab him for just $15. He had a career year in 2016 and the Mariners plan to go one better this season by making the post season, and Seager will be a huge part of that. Despite my pick-up of Ramirez earlier, I plan to deploy him all over the place and keep Seager as my de facto third baseman.

DJ LeMahieu, Col 2B - $14

LeMahieu was one of the reasons I wasn't too fussed that I missed out on Altuve earlier. Don't get me wrong, Altuve is one of the best players in the league and LeMahieu isn't on that level but the Rockie will still put up very good numbers, especially batting average. I had no problem parting with $14.

Cody Allen, Cle RP - $8

You may have noticed that this is my first pitcher, and that was partly my plan. My strategy all along was not to pay premium prices for pitchers, as I feel there's a lot to gain from spending little on the under-the-radar pitchers, who will still provide great value. However at this stage I needed somebody. Well Cody Allen is a pretty good somebody and despite Andrew Miller being the Tribe's best relief pitcher, it will still be Allen called upon for save opportunities.

Elvis Andrus, Tex SS - $5

To fill my shortstop vacancy I only ever had eyes for Francisco Lindor but yet again I was being too conservative. Lindor sold pretty early on for $25 and at the time I felt I didn't want to pay more than that. Little did I know I would later have plenty of extra cash to throw at players just like Lindor! Most of the top shortstops had gone when Andrus was nominated, even Dansby Swanson, a guy I was keen on. So when Andrus came up I wasn't going to miss out, and was thrilled to pay just $5.

Matt Harvey, NYM SP - $6

When I grabbed Harvey with the 155th overall pick, the feeling that I had messed up began to dawn on me. I had way more cash than everyone else and quickly saw that players were selling for cheaper prices now, nobody was being drafted for double digit dollars. I had no problem shelling out $6 for Harvey, but I was a bit annoyed with myself that I hadn't gotten any of the top arms earlier, especially when I realised I could have easily afforded them. Still, if healthy I think Harvey should provide me with some decent points.

Brandon Maurer, SD RP - $2

I know it's only two bucks, but I still felt I overpaid slightly for Maurer. He's the Padres' closer and I still needed pitchers at this point. He was chucked out there for a dollar and I thought I'd put a bid in, to raise the price up a bit. Little did I know that nobody else was interested and all of a sudden he was mine. Hey, at least he should get me some early season saves and hopefully he can hold onto the job all year long.

Byron Buxton, Min OF - $7

Buxton is another guy I didn't originally plan for but it seemed like a lot of people were down on the former number one prospect. I'm not expecting greatness either but I think he could be decent and likely to be one of the top guys on a sub-par Twins team. At the very least Buxton should keep his job in centre field this year.

Yasiel Puig, LAD OF - $1

Perhaps my largest mistake right here. A few of the guys in my league are Dodgers fans and had been chatting about Puig prior to the draft beginning so I thought I'd chuck him out there when my nomination came round and watch the Dodgers fans fight over him, hopefully bleeding them of their budgets. Nobody bit though, not even the Dodgers fans. As the seconds ticked by, I realised, "Shit, I'm going to actually draft Puig..." But hey, for a dollar I can always cut him and won't lose any sleep about it. If he somehow chooses this year to realise the potential that he flashed briefly in 2013, then I look like a genius. I don't expect this to happen.

Ben Zobrist, ChC 2B - $4

Similar to Ramirez, I snatched up Zobrist for his versatility, and considering he's going to bat somewhere in that stacked Cubs lineup, he's gonna score runs.

Joc Pederson, LAD OF - $5

The way I see it, Joc has already repaid me, thanks to his grand slam yesterday. I figure he's a good bet to earn me points in home runs and maybe some stolen bases and that's about it.

James Paxton, Sea SP - $3

I needed another pitcher, as I had only gotten three up to this point. Paxton was still on the board and honestly I don't know what to expect from him. All of the pre-season projections I've read reckon he'll have a good year and hopefully being in a pitcher's park like Safeco will help.

J.T. Realmuto, Mia C - $4

A catcher that hits dingers and steals bases? Take my money. I was surprised he was still available so late on in the draft.

Jim Johnson, Atl RP - $1

Finally a pitcher I had planned to draft all along. I fully expected someone else to bid for Johnson but alas he was mine, for just a dollar too.

Rajai Davis, Oak OF - $1

After my mistake with Puig, I wanted an outfielder I actually planned on using and World Series hero Rajai Davis was still available. He's likely to lead off for the A's to begin the year and he'll really help me out with my steals.

Asdrubal Cabrera, NYM SS - $2

Oh Asdrubal, a once-upon-a-time favourite player of mine. I was sad when he left Cleveland. But considering I drafted him as my backup shortstop, I think I got a steal. Dude is still consistent at the plate and he's off to a great start for me already, with a multi-hit performance and a stolen base in yesterday's Mets opener.

Ian Kennedy, KC SP - $1
J.A. Happ, Tor SP - $1
Ivan Nova, Pit SP - $2
Vince Velasquez, Phi SP - $1

It was these final four picks, right at the end of the draft, where I executed my pitching strategy. My goal all along was to targets these guys, or pitchers just like them. Low cost, high reward players who come with a bit of risk but I'm happy to take that chance given the pennies I paid for them. I am especially happy with getting the ever-consistent Kennedy and the promising Velasquez.

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Final Thoughts

I had $260 to spend and I finished with $52 left over. That's a rookie mistake, plain for all to see, but a rookie is exactly what I am where auction drafts are concerned. I was pretty annoyed with myself, because I could have easily spent way more in the early rounds and gotten one of the mega stars like Altuve or Betts, who both went for less than $40.

However I'm actually very happy with the way my team came out. On first appearances my pitching looks weak but then I have some very good hitters in positions where I have depth, so my plan is to potentially trade one or two of them further into the season for a pitching upgrade (if necessary.)

Whatever the result is at the end of the season, I really enjoyed my first auction draft and I'm very keen to do more in the future. Only time will tell how my team performss but with the right moves, I think my team has what it takes to contend (or be respectable at least!)

Thanks for reading.

Fixing The Indians This Off-Season: Part 2

Since my last post, the MLB Hot Stove has begun to heat up and free agents are finally starting to move. One of the first major dominoes to fall was David Price, who signed a record contract in Boston this week, and now all eyes turn to Zack Greinke and where he could end up.

Even our Indians have been busy, making a small trade with the Angels yesterday, acquiring outfielder Collin Cowgill for cash considerations, DFA'ing reliever Nick Hagadone in the process to make room. This is a typical Indians trade, a low risk move that adds some depth to the roster. Cowgill is expected to platoon with Lonnie Chisenhall in right field and possibly back-up Abraham Almonte in center field. Collin is a right-handed-hitting outfielder (something our lineup lacks) who hits lefties pretty well (.271 average) and plays plus defense in all three outfield spots. I don't think this is the end of the Indians trying to upgrade the outfield but it's a nice minor move that could pay off and he'll likely see playing time whenever the Tribe face an opposing team's southpaw.

Which leads me onto the second part of my plan to fix the Indians this off-season. Part one looked at potential outfield free agents that could be acquired, whereas part two will look at possible trade targets that would significantly improve the Tribe's lineup.

Upgrade The Outfield Part 2: Trading For Outfield Help

The general consensus among fans and critics regarding the Indians and their attempt to upgrade their lineup sees at least one of our starting pitchers leaving the club in return for a bat that would take our offensive production up a notch. All the following trade scenarios are based on this premise, as the Indians have what many teams crave: young and effective pitching that is under club control for a good price. The market for quality pitching is so thin that teams have to pretty much overpay (see J.A. Happ's deal in Toronto) and so the Indians are in a position where they can demand a lot for one of their highly-prized arms. So let's look at the first trade target:

Yasiel Puig

The Cuban outfielder divides opinion. There's no doubt of his potential as a star player but then we've also seen the other, darker side of his production as a very average, and very distracting player in 2015.

When he burst onto the scene in 2013, the Dodgers had a phenomenon on their hands not seen since the days of pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. Puig absolutely raked in 2013, batting .319 and producing a stellar 159 OPS+, and kept that level of production going for the majority of 2014, batting .296 with a 145 OPS+. But 2014 also saw the problems that would plague Puig start to creep in. Word started to spread that he was becoming a locker-room nuisance, that teammates were tiring of his off-field antics and his annoying entourage. Then in 2015 Puig crashed to earth, playing in only 79 games and batting just .255, whilst still pissing people off. He went from being the toast of Los Angeles to many people feeling that the Dodgers would be better off washing their hands of him.

But there's still a lot of positives surrounding Puig. He'll be just 25 on Opening Day and won't be a free agent until 2020, although he'll cost around $20 million over the next 3 years, which is a lot for a club like the Indians but not a lot when you consider what a player with his skill-set should cost. He's a right-handed bat with the ability to hit for power, something our lineup desperately needs, and he's a tremendous athlete. His production dropped off in 2015 largely because of injury but his off-field shenanigans probably also played a part. But if you put him in Cleveland, without the bright lights and distractions of LA, would he rededicate himself to the game? It's a strong possibility, just look at the Cavaliers' JR Smith since he moved away from New York. .

My biggest issue with Puig is his attitude and mental state, and whether the Indians would put up with all of his baggage. However, skipper Terry Francona has previous experience dealing with difficult outfielders, managing Manny Ramirez for a long time in Boston, so I feel like Francona could handle anything Puig has to throw at him.

Still, the risk is high with this trade. What would we have to give up? After Puig's poor 2015 showing, his trade value is lower than it would have been just a year ago, but the Dodgers would still command a lot in return. If they lose Zack Greinke in free agency, which is looking increasingly likely, then they will want a top quality starter to slot straight into their rotation. Any of our top three guys would be discussed, but I think a package of Carlos Carrasco and one of our outfield prospects (we'll go with Zimmer here to really sweeten the deal) could be enough to persuade the Dodgers to part with Puig. Here's my deal:

CLE sends: RHP Carlos Carrasco and OF Bradley Zimmer
LAD sends: OF Yasiel Puig

Mookie Betts

I'm a huge fan of Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts and he would solve the Indians center field problem instantly. Betts is one of the most exciting young players in baseball and had an outstanding 2015 season at just 22 years of age. In 145 games Betts had a batting line of .291/.341/.479 (BA/OBP/SLG), clubbing 18 home runs with 77 RBIs, stealing 21 bases, on his way to a 118 OPS+ and a 4.8 WAR. He's now 23 years-old and is under club control until 2021, and isn't arbitration eligible until 2018. To put it simply, Betts would be my dream pickup if I could trade for anybody in MLB (outside of Mike Trout of course.)

With the Red Sox committing a record $217 million over 7 years to ace pitcher David Price, Boston have shown the league that they are ready to compete for a World Series once again. However, even with Price in their rotation, they still lack the starting pitching to be a true contender. You never know which Clay Buchholz will turn up, even when he's healthy, and Rick Porcello and Wade Miley will eat innings but won't give you the production a true number two starter would. Eduardo Rodriguez has potential but might still need time to grow. So would Boston be interested in adding another ace to their rotation? If they want to win right now, I think they would.

Now the painful part to acquiring Betts would likely see the Tribe lose Corey Kluber. Kluber is the undisputed staff ace, our 2014 Cy Young winner who I love dearly, but if I can acquire 23 year-old Betts in exchange for the turning-30-in-April Kluber, I would do that deal. Pitchers are notoriously unpredictable with injuries anyway, but once they get north of 30, the likelihood of them staying healthy drastically decreases. Despite Kluber having a good history with injuries, the Indians would almost certainly get more years of quality production out of Betts. Kluber is still at the peak of his powers and could have a few Cy Young-worthy seasons left in the tank, so if the Red Sox were willing to part with Betts, and it would take some persuasion, I think the Tribe could grab a pitching prospect in return. Here's my deal:

CLE sends: RHP Corey Kluber and OF/1B Mike Papi
BOS sends: OF Mookie Betts and RHP Michael Kopech

My reasoning here is Boston gets another ace in Kluber (can you imagine a rotation headed by Price AND Kluber? They would jump at this!) and we get our star outfielder in Betts, who the Sox would instantly replace with Jackie Bradley Jr. or Brock Holt. If the deal needed more than just a straight swap of star players, and it probably would, then Boston can have our number 13 prospect Mike Papi, who can play in the corner outfield spots or 1B (hey, they need a new Papi now Ortiz is retiring...) and the Indians could have Kopech, Boston's second-best pitching prospect and 5th overall.

This trade would dramatically improve both teams instantly and although Boston now have Price and don't necessarily need Kluber, I wonder if the temptation of having two aces in the same rotation could sway them into parting with Betts...

Jorge Soler

With the Cubs missing out on David Price to Boston and Zack Greinke almost certainly staying in California with either the Dodgers or the Giants, the top-tier pitcher Chicago would love to acquire will almost certainly have to come via trade.

The Cubs lineup boasts a number of young and promising bats and the guy I'd like the most on their roster would be Jorge Soler. The 23 year-old Cuban right fielder (who is 24 by Opening Day) had a respectable, if not disappointing 2015 season, batting .262 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs and a slightly below-average 97 OPS+ over 101 games played. He had a terrific post-season, batting .474 with 3 homers and a .600 OBP in 7 games against the Mets and the Cardinals. The Cubs hope he can carry that form into 2016 and start to realize his enormous potential.

I look at Soler as a Puig-lite without all the bad attitude issues. Soler does strike out too much, with 121 K's in 366 at-bats and he should probably hit more homers because his line drives fly off his bat. His lack of homers could just be a fluke, and as he gets older this will probably be corrected over time.

Trading for Soler is a small risk, because the Indians would be banking on him continuing to develop, so they wouldn't be trading for the finished package like they would if they went after a Carlos Gonzalez or a Brett Gardner. But that also means the Tribe wouldn't have to give up so much in a trade. Here would be my deal:

CLE sends: RHP Danny Salazar
CHI sends: RF Jorge Soler

Out of Kluber, Carrasco and Salazar, unfortunately Danny is the odd man out from that group that I'd be willing to let go for Soler. Salazar had a superb 2015, making 30 starts with a 3.45 ERA, with 195 strikeouts in 185 innings. He's only 25 and under club control until 2021, something that would be immensely appealing to the Cubs. The reason I'm willing to give up on Salazar is purely because of his history with injuries. Pitchers are unpredictable at best and if we could get a young outfield player in return for a pitcher that could get hurt in the near-future, well I'm willing to take a risk on the potential of Soler in this situation. I'm a big fan of Salazar and there's a huge part of me that would regret giving up on him this early in his career, but the possibility of Soler growing into an All Star, well I'm willing to take that risk. If the Cubs would take someone like Trevor Bauer instead of Salazar, I would jump on that trade, but I don't think Chicago would settle for anybody less than one of our top three arms.

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That's three possible trade scenarios, and I could have done many more. Remember, this is complete fantasy and fan wish-fulfillment. 

Thanks for reading.