2020 TRIBE Opening Day Roster....many (15?) are locked in now!

[mjp28]

Who might make the 2020 Tribe's Opening Day roster?.... actually a lot of (15?) locked in players!   

By Mandy Bell  @MandyBell02    January 14, 2020.  https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-2020-opening-day-roster-projection

•  
• CLEVELAND -- The countdown to Spring Training is officially on. The Indians have addressed their biggest need and will take the final few weeks of the offseason to find last-minute ways to improve their roster heading into camp. But what would the team look like if the season began tomorrow?

For the first time, all 30 Major League teams will be working with a 26-man roster that will expand to just 28 players once the calendar flips to September. Let’s take an early look at who could fill those 26 spots on Opening Day........ continued in the link........

Catcher
Lock: Roberto Pérez   Possibilities: Sandy León.................more details in the link.....

First base
Lock: Carlos Santana  Possibilities: Jake Bauers, Bobby Bradley

Second base
Lock: Cesar Hernandez   Possibilities: Christian Arroyo, Yu Chang, Andrew Velazquez, Mike Freeman

Shortstop
Lock: Francisco Lindor   Possibilities: Chang, Freeman

Third base
Lock: José Ramírez   Possibilities: Chang, Arroyo, Freeman

Outfield
Locks: Oscar Mercado, Franmil Reyes
Possibilities: Jordan Luplow, DeShields, Greg Allen, Bauers, Bradley Zimmer, Daniel Johnson, Ka’ai Tom, free agent or trade

Starting pitchers
Locks: Carlos Carrasco, Mike Clevinger, Shane  Biebe.r   Possibilities: Zach Plesac, Aaron Civale, Adam Plutko, Jefry Rodriguez, Logan Allen, Scott Moss

Relievers
Locks: Brad Hand, Nick Wittgren, Adam Cimber, Oliver Pérez  Possibilities: Emmanuel Clase, James Karinchak, Rodriguez, Hunter Wood, James Hoyt, Plutko, free agent or trade

[mjp28]

~ AND ~

Feb. 11: Voluntary reporting date for pitchers, catchers and injured players report to Goodyear, Ariz.

Feb. 16: Voluntary reporting date for veteran players.

Feb. 21: Indians Spring Training opener vs. Cincinnati at Goodyear Ballpark.

[mjp28]

The TRIBE has some potentially good young players like Mercado and some that can hit the ball like Reyes and Bradley.

I always wonder if Zimmer will ever come back to his 5 tool player form?

YES they can contend for the ALC against Minnesota.

[The Gipper]

I still think the near perfect lineup of just about any baseball team I have ever seen was:

C  Sandy Alomar Jr. 

1B  Paul Sorrento

2B  Carlos.... 1 if by land, 2 if by sea  3 if Baerga

SS Omar Vizquel

3B  Jim Thome

LF  Albert Bell

CF  Kenny Lofton

RF Manny Ramirez       (or was it Manny in left and Bell in right)

P   ??

It could have only been better by putting Thome at first, and someone else good at 3rd.  The only other thing is that aside from Omar, the infield defense could have been better, but Omar makes up for a lot of that. 

[mjp28]

At one time 7 or 8 of those guys were hitting around or above .300.  

Hargrove still says and rightfully so that they were right there (or better) than the '27 Yankee$.  Remember the 100-44 year?

And all time:

• 1906 Chicago Cubs: 116-36 (.763), lost World Series. ...
• 2001 Seattle Mariners: 116-46 (.716), lost in ALCS. ...
• 1998 New York Yankees: 114-48 (.704), won World Series. ...
• 1954 Cleveland Indians: 111-43 (.721), lost World Series. ...
• 1927 New York Yankees: 110-44 (.714), won World Series.

[mjp28]

There for awhile Harrgrove had the easiest managers job on offense in MLB -but-. if they only had a true #1 pitcher they coulda won several rings.

Plenty of #2 and #3 guys and a decent pen but they couldn't dominate in game 1.

Strange since then they have had several Cy Young winners......oh well.

[mjp28]

2020 mjp rumourville.......

CLEVELAND – Mandy Bell - Another week has passed without the Indians making a last-minute signing in an attempt to bolster the roster right before Spring Training. Could a deal still be coming? What happens if the Tribe doesn’t make a big move? Let’s take a look in this week’s Inbox.

Anything on Puig? What about trading for an outfielder? Marte?

There have been no new developments on the Indians’ interest in Yasiel Puig, but as long as the outfielder remains on the free-agent market, it’s still a possibility that a reunion between the two could happen in 2020. Considering the Tribe’s payroll is slated to sit around $90 million, according to Cot’s Contracts, it’s reasonable to think Puig would be affordable.

As far as a Starling Marte trade goes, it all depends on what the Pirates would ask for him. Pittsburgh could be interested in the Indians’ rotation depth, especially after finishing 2019 with a collective 5.18 team ERA, but how comfortable would the Indians be if they had to tap into that depth after already trading away Corey Kluber? They have Mike Clevinger, Shane B.ieber, Carlos Carrasco, Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac, Adam Plutko, Jefry Rodriguez, Logan Allen, Scott Moss and Triston McKenzie, which gives them some breathing room. But last year the club learned just how valuable that depth was after injuries began to pile up.

The Mets appear to be a favorite if a Marte deal were to happen, but the Indians have some pitching to participate in conversations if the Pirates would be willing to listen. Overall, it seems unlikely this deal would be done

Have there been any new discussions between the Indians and Yasiel Puig of late? If they don't resign him, what are the chances that Daniel Johnson makes the Opening Day roster?

Like previously stated, there’s nothing new regarding Puig, but not signing the former Tribe member certainly could help Daniel Johnson’s chances of breaking camp with the club. The fewer candidates in the outfield, the better his odds are of being on the Opening Day roster.

With that being said, Johnson will still be competing with Jordan Luplow, Delino DeShields, Greg Allen, Jake Bauers, Bradley Zimmer and Franmil Reyes for a spot, assuming Tyler Naquin is still ruled out as he recovers from right ACL surgery in September. Oscar Mercado is the only guaranteed outfield starter next year.