Back for another installment of my MLB Offseason Breakdown for the 2020 season. If you are new here, what I do is write about all the acquisitions and losses the team had, my projected lineups and rotations, grade for the offseason, and my prediction for the team in the 2020 season. Let’s get into it.
Offseason Acquisition and Loses:
Cleveland trades RHP Corey Kluber to Texas for RHP Emmanuel Clase and CF Delino DeShields
This was not a good trade for the Indians as it seems like they got fleeced. I don’t know much about Clase so he might turn out to be good, but getting just Clase and DeShields is a pretty bad trade. Kluber was one of the better pitchers in baseball from 2014-2018, winning 2 Cy Youngs at those times, so you expect to get more than one top tier prospects from Texas. Also, DeShields isn’t even projected to start on the opening day roster.
2B Cesar Hernandez signs a 1 year $6.25 million contract
Cleveland needed to replace veteran second baseman Jason Kipnis as he left for the Cubs this offseason, also has not played like his normal self the past few seasons, so the Indians brought in Hernandez. Hernandez is a fine hitter as he hit .279 last season and came home 77 times. Also, Hernandez is a better replacement defensively then Kipnis as he has a 1.2 better dWAR last season.
RHP Tyler Clippard signs a 1 year $2.75 million contract
If I was Cleveland here, I would have brought back Clippard. Clippard is a very inconsistent player, but last year he showed good strides in an Indians uniform, posting a 2.90 ERA in 62.0 innings pitched. Also, the Indians should have looked to improve their bullpen this offseason if they weren’t going to being back Clippard, but they didn’t.
RF Domingo Santana signs a 1 year $1.5 million contract
Santana has had a pretty below-average career since being called up by Houston in 2014, now playing for his 4th team, but I do like this signing. Santana can bring power to your lineup as he has had 2 seasons where he hit over 20 home runs. He hasn’t looked the same since his breakout season in 2017, but I feel like he will be a serviceable DH for Cleveland.
Projected Lineup:
C: Roberto Perez
1B: Carlos Santana
2B: Cesar Hernandez
3B: Jose Rameriez
SS: Francisco Lindor
LF: Jordan Luplow
CF: Oscar Mercado
RF: Franmil Reyes
DH: Domingo Santana
Projected Rotation
1. Mike Clevinger
2. Shane Beiber
3. Carlos Carrasco
4. Zach Plesac
5. Aaron Civale
Offseason Grade: C-
2020 Prediction:
I see the Indians having a very similar season from last year as they will compete for a wild card spot, but I don’t see them making it. The AL Central got some good teams in the Twins and White Sox, and I see Cleveland falling behind them in the standing and coming in third place.
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Previous Offseason Breakdowns:
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Atlanta Braves
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Baltimore Orioles
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Boston Red Sox
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Chicago Cubs
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Chicago White Sox
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Cincinnati Reds
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