Indians interested in Jose Valverde, Mills & Huff honored and a new 40-man roster

Tribe Report

November 20, 2008

Indians interested in Jose Valverde, Mills & Huff honored and a new 40-man roster

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By James Pete

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Could Jose Valverde be the major change the Indians need in their pen?--photo courtesy of cobalt123/flickr

There seems to be a few newish rumors floating around involving a potential big splash for a team hunting for a closer. According to the Houston Chronicle, closer Jose Valverde and 3B Ty Wigginton are both available in a trade. Valverde has finished tops in saves in the NL the past two seasons. He pitched a monstrous 72 IP this year, which is a ton for a closer, and saved 44 games. He did blow seven games, and had a high ERA (3.38) and WHIP (1.82). Here's the thing though...he's certainly top ten, and likely ranked ahead of closers such as Kerry Wood, J.J. Putz and every other closer listed that the Indians are thinking about. He's eligible for arbitration this year, and will become a free agent next year.

Ty Wigginton could be the third baseman we need. He's not overtly powerful, but has 25-homer power. Trading for both might be something the Indians are discussing.

The Astros are looking for young pitching, and would likely start at guys like Adam Miller and David Huff.

Wigginton made about 4 1/2 million last season, and should get a nice raise in arbitration. Valverde made slightly more at 4.7 million. It would probably cost the Indians 12 of their 15 or so free million, which likely means the Indians would be dealing from that point on to add bulk to their rotation.

Will they make the move? Who knows, but it is an interesting possibility.

The Cleveland Indians announced that first baseman Beau Mills was named minor league player of the year and that starter David Huff was named minor league pitcher of the year for the Indians' organization. Neither was a surprise.

Mills was given the Lou Boudreau award after showcasing many of the talents that caused the Tribe to select the infielder in the first round of last season's draft. Mills was named the Carolina League MVP after batting .293 with 78 runs scored, 34 doubles, three triples, 21 homers and 90 RBI. He rolled out an impressive .506 slugging percentage and a .880 OPS in 125 games with Kinston this season.

Yesterday, Mills was ranked #5 in Baseball America's annual organizational top 10 prospects, and he's really beginning to come into his own. Not only does he have offensive pop, but he also carries a solid glove at first base after being named the Carolina League's best defensive first baseman. Solid stuff for a solid player.

David Huff pulled in the Bob Feller award for minor league pitcher of the year after finally achieving his #1 status this year, playing healthy for the first time in his career. Huff went 11-5 combine at AA Akron and AAA Buffalo, with a 2.52 ERA in 146.1IP. He gave up only 112 hits, 41ER, 29BB and struck out 143. Yesterday, Huff was named the eighth best prospect in the Indians organization in the Baseball America top 10.

Huff will likely showcase his talents in Cleveland early on in the 2009 season, with Beau Mills making his appearance later in 2009, or surely in 2010. The ceilings are high for both.
The Cleveland Indians added five players to their 40-man roster today. This wasn't without a bit of speculation that there was a deal in the works. The Indians, along with several other clubs had held off adding some players to the roster as the night progressed. It doesn't appear that there is a move in the mix as it stands, but it did look like something was being worked on throughout the day.

With that said, the Indians purchased the contracts of catchers Carlos Santana and Chris Gimenez, outfielder Trevor Crowe and right-handed reliever Jeff Stevens from Triple-A Columbus, and right-hander Hector Rondon from Class A Kinston.

The current 40-man roster stands at 39. It's believed that the Indians may make a move between now and the rule V draft, and they'd need to spot open for acquisitions. The draft will take place on December 11th.

There are a couple of interesting players that I thought would get rostered for sure. Jordan Brown seems the odd man out of tonight's roster moves. Brown was the former Eastern League and Carolina League MVP. His downfalls are lack of power as a first baseman, but it was generally believed that the tough and scrappy Brown would be protected either for trade value or as a possibility for the big club this season. Chuck Lofgren was also left off the roster.

Any player taken in the rule 5 draft would have to remain with the team that selected them for the entire year, or be forced to either send the player back, or work out a trade. I can't fathom Lofgren being a guy that would roll out with the big club for anyone all year. Brown is ready, and I really think he'll be gone.

You just never know though, right Brian Barton?

Tags: Cleveland Indians, Indians, James Pete, MLB, MVN, Tribe Report

Discussion

4 Comments on "Indians interested in Jose Valverde, Mills & Huff honored and a new 40-man roster"

Posted by James Pete, November 21, 2008 12:59 AM

What I didn't say here is that Valverde would provide the Indians with a similar one-year bridge that a guy like Hoffman would at roughly the same salary, give or take a million.

The difference would obviously be that the Indians would have to give up a prospect to get it done. If I were Houston, I'd demand Huff or Miller, and say forget it.

I keep hearing Laffey's name, and don't get me wrong, he has value, but not straight up for the NL saves leader. That seems a bit laughable.

Who's better, Valverde or Hoffman? I think it's debatable, but both would provide the Indians with a bridge to youth.

Hoffman comes with just a salary, while Valverde comes with us losing a player, and probably the same salary...

Posted by Charlie, November 21, 2008 8:39 AM

"Hoffman comes with just a salary, while Valverde comes with us losing a player, and probably the same salary..."

For me, that says it all. Valverde would be a welcome addition, all else equal ... his WHIP last year was actually 1.18, right in line with his career average and actually lower than some guys like K-Rod and Lidge. And he's obviously much younger than Hoffman. But if we're only talking about a 1 or 2 year rental, age suddenly matters much less.

The other question is: are the Indians in a "win now, win at all costs mode"? If you'd asked me before last year, when we were a win from making it to the Series, I might have said "yes" or at least "we should be". But after this disappointing year? I'm hesitant to give up legit prospects, especially for rentals, when it's not clear that the Tribe is in a position to win the Series in the next year or two.

Wigginton's a bit interesting, as he seems like a better version of Casey Blake offensively at least (I don't know a thing about his defense). I've had Ty on a fantasy team or two because of his positional flexibility but I don't know how that translates in real life on the field =)

Jayson Stark has a nice piece on how the market for closers is an extreme buyers' market. The Indians have a chance to upgrade here and hopefully not give up too much to do it. I hope they can make a smart move to kick off the offseason.

Posted by Michael Taylor in reply to comment from James Pete, November 21, 2008 8:45 AM

Key points right there James. I really don't see this deal getting done for those reasons.

The Indians also don't have much as far as contracts coming off of the book after '09 either to be able to really afford to resign the increase in contracts that these two will command. Which as Richard Justice points out is why the Astros are possibly moving them. So for a possible one-year rental the Indians would be trading away the replacements for an all-in attempt this year.

If I were in Shapiro's shoes, no way I deal either Huff or Miller. You know those are the names that are coming up. The Astros need pitching, and while the Indians have a surplus of arms ready to be major league pitchers, only Huff (maybe Laffey, but to a lesser potential) is ready to possibly be an impact guy in the rotation now that Miller is in the 'pen.

A name that also will come up in these talks will be Wes Hodges. The Astros would need a 3B to take over very soon and Hodges would fill that, while leaving the Indians the option of moving Peralta to 3B if Wigginton should leave after '09.

I'm against this trade and the contiued Orlando Hudson rumors. I've made the comparison before that Hudson is a slightly better version of our old friend Ronnie Belliard (who has never been anywhere near 5yr. $50mil). That contract and his injury scare me to death.

Posted by Rlaninthesun, November 21, 2008 11:24 AM

Living in Az I have to disagree w/Michael about Hudson. He is the optimum fit for the money - and the persistant 'fragile' rap is as off as the lingering rumors that he's a bad mouth in the clubhouse.

With the D'Backs the guy is much loved and they are already regretting not being able to retain him.

The guy is worth 10+ mil a year. He's always been a regular gold glove competitor - and he has worked on maturing into an offensive threat. But the most galling rap is about his attitude - which is crap.

He is as solid a clubhouse character as is on the market period.

Valverde is a completly different story. He's immature, a hot head, stubbornly refuses to be coached, and the worst kind of finger pointer when in a slump. In short, a sports Diva.

He has great talent. His arm is fantastic. But. The D'backs paid dearly when beliving that Brandan Lyon could replace him - esspecially when Lyon hit the wall in Aug/Sept - it arguably cost them the division.

But there really was barely a peep out of the fan base here when they dumped Valverde. Because he was the most unpopular closer to ever wear the uni here - he walks a ton and is a hold your breath closer with all the baggage already mentioned.

As for Wiggington - I see nothing to get excited about - I'd rather LET HODGES take a shot now than see him off to Huston for a shot in '10.

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Indians interested in Jose Valverde, Mills & Huff honored and a new 40-man roster

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