MVN: Most Valuable Network

The Cleveland Indians continued an 18-year streak of avoiding salary arbitration when they signed back-up catcher Kelly Shoppach to a one-year, $1.95 million dollar deal today.  The streak will endure because Shoppach was the only player eligible for arbitration this offseason.

Shoppach proved to be one of the most valuable Indians last year when catcher Victor Martinez came up lame for nearly the entire season.  Shoppach stepped into the starting catching job and responded with 21 homers and 55 RBI.  This came after a 2007 offseason that saw Shoppach mentioned in several trades including a potential deal for Jason Bay that would have also included Cliff Lee.

Shoppach's 2008 season have put the trade-target squarely on his back.  Now according to several sources, the Indians are set with their 2009 roster, and I don't disagree with that sentiment at all.  At the same time, things could change on a dime.  I suspect the Indians will roll into spring training with what they got and be perfectly content.  At the same time, if the right deal comes along, Shoppach could still get dealt.

Desperate times bring desperate measures, and should a team like the Red Sox not find the catcher they want, I do believe Cleveland will get a call.  I used to be on the fence about Shoppach getting dealt, but have altered that stance a bit.  If the Indians could land a top prospect or established starter for the Catcher, you make that move.  Yes, you would be leveraging your offense in case VMart and/or Hafner can't return, but I think I'd gamble on bolstering the rotation ahead of counting on the offense.  That said, it's likely the Indians could get a cheap rental should they want one.

As far as Shoppach goes, he's a solid player.  There's something about him that screams 1970's.  No, not like Sal Fasano, but is anyone really like Sal Fasano?...really?  Why do I feel a Biff Pocaroba reference.

It's nice to be excited every year about baseball again.  My goal before death is to witness a Tribe world series championship, and this waiting is really killing my odds.  Still, through all the whining and moaning that I'm likely to do here over the next hundred years or so (I'm planning on freezing my head like Ted Williams), it sure is a lot better than being a Pittsburgh Pirates' fan, isn't it?  Cleveland went out and made some moves to make the team better.  Whether they carry the team to the World Series title or implode, it's good to see chances being taken.  As my grandfather always said, it's better to have a fighter in the ring than no fighter at all.

One last thought about the Tribe and this blog.  I started blogging Indians about eight years ago and proceeded to work myself through four blogs before landing here.  There isn't anything better than talking about your team, is there?  There's something special about the irreverence of talking about a trade you know will never happen but still want to talk about, bashing the manager when the gamble you'd been pulling for all game explodes in his face (the irony), or just plain rolling out the giddiness when there a walk-off home run.  It's a bar without the booze.

Wait a second...what fun is that?

Michael Aubrey cleared waivers today and was outrighted to Columbus.  He'll be a non-roster invitee in the spring.  He virtually has no chance of making the big league club unless their is a rash of injuries.  Still, he's a solid ballplayer who provides some insurance.  Who knows, maybe he'll explode in the spring and ultimately become a piece in a minor trade, although his clearing waivers doesn't bode well for the former first round pick.

Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice were both elected to baseball's hall of fame.  My first memory of Rickey Henderson came in his rookie season when I was a wee little one at Municipal Stadium.  I was hanging around along the third base line where our season tickets were when this young guy for the A's walked over and handed me a baseball.  He proceeded to sign it and talk to me about the Indians, why I should like the A's, and a whole bunch of other things.  I had no clue who the guy was, but couldn't believe he walked up to me and handed me a ball.  He proceeded to stand there for ten minutes or so and single-handedly got me several other A's players (including Tony Armas, which was a big deal back then).  I didn't know who this guy was until he stole three bases that day.  Henderson went on to become the all-time steals and runs leader, and was an enigma to the press and the fans over the years.  I always saw him as that rookie who took the time to sign a ball.  Congrats to Rickey and to Rice.