January 5, 2009
Indians to address starting rotation
The position Shapiro will be scouring the free agent market for over the next month is starting pitching. Indians.com's writer, Anthony Castrovince noted today that the Indians have spent most of their monetary resources in their hot stove acquisitions so far this year, and can only make another big splash if they make a trade. There's no doubt that there is still the potential that the Indians will go out and make a deal if there's one to be had.
They are just as likely to let the free agent market play out and try and steal a couple of project players closer to spring training. There are several players still out there that could make a difference, and some of them will likely sign a cheap deal. Of course, the Indians may be looking at having to sign a guy as a non-roster invitee to afford them on the roster.
It does seem frustrating that this club could be $7 million dollars away from having a complete team, and can't pull the trigger on the final piece without either assuring themselves of a non-profit year or dealing away an important cog to their 2009 team.
So what will Shapiro and the Indians do?
At the same time, it's possible that Shoppach could land them the #3 starter that the Indians covet. It's easy to look out and see the teams that need catchers, with the Boston Red Sox seemingly at the front of the pack. Shoppach, a Red Sox minor leaguer, has ties there, and it's a distinct possibility that Shapiro and Theo Epstein have discussed the potential for a deal over the past month, and will continue talking. It's not likely that the Indians can get the type of player they want from the Sox, who won't trade Justin Masterson, who probably isn't the #3 guy they'd want anyways. There are players out there, but probably not the types of names that can address the need for the price the Indians would have to pay.
With little money to spend, that leaves the Indians with few choices. Castrovince mentions "reclamation projects" such as Carl Pavano and Kris Benson. Benson and the Indians have had conversations, but nothing has materialized. Benson hasn't been relevant in perhaps ever, unless you count his hot wife threatening to sleep with the entire Orioles team, and hasn't played in the majors since 2006. Pavano is a bit more intriguing, making it back to the Yankees late last season and going 4-2 in seven starts. Freddy Garcia is also probably considered on this list, and would be in the same category as Pavano.
It's also worth mentioning that the White Sox are interesting in both Garcia and Pavano, which will likely put him on the Indians radar, if the Indians continue down their 2008/2009 hot stove path of robbing division teams of players.
Andy Pettitte is still out there, as is Randy Wolf and Oliver Perez, and all three could be solid additions to the Indians rotation should they agree to a smaller deal to sign with the club, but that's not likely. With the Indians' payroll in the realm of $80 million, I can't see them spending the likely one-year, six or seven million that I'm betting those guys are looking for. The Indians just don't have the money to go out and sign guys like that. Of course, this is a curious market, so you just never know. There is the potential that the Indians could trade off a guy like Shoppach for a Justin Masterson (won't happen), then go out and sign a player like Wolf or Perez, but Shoppach's salary won't match, and they won't get Masterson.
Some crazy discussions at the bar on Sunday led us into the realm of Bartolo Colon, but I just can't see signing a guy who's just as likely to eat the hitters as he is to get them out.
The key to all of this is that there are options out there, and as spring training looms (nearly a month out folks), some of these guys are going to be out there for a bargain.
The best part about it all? It looks like Mr. Relentless, Mark Shapiro will be in the middle of all the discussions.
Discussion
13 Comments on "Indians to address starting rotation"
#1
Posted by Cooler Head, January 6, 2009 12:52 AM
Wow, I was just channeling "whatever happened to Bartolo Colon, did a google search, and your article came up. If the Indians could sign the guy, I would NOT let him start the season in April I would use February and March for absolute fitness training, and then bring him along in April to get up to speed.
Bartolo Colon seems to pride himself on his using his tree trunk legs to power the ball over the plate. I just don't understand how he can enjoy being an extra 25 pounds fat and in the process make himself an unreliable pitcher whose career faded much to early.
#2
Posted by Stebbins14, January 6, 2009 8:07 AM
Freddy Garcia fits the Indians mold perfectly. He used to be pretty good, has battled some injuries, and seems to be healthy. If I remember correctly he pitched a couple of games for the Tigers at the end of the year last year. Another advantage to signing him other than shoring up the rotation would be to keep him from going back to the Tigers or the White Sox. The problem with that, if either team really wants Garcia, they will simply outbid the Indians and take him
#3
Posted by Michael Taylor, January 6, 2009 8:29 AM
El Guapo! I was thinking about him too when I was looking over FA lists. He did have a few innings with BOS last year, but I wouldn't expect too much. Fastball is gone, and he never really had much secondary to that. If he'd accept a minor league deal maybe, but as we saw last year he likely won't accept that and would probably spend most of his time on the DL.
I think that is about as much as Indians fans should expect from here on out. Mark Shapiro stated that he'll have to be creative, which to me sounds like the market for Shoppach may not be what they were expecting, plus with the payroll maxed out already the Tribe would have to ship out a contract to get a proven guy. I'll have more in an upcoming post, but I think Shapiro is done other than these spring invitees.
#4
Posted by AJ, January 6, 2009 12:20 PM
MLBtraderumors.com is reporting (via ESPN) that the Tribe are in talks with Carl Pavano. I can't decide my feelings on this one... I'd love to sign him and see him revert to his old self now that he's not a Yankee, but after the debacle of a free agent he was with the Yanks... it scares me..
#5
Posted by Rlaninthesun, January 6, 2009 12:41 PM
I agree with Michael. After all, given Shapiro's activity since C.C. & Blake, he's plotted, delt and swapped far more than the day he took over.
I identify with James thirst for one final deal to solidify a true weakness, but not that long ago we all lamented along with J.P. over Shapiro's agonizing habit of musing only to stand pat.
J.P.'s prior piece on Reyes really says it all. If his arm doesn't implode - then Westbrook is akin to an All-Star break 'acquisition' - and shuffling Sowers/Laffey/Huff/Lewis (and manybe even Jackson) - makes a lot of sense.
Spring training is going to be a blast with this kind of open competition for a Starting Ro spot.
#6
Posted by Rlaninthesun, January 6, 2009 12:49 PM
I'd love to see Pavano on a one year. But I read that he strung along the Marlins over - of all things - MONEY! He did look pretty decent in late season action for NY.
#7
Posted by Michael Taylor in reply to comment from AJ, January 6, 2009 12:53 PM
Thanks for the update AJ! Not sure how excited I am about possibly spending guaranteed money to a pitcher who never pitches, but if it happens it would certainly be a one-year deal. So how much are we really talking for him? Maybe $1-2 mil at most for the odd chance that he can rekindle one season of magic to help steady a rotation? I could live with it, but at the same his upside is really not much more than what we already have in our #3/4/5 guys. So then I think why sign him to block similar, younger talent? I was hoping for more, but this may be the best that the Indians can get.
#8
Posted by Rlaninthesun, January 6, 2009 1:22 PM
Cruised the Posts @ MLB - & it appears Shapiro may take a flyer on Pavano for the 2 Mil the Marlins swatted down. I then went for a quick look at his career#'s - and other than '03 & '04 it wasn't reall pretty.
That said - the Yankee fans are frothing at the mouth - they really hate this guy - which is almost worth taking the flyer on alone.
If Shapiro does he should write in a one-time obligation to start BACK TO BACK day games in our first series in the Bronx Stadium!
#9
Posted by AJ, January 6, 2009 3:32 PM
It's Official- Tribe signs Pavano...
#10
Posted by Charlie, January 6, 2009 4:39 PM
At $1.5 million guaranteed, it's a pretty low-risk signing. Other than that, there's not much I can say other than I hope/assume he's shown the front office he's healthy and has something left in the tank.
#11
Posted by Rlaninthesun, January 6, 2009 6:48 PM
A very interesting turn. According to MLB's posting the Indians dangled 5.3 mil in incentives.
With so little money guaranteed the Tribe's in the drivers seat. I think it's a shrewd move for Shapiro to top off a stellar run since C.C. bolted.
Even if he's only half the dominating pitcher he once was - he's useful to eat innings until Westbrook gets back. Should he reclaim the '04 magic (C.Lee Redux) - we'll have solved the last piece of the puzzle on the cheap.
#12
Posted by James Pete, January 6, 2009 10:23 PM
Pavano was the preferred buy low guy, as I said in the piece. Like you said RL, it's possible this guy has some gas left, and hasn't been able to show it because of a litany of injuries.
He pitched well at the end of the year, and likely has shown the Indians a bit more.
If Reyes doesn't blow out his arm this year and can maintain some sort of #3 status, and Pavano just comes back and is a Paul-Byrd-esque pitcher (did I really just say that?), than the Indians make out.
...anything more is icing.
I think you'll see the Indians sign a couple of more guys we've heard of before to minor league contracts as non-roster invitees...
#13
Posted by bfadds, January 6, 2009 11:03 PM
Let's not forget that Mike Napoli, among others, will be one of the top batters at his position in 2009 (if he stays healthy). It's going to be a changing of the guard at C in 2009... mark my words.
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