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Cleveland Indians: Would Shapiro Have Given Up Prospects?

By Ryan Rosko

Nov 2, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays new president Mark Shapiro speaks to the media during an introductory conference at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays new president Mark Shapiro speaks to the media during an introductory conference at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Indians are taking on a new identity leading up to this season’s trade deadline.

Year after year after year Cleveland Indians fans have high expectations when the MLB trade deadline approaches. Yet, consistently those expectations fall well short and instead Cleveland either has not done anything or went the cheap route.

This season is different with the Tribe acquiring former New York Yankees left-handed reliever Andrew Miller. They also came close to acquiring Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, but he refused to waive his no-trade clause.

Although the Cleveland Indians were only able to complete one of those trades, both of them required Cleveland to give up a substantial package. In the Yankees deal, the Tribe had to give up four prospects including two top prospects in outfielder Clint Frazier and pitcher Justus Sheffield.

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In the Lucroy trade, the Cleveland Indians were going to give up a package headlined by minor league catcher Francisco Mejia. Mejia currently has a 42 game hitting streak! To get a key piece for the stretch run, a pretty penny has to be paid.

Key decision makers with trades are team president Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff. However, just last season Antonetti was the right hand man to Mark Shapiro. Shapiro, who is now with the Toronto Blue Jays had the reputation of taking the high road and not making the necessary moves.

Then again, Cleveland was not always winning enough to be a contender. Still, when they were, he would oversee the operations with the help on Antonetti, but did not give up the prospects to acquire the talent they needed.

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Such an issue also falls back on the Dolan family, the Cleveland Indians majority owners. Over the years, Cleveland has had opportunities to trade a prospect or two for a top pitcher or bat, but never pulled the trigger.

Now that Shaprio is gone, is it all of a sudden a coincidence that they traded for Miller, nearly acquired Lucroy, and is actively looking at other scenarios to improve the organization? It could be, and to some degree it is, but not completely.

Had Shapiro given up top prospects in the past, the Cleveland Indians would likely not have had the talent nor the depth in the minors that they had entering the season. Shaprio definitely deserved the lack of support he received while with the Indians.

At the same time, at least Antonetti and Chernoff realizes this is their chance and they are willing to give up what is needed to improve the roster. We, as fans finally has started to see the willingness to give up the what could be for what is.

Cleveland will continue to make sure they have a very good minor league system. As the Tribe does that, they at least now have the depth to trade from their strengths to improve their weaknesses.

Shapiro’s time with the Cleveland Indians shows that his plan was pretty clear and concise: build, develop, and hope for the best. Cleveland will still develop, but if Shapiro was still in Cleveland, the moves they are part of and are rumored to acquire would not have happened.

This is an exciting time for the Cleveland Indians organization. Could 2016 be a repeat of 1995 and 1997 but with a different end result?

Next: Lucroy Uses Veto But Miller Heads To Cleveland

It sure looks they are on their way. Winning helps making moves, but the willingness to take a risk and give up prospects is that much more exciting and important.

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