Cleveland Indians’ offseason moves are already frustrating
By Ryan Rosko
The offseason is young but moves have already been made by the Cleveland Indians.
No, not everyone from the Cleveland Indians‘ core will be back in 2018. However, certain moves seem inevitable but won’t ever happen for one reason or another.
On Monday, we will know more about the future surrounding players like first baseman Carlos Santana via qualifying offers.
In the meantime though, the Tribe announced they have picked up options on two of their more longer tenured players: left fielder Michael Brantley and pitcher Josh Tomlin.
We've exercised our 2018 club options on Michael Brantley and Josh Tomlin.
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) November 3, 2017
Details: https://t.co/EoIAzsWHqV pic.twitter.com/qHtLFpvzuV
According to baseball-reference.com, Tomlin’s option is worth $3 million while Brantley’s is worth $11 million! In terms of Tomlin’s contract, it is a toss-up. Will the Indians get the pitcher who went 10-9 with an ERA close to five next season or will he be the guy who pitched lights out at the end?
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$3 million isn’t much in sports so by Cleveland approving this transaction, they are banking he will be more like the latter. Given Tomlin’s overall stat line and more specifically the amount of homers allowed (23), I have my doubts but we will see.
As far as Brantley goes, he hasn’t been what he’s been paid in years. Having lost roughly a third of the season, along with seeing Brantley being a shell of himself definitely makes this move questionable.
To think too, Brantley had no business of being on the playoff roster. Had he been replaced with someone else, maybe a different result would have been seen. Unfortunately, manager Terry Francona is too loyal to his veterans and as a result Cleveland earned an earlier offseason than they preferred.
That said, I am not against Brantley being on the roster in 2018. However, there is a condition to that and that is Brantley renegotiating his contract. Cleveland would be wise to offer him an incentive based deal, dropping that $11 million amount to something more realistic. Yet, as nice as that would be it’s unlikely it happens.
By keeping Brantley, the writing may be on the way that Santana is not coming back. Brantley could be moving to first and honestly that would be best for him. I don’t want to see him in the outfield.
Hopefully Cleveland ends up turning the offseason around because so far the frustration level is already getting up there. Given Cleveland’s luck, Santana will end up with the Kansas City Royals or Toronto Blue Jays if indeed the they are ready to move on from him.
Next: 9 moves Indians must made this offseason
Plenty still has to be figured out but the question will be asked constantly: Why did they pick up those options, especially Brantley’s? That money could have gone to someone more valuable.