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Manny Being Manny...maybe back in Cleveland? (Photo: AP) |
Could Manny Ramirez Return?
Things are very quiet these days on the news front with the Cleveland Indians and really will continue to be until the calendar flips to 2011. But an idea starting to catch on with the national media and now the fans seems to be that enigmatic outfielder Manny Ramirez could return to Cleveland this offseason.
I say an “idea” because that is all it is, just mere speculation by some national writers trying to assess the best fit for Ramirez this offseason. However, what a lot of the national press does not know is the Indians actual payroll limitations for 2011 and how quiet they expect to be this offseason.
The idea of signing Ramirez sounds intriguing on the surface. The guy was a fan favorite throughout the 90s, is one of the best hitters this generation has ever seen, and will likely be a bargain this winter. But even if the Indians had the wherewithal to sign him, it would not make much sense for the Indians to do it.
The immediate thought by many will be that a Ramirez signing would put fans in the seats, but that couldn't more wrong. Yes, he will drum up interest in the short term for the first few days after his signing, but it isn't going to be anything to make people excited to go out and buy tickets to see a past-his-prime Hall of Fame player. If the Indians went out and signed the 1994 version of Eddie Murray tomorrow, would that make you excited to go see this team next year?
This team was arguably one of the best teams in the league from 2005-2008 talent-wise, yet the attendance fell way short of the product on the field. Recent history tells us that fans will not show up after big money free agent splashes or to see top level players. The Indians had two of the best pitchers in baseball with C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee starting two of every five games the first half of 2008 and look at the turnout that year (22nd in baseball, 2.1 million).
Interest is going to have to come from a belief that this team can compete and win again, and unfortunately for the Indians that is going to take a few years to build, if ever again.
It's a very turned off fan base, so making an emotional decision to sign a former popular player from a former era is not the right course of action to take. Besides, why would the Indians even want the headache that Ramirez will likely bring, especially on a young roster which needs veterans showing them the right way to do things and not the wrong way?
Ramirez will come cheap and for one year, which is mostly why many people are aligning him to Cleveland. But for a team looking to move forward in their rebuild and get a long extended look at an outfield of Michael Brantley, Grady Sizemore, and Shin-Soo Choo, he doesn't fit. If designated hitter Travis Hafner was not around it may make some sense, but even as a fourth outfielder and platoon player at designated hitter there just would not be enough at bats to keep him happy and also give priority at bats to a guy like Brantley, a young player that is a core piece of their future.
Ramirez is the best hitter I have ever seen, and he is my favorite Indians player of all time, but at this point in time he is just not the right fit. Sure, I'd definitely kick the tires on Ramirez, and I believe the Indians will do the same. But that’s it.
Another Former Coach Moves On
Yet another recent Indians coach has landed a big league job this offseason. On Monday, new Toronto Blue Jays skipper John Farrell named Torey Lovullo to his major league coaching staff as his first base coach.
Lovullo, 45, spent nine years in the Indians organization from 2001-2009. At this time last year he was one of the final candidates interviewed for the managerial opening, but in the end the Indians decided on Manny Acta. When Acta surprisingly did not name Lovullo to his major league coaching staff, Lovullo left the organization in search of a better opportunity instead of having to go back and manage the Indians Triple-A affiliate for a fifth straight season.
Lovullo wound up signing with the Boston Red Sox to be their manager at Triple-A Pawtucket this past season. While the move from Cleveland to Boston was a lateral move in the sense that he was still a manager at Triple-A, what the move really ended up doing was reunite him with old friend John Farrell who was the pitching coach for the Red Sox.
The two go way back as former teammates and have a pretty good working relationship. When Farrell was appointed to his post of Indians Director of Player Development back in 2001, one of the first things he did was convince Lovullo to manage.
Lovullo had just joined the organization in 2001 as a roving coordinator, and the move to manager turned out to be a successful one with all kinds of awards and lots of postseason berths from 2002-2005. He won the Eastern League title with Double-A Akron in 2005 and was named Baseball America’s Manager of the Year that season.
In Farrell’s last year as the organization’s Director of Player Development in 2006, Lovullo was moved up as the new manager of the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. His rapid ascent up the minor league coaching ranks made it appear he would soon be a coach added to the major league staff; however, when Farrell exited after the 2006 season, Lovullo’s momentum in the organization stalled. Instead of getting a big league coaching opportunity with the Indians or elsewhere, he went back to manage the organization’s Triple-A affiliate another three years from 2007-2009.
Lovullo never expressed any frustration with his assignment to the manager’s post at Triple-A from 2007-2009 - nor am I speculating there was any - but it is pretty apparent that he and Farrell had a good working relationship and when Farrell left Lovullo lost a big supporter.
In the last few season’s that Eric Wedge managed the team it was generally felt that Lovullo would be Wedge’s successor. But when the Indians passed on Lovullo for the big league manager’s opening last year and did not name him to the big league coaching staff, he probably just felt it was time for a change because the opportunity for advancement with the Indians was obviously no longer possible.
As it turns out, that move to Boston this year was the best decision Lovullo ever made as it helped set the stage for him and Farrell to reunite in Toronto. Had Farrell actually interviewed for the Indians job last year and took it, it is likely that Lovullo would still be an Indian today and on the big league coaching staff.
Who said timing wasn’t everything in baseball?
Roster D-Day
The November 19th roster deadline is quickly approaching. By that date the Indians have to finalize their 40-man roster for the offseason. While teams can remove players, add free agents, or make trades as they please, the main reason for the roster deadline is to have a set date to add players from the minor leagues that are up for roster protection.
The Indians’ roster is currently at 35 players, and they are not expected to remove any more players by the roster deadline. As to which minor league players they add, look for them to add left-handed pitcher Nick Hagadone, right-handed pitcher Josh Judy, and right-handed pitcher Corey Kluber. Right-handed pitcher Adam Miller will also likely be added, though he is considered a bit of a wildcard because of his injury history.
It remains to be seen if the Indians will add a fifth player from their minor league system, and depending on what they do with Miller the other candidates who may be rostered are right-handed pitcher Zach McAllister, third baseman Jared Goedert, infielder Josh Rodriguez, and first baseman/outfielder Matt McBride. If the Indians do roster a fifth player, Rodriguez appears to have the best chance because of a need for a middle infielder on the roster, though any of the four could be added.
Payroll Blues
The Indians will be very quiet this offseason on the free agent front. This is hardly earth shattering news.
There have been reports speculating the Indians could have as much as $15-20 million to spend this offseason, but as I noted previously this is not true at all. Most, if not all of the money available this offseason will go to the more than half a dozen arbitration eligible players, a list which includes outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and closer Chris Perez. With those two and others up for substantial pay increases in 2011, things will surely get a little expensive with the existing roster.
As a result, expect the Indians to sign several players to minor league deals with invites to spring training along the lines of Austin Kearns and Jamey Wright last offseason. Payroll should be below $50 million next year, likely somewhere in the mid-40s.
Free Agents
Here is a list of the Indians major league and minor league free agents:
Major League: Luke Carlin (C), Chris Gimenez (C), Andy Marte (INF), Anthony Reyes (RHP), and Drew Sutton (INF).
Minor League: Cristo Arnal (INF), Armando Camacaro (C), Alex Castillo (C), Jose Constanza (OF), Damaso Espino (C), Jason Grilli (RHP), Shane Lindsay (RHP), Richard Martinez (C), Lucas Montero (OF), Miguel Perez (C), Argenis Reyes (INF), Wyatt Toregas (C).
The major league free agents are technically just minor league free agents as they were all recently outrighted off the 40-man roster to the minors; however, I have listed them as major league free agents because they were on the 40-man roster at the end of the season.
As you can see these is not much to worry about as far as losing anyone of value this offseason. The only player with any true big league value at this point may be Jose Constanza who has some potential as a 4th outfielder in the big leagues though he is not expected to resign with the Indians.
Winter Ball Update
The winter ball season is about halfway over out in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico, and the Arizona Fall League wraps up play this week.
The big performers to date have been infielder Cord Phelps and first baseman/outfielder Matt McBride. Phelps has been amazing at the plate in the Arizona Fall League hitting .365 with a .995 OPS in 15 games, while McBride has been showcasing his power in the Dominican Republic hitting .304 with 5 homers, 12 RBI and .964 OPS in 18 games. The only real disappointment so far is infielder Luis Valbuena who in 23 games out in Venezuela is hitting .179 with a .555 OPS.
Also of note, outfielder Nick Weglarz saw his first action out in Venezuela on Friday night going 1-for-3 with an RBI. He is making his way back from a thumb ligament injury which prematurely ended his season in early August.
Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. His latest book the 2010 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is also available for purchase on his site for a special year end closeout sale of $10.00 (including shipping and handling stateside).
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