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- Thread starter brodybuck21
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bigdog3300
The G.O.A.T.
Going to be an interesting offseason....I'll vomit my thoughts below.
I think it's more likely than not that Kwan is traded this offseason since he's entering his 2nd last year of team control. You can write off his poor 2nd half to his wrist injury, but can't risk him getting hurt next year heading into a walk year. Last chance at leverage with him.
Hopefully we get a whole year of DeLauter and Valera in the OF. Valera can play either corner, so you could have Kayfus in RF when he's not at 1B. An OF with power, finally.
Not sure where you pursue upgrades in FA or trade. You'd take a catcher to push Bo and have Fry as your 3rd C/util. If Naylor flames out Ingles should be ready early summer....2B you won't block Bazzana, so SS seems the most realistic spot to upgrade.
Rotation seems pretty set with Williams, Bibee, Cecconi, Cantillo, Messick, and Allen. Is Allen trade bait? If Lively can be your 6th and emergency starter I'd be interested in what a Kwan/Allen package could get. Most fans probably don't think much of Allen, but young, controllable, experienced lefties have value.
The bullpen will still be loaded. Bummer we didn't see Stephan recover from his TJ, and Aleman struggled all year. But (hopeful) returns from Walters & Hentges to go with Cade, Gaddis, Sabrowski, Herrin, Enright is pretty nasty. Would love to resign Junis. Allard and Festa did well also. Not sure how much you can count on those two, but depth is always a must.
We should be able to be aggressive with extensions, assuming the Clase contract clears the books. I do think the ownership transition could complicate that though, although hopefully they have more clarity on when that transition happens than we do.
Overall, in a year that saw them lose 19 of 20 games in two stretches of play, Ortiz/Clase chaos, a .226 average or whatever it was....and still win a division? Nuts. I'm bummed we lost, but this was the least painful playoff loss because we had no business being there. The whole month of September was like a playoff series and anytime you can get baseball from March to October, that's pretty special. The young guys are finally here and ready, the future may have arrived, and I am very excited for 2026!
I think it's more likely than not that Kwan is traded this offseason since he's entering his 2nd last year of team control. You can write off his poor 2nd half to his wrist injury, but can't risk him getting hurt next year heading into a walk year. Last chance at leverage with him.
Hopefully we get a whole year of DeLauter and Valera in the OF. Valera can play either corner, so you could have Kayfus in RF when he's not at 1B. An OF with power, finally.
Not sure where you pursue upgrades in FA or trade. You'd take a catcher to push Bo and have Fry as your 3rd C/util. If Naylor flames out Ingles should be ready early summer....2B you won't block Bazzana, so SS seems the most realistic spot to upgrade.
Rotation seems pretty set with Williams, Bibee, Cecconi, Cantillo, Messick, and Allen. Is Allen trade bait? If Lively can be your 6th and emergency starter I'd be interested in what a Kwan/Allen package could get. Most fans probably don't think much of Allen, but young, controllable, experienced lefties have value.
The bullpen will still be loaded. Bummer we didn't see Stephan recover from his TJ, and Aleman struggled all year. But (hopeful) returns from Walters & Hentges to go with Cade, Gaddis, Sabrowski, Herrin, Enright is pretty nasty. Would love to resign Junis. Allard and Festa did well also. Not sure how much you can count on those two, but depth is always a must.
We should be able to be aggressive with extensions, assuming the Clase contract clears the books. I do think the ownership transition could complicate that though, although hopefully they have more clarity on when that transition happens than we do.
Overall, in a year that saw them lose 19 of 20 games in two stretches of play, Ortiz/Clase chaos, a .226 average or whatever it was....and still win a division? Nuts. I'm bummed we lost, but this was the least painful playoff loss because we had no business being there. The whole month of September was like a playoff series and anytime you can get baseball from March to October, that's pretty special. The young guys are finally here and ready, the future may have arrived, and I am very excited for 2026!
DZ83CK
Not Banned
I'm just intrigued to see if the GM and coaches can get this team to stand on their head again. The Dolans are in control of the finances of a team that just posted the worst batting average in MLB and scored the fewest runs in the American League. It didn't happen by accident. You're already assuming they won't look for notable external upgrades to the lineup, because the Dolans are cheap. The minority owner Blitzer has an option to buy by 2028 ... who knows exactly when the transition will happen or what kind of owner he will be, but at least getting the Dolans out of controlling the payroll would be good.
I have to say Clase has not been banned from baseball yet, so in theory perhaps there is a chance he could return. Ohtani got away with gambling through his interpreter, so maybe the league really needs hard evidence before they will actually ban a player.
I have to say Clase has not been banned from baseball yet, so in theory perhaps there is a chance he could return. Ohtani got away with gambling through his interpreter, so maybe the league really needs hard evidence before they will actually ban a player.
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Captain Buckeye
Assistant Coach
Clase just needs to say “bet” and tell them to fuck off… worked for a certain program we know
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bigdog3300
The G.O.A.T.
It is pathetic that the Ohtani investigation took 3 weeks and we are now on 3 months for Clase/Ortiz, during a playoff chase....
I think it's more likely than not that they are both suspended for life, even if the evidence isn't a slam dunk, to be a hopeful deterrent for others.
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Zippercat
Legend
Where do you get the “1 lousy pitch” info? Here are the statements released by MLB and the Guardians when Clase was suspended:
No mention whatsoever that the investigation involves Clase’s pitching.
Lots of lazy sporty writers and plenty of fans jump to the conclusion that, because a couple sporty writers claimed to have gotten inside information that Ortiz’s suspension was based on a couple first pitch prop bets, Clase’s case involves the same thing. Maybe it does. Maybe they found some link between Clase and Otani’s now incarcerated interpreter? Maybe those claims about Ortiz are actually incorrect?
Only one “fact” seems really clear: MLB is not going to do anything about Ortiz or Clase until after the World Series is concluded.
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bigdog3300
The G.O.A.T.
I agree on no announcement until shortly after the World Series - spaces it out between the winter meetings.
I don't think there is any hope that all of this is incorrect through, as far as the allegations. You don't remove a #3 starter and All-Star closer for 3 months and then say whoops, not enough evidence to suspend them, good luck in '26. Some kind of hammer is coming, it's just a matter of how big at this point.
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It would be nice to get Clase and Ortiz back but this team is no real threat unless they improve the offense quite a bit.
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Trevi
Hall of Fame
Guardians’ Luis Ortiz, Emmanuel Clase can’t play winter ball in Dominican Republic
MLB's investigation continues into gambling allegations against two Cleveland pitchers.
www.cleveland.com
Things not looking too good for these guys, particularly Clase:
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Zippercat
Legend
Really? You choose to not believe MLB’s denial and, instead, go with what a reporter claims in the Dominican Republic? Maybe I missed it but I’ve not seen MLB issuing any denials for any other reports about Ortiz or Clase since their investigation went public in early July. Think there might be a reason for MLB’s denial now?
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BuckBackHome
Wolverine is largest member of weasel family
The primary baseball writer for the Cleveland paper has been saying for some time MLB most likely would not release anything until after the World Series.
Based on no expertise, these two definitely aren't ever playing for CLE again.
Based on no expertise, these two definitely aren't ever playing for CLE again.
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bigdog3300
The G.O.A.T.
Let's see who is closest to the MLB announcement date....I'll go with Black Friday...after the World Series, before the winter meetings, Friday afternoon news dump on a holiday weekend? Makes too much sense!
And in other news....Hedges back for $4M. I mean, if Fry can catch some next year, it should at least be better than it was this year. Ingle is one year closer to the bigs and will start in Columbus in 2026. At least something to feel moderately better about going into next year.
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billmac91
Head Coach
Most people know this, but with new “challenge” rules, catchers who can “frame” will be less important.
Hedges is nasty as a pitch caller and defensively, but even $4M on a tight budget seems excessive to me……but I trust Vogt signed off on it, so I’m good.
…..I don’t think I’ll ever get over the awful trade of Josh Naylor that cost us more $$$ to bring Carlos Santana in….Still at a loss.
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