The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Tribe opens as underdogs in division
Pitchers, catchers reporting; first full-squad workout Feb. 17
Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 11 to Indians’ spring training complex in Arizona without ace Corey Kluber.
“I’m aware of what teams are doing in our division. I don’t know if it’s fair if you can break it down year to year. I mean, we have our team in place and we have reasons for doing what we’re doing.”
— Indians manager Terry Francona
Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 11 to the Indians’ spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz., and for the first time in nine years a familiar face will not be in the group.
Corey Kluber, a two-time Cy Young Award winner and the undisputed ace of the Indians’ rotation from 2014 to 2018, was traded to the Texas Rangers on Dec. 15 for outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. and relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase.
“We are going to miss Corey, but I think we’re going to replace him with options that are just as good,” said Indians pitcher Adam
Plutko Feb. 1 at Tribe Fest.
The Indians believe their starting rotation with Mike Clevinger, Shane Bieber, Carlos Carrasco, Zack Plesac and Aaron Civale is still one of the best in the American League. But that doesn’t mean they won’t miss Kluber — not just the way he pitched every fifth day, but his impeccable routine between starts that set a standard any pitcher would be wise to follow.
Kluber is making $17.5 million in 2020. DeShields is making $1.875 million and Clase $583,500.
This is reality in the world of Indians president Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff — chop $15 million from the payroll now and plan for the future.
“Nobody wanted to trade Kluber,” Indians manager Terry Francona said recently. “I guarantee you, if you talked to Chris and Cherny, they didn’t want to trade Kluber, but we’re trying to keep our organization healthy and balance winning and also sustaining it.
“It’s hard. But that’s part of the challenge. We really haven’t taken a step back. Hopefully, we take a step forward.”
The Indians, after winning the Central Division three straight years, missed the playoffs and finished eight games behind the Twins in 2019. The team acquired DeShields plus Clase in the Kluber trade, signed second baseman Cesar Hernandez to replace Jason Kipnis and traded for catcher Sandy Leon.
Meanwhile, the Twins, another small-market team, signed slugging third baseman Josh Donaldson to a four-year, $92 million contract in free agency. They also signed starting pitchers Homer Bailey and Rich Hill plus relievers Sergio
Romo and Tyler Clippard, a former Indian.
The White Sox also got stronger. They signed first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, another former Indian, catcher Yasmani Grandal and starting pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez. They traded with the Rangers to acquire right fielder Nomar Mazara.
While the ownership of the White Sox and Twins spent money to improve their rosters, the Indians reduced their payroll for the second straight year. The Kluber trade is part of that reduction.
Spotrac.com lists the Indians 2020 payroll at $82,158,334 — 25th in the Major Leagues. The Twins are 16th at $134,671,559 and the White Sox 18th at 118,292,499.
The Tribe’s payroll in 2019 was around $120 million, down from roughly $135 million in 2018.
So as the Indians begin spring training, they are chasing instead of being chased.
“I’m aware of what teams are doing in our division,” Francona said. “I don’t know if it’s fair if you can break it down year to year. I mean, we have our team in
place and we have reasons for doing what we’re doing. I think Chris and Cherny have been really honest and open about it.
“Every team in our division has taken a serious step backwards after having success (think Tigers and Royals). We’re trying to balance being consistent and being successful. And you know what? It’s really hard. They have to make really hard decisions.”
The Indians have finished over .500 in seven straight seasons. They won the Central Division in 2018 when they won 91 games. Kluber won 20 games in 2018.
Kluber was injured on May 1 last year and never pitched again. He was 2-3. Clevinger missed more than two months with a back injury and Carrasco fought his epic battle with leukemia for three months.
Michael Brantley left through free agency last winter and signed with Houston. Third baseman Jose Ramirez was in a slump from the start of the 2019 season through the All-Star break and outfielder Tyler Naquin missed the last month of the season with a knee injury.
The Indians survived all those setbacks and still
managed to win 93 games in 2019 — two more than the season before. It is for that reason Francona believes the Indians will be contenders in 2020. Figuratively speaking, Francona will be cooking with Hamburger Helper while the Twins manger Rocco Baldelli and White Sox manger Rick Renteria with steak.
“We’re not going to be the type of team that just throws the bats and balls out there and wins and I’m OK with that,” Francona said. “We’re going to have to go out and play the right way and getting to that point, I really enjoy it, because it’s not easy. You go through spring training and you come out in the season and you try to find your footing, but when you do, it really gets fun.
‘I think we’re talented enough where if we do the things we’re supposed to, we’ll have a chance to win. Does it mean we’re going to win for sure? No. But we’ll have a chance.”
The first workout for pitchers and catchers is set for Feb. 13. Position players are due Feb. 15 with the first full team practice scheduled for Feb. 17.