with entertaining offers on Martinez and Lee. It would have to be around the same tier as Sabathia and Teixiera deal 1.0. Otherwise, I don’t think the Tribe is in a horrible position. I certainly wouldn’t be a buyer as I wouldn’t expect them to make the playoffs, but just let the best young players play and try again next year. The Hafner contract kind of screws them over, but not to the point where they are completely tied. Next year is a huge year as many of their players are FA bound afterwards and their payroll goes up considerably, so I put in all the marbles and see if I can’t buy a reliever and starting pitcher.

The reason the Indians can’t win is because they can’t pitch. I don’t see how trading your ace solves your problem. The Indians have enough talent to compete next year so I dont’ know why you’d completely tear your rotation apart and put yourself 3/4 years away, when 1 good pitching addition and either a resurgence from Carmona or another average pitcher and this team is a 1st place team. Right now between Carmona/Pavano/Reyes you’ve gotten approaching 200 innings of a basically 6.5 ERA. replace those guys with anything resembling average and it would make a huge difference in where the team stands.

Victor Martinez is the guy you trade, he’s playing 50/50 C and 1B right now, the more it swings to the 1B side the less elite Martinez gets, his value is still high so trade him now and get a pitcher for him.

I guess the rotation is kind of a shambles?

Anyway, I’d look for the quick turnaround next season rather than do a tear-down rebuilding job. Trade the spare parts (Martinez might be one) and players with expiring contracts, but keep the rest together. I’m really high on Alex White, so I’d give him an aggressive posting (A+ or maybe even AA) and hope he reaches the majors by some time next season. Don’t move Lee at this point.

Obviously you have to be sellers here, as this team as constructed doesn’t have enough to make a playoff push it appears. First step is probably VMart. I’m sure Boston would be first in line, and has the best chips to offer I think. Something like Bowden/Masterson/Hagadone(is that too much?)? Gives you two arms to go right into the rotation, likely #2 and #3 type starters, and one not too far off to go with Gomez/Rondon/De La Cruz. This means you bring up Santana to get a couple of months under his belt in the bigs while you still have Shoppach around. Let them split time between C/DH/1B, keep each in the lineup each day(at least Santana, to adjust to MLB pitching) with Hafner sitting out a day a week if it comes down to it. Shoppach you then look to move in the offseason, or maybe in Spring Training next year, if someone loses a catcher to injury(if a good offer comes along now, take it). Shouldn’t be too hard to move him.

Lee I would consider trying to extend, at least for a couple of years. You need someone to lead the young staff you’re going to have, especially since you’ll be young behind the plate as well. Something like 3 years, $36M or something, which works out as truly a 2 year $28M extension and exercising his 2010 option. Let Bowden take a turn every 5 days, then have Masterson/Huff/Laffey/Sowers work the last 3 spots this year, to control innings and to give the last three chances to audition for next year’s rotation. Westbrook could factor in here late in the year too right? You can always move a couple of these guys to long relief or shut them down in the last month if need be.

Wood is the next guy to shop, there is a lot of money left on his deal, so it may not be easy to move him. Consider taking back a little salary if you have to, as long as you get some long term value in the deal as well. Would the Cubs take him back? The Yankees as a setup man(might keep his option from vesting that way)? Move him somewhere, he’s not necessary here with Chris Perez now, so you might as well shed some salary if possible.

Pavano would be the last guy you deal probably, as he’ll be a consolation prize for a team who can’t pry away a bigger name somewhere else. You should be able to get C+ prospect for him I’d think, maybe a pitcher, maybe an OF? I’d see if you can get anything of value for Garko, as he’s not in the long term plan, same with Carroll. Maybe a couple of lottery ticket types here? One other thing I’d consider, has there been a decision either way if Choo has to fulfill his military service(2 years I think)? If he does, you might consider sending him out this year, selling at peak value to someone looking for a good bat for a playoff push.

Leaves you a good core and you could contend next year if things break right.

lets see who would be possible suitors for Lee…NY(both) Texas,Anaheim(?),Dodgers, …trying to figure teams that match up talent wise..I think Texas maybe the place to send him

Lee to Rangers for Derek Holland , Kasey Kiker and Guillermo Moscoso.

Victor Martinez to LAA for Jose Arredondo

Ryan Garko to the Mets for Bobby Parnell

call up Laporta and make him the 1B. As soon as Santana is ready get him up and deal Shoppach

OK, so I get it he’s a top 5 catcher. He’s also got an affordable option for 2010 at $7M. But the Sox would be reluctant to sit/platoon Varitek for the rest of the season and there are reciprocal options for him for 2010. Yeah you could rotate V-Mart at 1st and give days off to Lowell, Papi and/or Youk.

The big deal is that if V-Mart is healthy next year he’s going to want major FA $$ – I’d think a 4-6 year deal. He’ll be going on 32 in 2011. There’s no guarantee the Sox could sign him (although admittedly they could afford to). I have a hard time thinking the Sox would give up potential front-line starting pitching for a 1 or 1.5 year guaranteed player.

Now if the Indians were to part with Santana and look at Shoppach as the “long term” option, they could command a king’s ransom – perhaps multiple top tier arms.

I’ve also found the discussion on Let’s Go Tribe to fascinating in many respects. Shapiro gets lauded for his moves, but clearly, things haven’t worked out.

First, my 2 cents on the DeRosa trade – I like it, but don’t love it. The value was good, but it just feels like overreaction on their part to deal for what sounds like 2 pen arms, unless they shift Todd back to the rotation (assuming they pick Todd, and off the top, if he’s available, I’d probably take him).

This is a team in a odd situation, IMO. It’s a team that has an aging core, but has enough pieces in place that there might not be the transitional down time that often accompanies changes. With Santana, LaPorta, Valbuena, Cabrera, Choo, Sizemore and a few others, they have a solid positional core in place that is close to competing now. Another big bat would perhaps help solidify things, which could be Weglarz, or it could be someone else. The pitching even has some promise, but the question will be what they end up doing with the older arms.

If Kerry Wood gets on a nice little streak, they should spin him off now and give Perez a shot at closing next year. They can save money on Wood, and if Wood gets a little push, they could possibly get a good return this trade deadline, with so many teams looking for pen arms. I think some team would gamble on Wood if he shows signs of life/consistency. I’d talk Victor, but only if the right deal came along. It’d have to be a big deal. I think they need to keep shopping for starting arms. 3rd base could be a thought, as I’ve never been a fan of Peralta, but Chisenhall looks quality, so they could wait with Jhonny.

I think they should keep Lee, Westbrook, and others barring one of those “We can’t pass it up” deals. They need to build some steam. I’m not sure the current makeup of the organization is strong enough to be considered “championship caliber” in 2010, unless a lot of things go right, but they can compete in 2010 and I think they owe it to themselves to play it out a bit. In the AL Central, a little luck goes a long way.

Sorry, that’s more generic thoughts – I guess what I’m saying is that, out of their key pieces, they should only ponder shopping Wood if he can get it going a bit, because I think Wood could net a solid return if he shows life. Pavano and others can be shopped as well, for whatever they might net.

Let’s look for the tribe to contend for 2011, since I think anything sooner would be a bit silly.

Let’s also evaluate each position and see what should be done.

C: Catcher is probably the most interesting position for the Indians. Everyone knows what Santana has done this season, and we all realize that he is the future for this club. People talk about the Rangers (who are really using a young nucleus and have a panoply of catchers, 1B, and DH candidates so a Vmart trade wouldnt make sense) and Boston, but how about the New York Mets. Manuel has said that the team needs another bat, and given the Mets’ lack of depth at C (and 1B until Delgado returns, not that he is really a long term answer), the Indians should look to trade Vmart to the Mets before the deadline this year, in a deal for Wilmer Flores, Brad Holt, and a lower level pitching prospect.

1B: Enough. Call up Laporta, and slot him into 1B. Trade Garko to a team such as Detroit for one of their young arms (Ryan Perry). Keep Perry down in AAA until september.

2b: Cabrera is the answer here. Slot him in and watch him roll.

SS: Valbuena is not the answer. Sorry folks. He is servicable, and should be kept there for the season, but this is why the Flores trade makes sense. Flores is extremely projectable, and will be ready by 2011 (Assuming the tribe continues the Mets’ aggressive nature with him).

3B: Again, sorry, Peralta ain’t the answer. But the good news is, there’s a whole bunch of teams who could use a guy like Peralta (a ss, 3b hybrid). Let’s say the phillies come calling, prying Peralta away so that they can use Feliz as a utility guy. Trade Peralta for Jason Knapp and and Vance Woorley). The Tribe has Lonnie Chisenhall in their system, who plays SS now, but will be moved over to 3B.

LF: Francisco is servicable until Weglarz is ready.

CF: Grady. Although he better learn to get the BA up, or he’s the next Mike Cameron.

RF: Choo. So underated, and he is only 26. He’s only entering his prime.

Pitching: Now we reach the issue. Wow is it a big one. So Lee is a certifiable ace. You don’t move a 30 year old ace. You build around him. Ink him to an extension now, so that the fans see that despite the firesale, the club is not completely giving the fans the finger. The rest of the rotation is really pretty damn bad. As is the pen. SO what can we do? Moving Wood is essential. A number of teams (the Rays) could use a veteran arm like Woods’. Trade Woods to the Rays for Jeremy Hellickson. Slot Chris Perez into the closer role for the rest of the year, see how he does. So now we have a nice core. But where do we go from here? In the system we have Hellickson, Holt, Knapp, Wurley, Rondon, White, and Perry. Looks pretty good, no? See, we planned well, since none of these guys are #1s, but some do have #2 upside. What do we do with these pitchers now? 2010, the rotation should be:
1. Lee
2. Huff
3. Sowers
4. Rondon
5. Pavano
SU: Perez
CL: Perry (although a closer by committee is possible and viable). Assuming one of the older guys in the back end doesn’t perform well, call up hellickson by june/july (view it as the Braves’ have dealt with Hanson this season). The rotation is better, albeit not contender worthy yet.

The 2010 position players:
C: Santana
1B: Laporta
2B: Cabrera
SS: Valbuena
3B: Chisenhall
LF: Weglarz
CF: Sizemore
RF: Choo
DH: Haftner

So 2010 comes and passes, and don’t forget the draft picks the tribe will pick up (This years’ should be very very good, possibly top 3). If everyone develops as they should, here’s what 2011 could and should look like

1: Lee
2: Hellickson
3. Rondon
4. Huff
5. Miller

Miller?! What?! The kid has injury issues, so why not teach him a knuckleball a la Wakefield? It would reduce stress on his arm, and allow his to utilize his talent.

The bulpen would include Holt, Perez, White, Wurley, and Perry. A very solid bulpen if I do say so myself.

As for position players:
C: Santana
1B: Laporta
2B: Cabrera
SS: Flores
3B: Chisenhall
LF: Weglarz
CF: Sizemore
RF: Choo
DH: Mills

Hopefully that would be a pretty good team. And even if they’re not contenders at that point, you’ve got yourself a great young team ready to make things happen.

Martinez is the most important trade chip, i would ask mlb ready prospects for him.
I would try to give Lee and extension if i couldn’t get a good package for hi.m

in the running and if they had lee they would be a serious contender. we would need feliz/holland and then some. If Texas would be wiling… and I were GM… I would be in between a rock and a hard spot.

if I were GM Ben Fransisco would play “parking lot attendant” and I would probably lose my job very quickly.

i would learn how to spell my players names! :-)