Cleveland Indians Organization Discussion

by John Sickels on Jan 7, 2026 10:00 AM EST Comment 26 comments

I am now working on the New York Mets, to be followed by the Cleveland Indians, then the Florida Marlins.

Use this thread to discuss the Cleveland Indians organization. Carlos Santana is the big gun here, but after him things are kind of in flux.

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Read More: 2010 mlb hot stove, Cleveland Indians

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my top 15 (for what it’s worth):

1. Carlos Santana ©
2. Lonnie Chisenhall (3B)
3. Hector Rondon (RHP)
4. Jason Knapp (RHP)
5. Nick Hagadone (LHP)
6. Alex White (RHP)
7. Nick Weglarz (LF/DH)
8. Kelvin De La Cruz (LHP)
9. Carlos Carrasco (RHP)
10. T.J. House (LHP)
11. Alexander Perez (RHP)
12. Michael Brantley (LF/CF)
13. Jeanmar Gomez (RHP)
14. Tony Sipp (LHP)
15. Jason Donald (SS/2B)

De La Cruz might be a little high, especially after his injury, but if he stays healthy I think he has a tremendous ceiling which is almost on the level of Knapp’s and Hagadone’s.

I also am a big fan of Perez. Yeah his fastball is a bit fringy now, but he has more than enough room for more velocity and his secondary offerings are already very good.

Sipp is still eligible, so he’s in there as well. Set-up guy with closer potential if Perez weren’t in the pen. Loved what he did in Cleveland last year, but is getting a little older and needs to refine his command.

Kipnis I think is ranked a bit high, but I still put him there given his potential as a 2nd baseman. He could either vault into the top 10 next year if he proves he can stick in the infield, or he could fall into the 20’s/30’s if he goes back to the outfield.

I also have Clayton Cook as one of my sleepers. He put up very good numbers last year and he could be a quick riser through the system despite his age (19-years old).

by JP_Frost on Jan 7, 2026 10:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'd have Brantley up a spot or two or even 3 from that

but otherwise J.P., I like it quite a bit.

I'd rather have Nick Punto playing 3B and Felipe Lopez playing 2B

than Punto playing 2B and Kouzy, Crede, DeRosa or Glaus playing 3B.

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Jan 7, 2026 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

good list. agree that brantley should be a little higher.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 7, 2026 5:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I’m still a bit on the fence about Brantley. I like what he brings to the table now, but I’d like to see more of his defense and how his plate discipline plays in the majors. He doesn’t have the ceiling of some of the other unproven players, so that’s why he’s a little lower.

That said, from 8 to 20, alot of guys are interchangeable.

by JP_Frost on Jan 7, 2026 6:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Like your list quite a bit.

I have the same players for the most part although my order differs considerably after the top 3. I also have Rivero on my list in the top 15 and Donald down a bit. Less age and more upside IMO. I find it hard to argue with anyone since there is at least 10 guys you could make a case for in the bottom half of your list.

Your choice of Clayton Cook also mirrors my feelings although TJ McFarland really looked good in the 2nd half. His stuff plays well, especially for the 3/4 pitcher on a class A staff.

by sdtribefan on Jan 7, 2026 10:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the BA list

got a lot of criticism, but I think that’s says more about the quality of the system. After Santana and Chiz, there are a lot of guys to like, just depends on if you prefer a big upside, or a high floor type of guy.

by SoCalSoxFan on Jan 7, 2026 1:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Please just leave Jordan freaking Brown off the list - classic tweener.

I need a new avatar...

by stuart dean on Jan 7, 2026 1:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

2010 sleeper

kyle bellows. Above-average defense at 3B and a solid bat

by another know it all on Jan 7, 2026 1:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jason Knapp's Injury

What does the community make of it? What grade would you give him now?

I love Lonnie Chisenhall and I think Donald, Rondon, Carrasco, and Brantley are often underrated. I see all 4 of these guys being really useful players, and I see long careers for Chiz, Rondon, and Carrasco.

Adoptive parent of Kyle Nicholson

by gore51 on Jan 7, 2026 2:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I like this system

Only one stud, but a lot of interesting arms after him. Among hitters there’s a nice mix of old player skill-types with speedy athletic guys. Among pitchers there are some high-floor pitchability types plus a couple high-upside arms. And a lot of guys I feel are underrated by many, like De La Cruz, House, and Rondon.

by nivarsity on Jan 7, 2026 3:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jordan Henry?

Top 20? Top 30? I know some people are thinking he might just be a 4th OF, but the defense is ++ and hopefully he will develop into a quality, producing OF’er

by Ralpho316 on Jan 7, 2026 6:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Chisenhall

I like him as a prospect . . .but I have to admit, his year surprised me. I was expecting more BA, better plate discipline, and less power.

I see lots of 60s with him but no 70s . . .basically the 3B version of Jason Castro?

by mrkupe on Jan 7, 2026 7:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He was aggressively promoted. JC kid, only 19 when drafted and he ended up in AA this year, his first full season.

He was killing the ball in high A and they decided to challenge him.

In fact, tools wise the only places I would grade below a 70 are running (where he’s probably a 50-55) and throwing arm (and not sure on that, if <70 just barely, maybe a 65. He was a SS).

btw, in a recent chat, Goldstein said he did change his mind and made him a 5 star prospect when he put together his top 50/100. So that means he’s clearly a top 50, but presumably one of the last so 35-50 range. I have him higher, personally.

by alskor on Jan 7, 2026 8:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

a 70 in contact?

while a 20% K rate isn’t horrible, it isn’t all that great, and his batting average was passable but not splendid. I’d have him between 50-65 for every tool. A good player, definatley, especially when ARL comes into it, but the discipline is a bit worrying as it stands right now.

by Navi's_Navy on Jan 7, 2026 10:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

His walk rate could go up, but if he continues hitting like he has … it will. Point is that I’d sooner expect a drop in power and a boost in average then the other way around. Coming out of college he was known for his contact ability and I don’t think it changed that much.

by JP_Frost on Jan 7, 2026 10:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

walks

I wouldn’t just assume that Chisenhall (or any player for that matter) will walk more as their hitting skills develop. There are plenty of cases of players who kept improving as pure hitters as they went up the developmental ladder but failed to refine their approach.

by mrkupe on Jan 8, 2026 1:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I meant in that pitchers will be more careful with him and that he’ll see less strikes. He will never be the god of walks, but I think he can consistently keep his BB% between 10-12% when he gains more experience.

by JP_Frost on Jan 8, 2026 3:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well let's be honest here

.838 OPS is very good performance given the context, but I wouldn’t call that “killing the ball”.

I think he projected before last year as a 60-65 hitter for average, 55/maybe 60 hitter for power. Power was actually one of his question marks as a draft prospect.

by mrkupe on Jan 8, 2026 1:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

a bit overzealous with the grades, methinks

He almost certainly does not have have 70-80 hit, power, and glove tools. That would make him Jesus Montero with gold glove defense at 3B.

by aCone419 on Jan 8, 2026 8:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"Working on the New York Mets, to be followed by the Cleveland Indians, then the Florida Marlins."

…then the Astros? You’ll need a change a pace after doing too many good teams in a row.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 7, 2026 8:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

of pace.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 7, 2026 8:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is the Mets farm system considered good by some?

Jim Callis had it 24th in his chat Dec. 30th:

Jc (Clearwater FL)

Mr. Callis. Is the Mets farm system as bare as some people say it is. I mean I know they are no where near the top but I’ve heard barren thrown around and it seems unfair. Your thoughts?

Jim Callis (2:46 PM)

In my personal rankings, I put the Mets at No. 24. I think their depth stands out more than their top-end talent, but they need to improve in both regards.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/30095/mlb-with-jim-callis

How far below that can the Stros be, realistically…?

by alskor on Jan 7, 2026 8:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs