The offseason doesn’t end at the Winter Meetings

You may be disappointed that the Cleveland Indians didn’t offer a seven-year, $280 million contract to Edwin Encarncion, but you really shouldn’t be. For one, I made that deal up and it would be awful why would you want that? And two, the offseason isn’t over.

It’s true that a lot of deals are made during the Winter Meetings, as are a lot of headlines, but there are still two months before pitchers and catchers start reporting around the league. The Indians have a history of being active in these cold, dark baseball-less months — just last season they agreed to deals with Mike Napoli and Rajai Davis in late December, well after the hot stove had been turned off to prevent a house fire.

The Indians are being patient. We should be too.

Indians news and notes

No urgency for Tribe as Winter Meetings wrap, MLB — The Indians are not in a rush, despite all the urging from fans and even some media members. Cleveland front office members have been in contact with Edwin Encarnacion, Mark Trumbo, and Chris Carter, but there is still plenty of time to get a deal done.

Greg Allen and the shadows of Kenny Lofton, Waiting For Next Year — Comparing Greg Allen to Kenny Lofton? Sure, why not. This whole post from WFNY author Jim Pete is excellent, but my favorite thing is that he opens with a story from Jerry Uht Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, my hometown.

It’s time to extend Danny Salazar, Burning River Baseball — Is it?

Andrew Miller's contract with the Cleveland Indians looks like chump change in the new reliever market, Cleveland — You already know Andrew Miller is a bargain. I already know Andrew Miller is a bargain. Andrew Miller probably knows Andrew Miller is a bargain. But I never get sick of hearing it, or seeing just how much of a bargain he really is.

Around the league

• Pablo Sandoval is in the best shape of his life. Again.
• The MLB is going to have top pitching prospects undergo a pre-draft MRI “““voluntarily”””
• The Cardinals signed Dexter Fowler.
• Related: Dexter Fowler doesn’t want to play for Mike Matheny.