Chris Sale is better than Corey Kluber

This is only the second iteration of this still unnamed series, but I do so much enjoy the fact that it lets me put ridiculous things like “Chris Sale is better than Corey Kluber” as the title and not feel guilty about it. This must be how Buzzfeed feels everyday.

Yes, it’s that time again where I collect your hottest takes from the world of Twitter and Facebook to argue with, or maybe agree with, them. If there’s one running theme in this week’s edition, it’s that everybody still loves Trevor Bauer.

Our first hot take this week comes from friend of the site (well, former friend after this), Sox Machine’s Josh Nelson, who is out here saying crazy things.

Honestly, though, I don’t think this is entirely inaccurate. It’s crazy to remember that Chris Sale is only 28 and giving Corey Kluber a race for the Cy Young every season. He’s going to be carrying the Boston Red Sox rotation in 2018, he’s one of the most electrifying, unhittable pitchers in baseball, and he’s a lefty. I don’t know what more you want in a pitcher. Sale vs. Kluber is close enough that I feel comfortable letting my homerism pick Kluber over Sale, but neither option is wrong.

I audibly “ooooooooooo’d” at this one. And it’s not wrong.

Even before the Miami Marlins sold everything off before self-immolating and jumping into a lake of gasoline, they weren’t on pace for a great offensive season, at least according to ZiPS. Justin Bouer is the last Marlin standing to have the highest projected wRC+ at 113, with Derek Dietrich being the only other player expected to have an above-average offensive season. I’m not even sure what they would contribute to the Florida SunFish. Starlin Castro? At least the Tampa Bay Rays could still send Chris Archer and Kevin Kiermaier to the meat grinder.

I guess what I’m saying is, the Rays would lose the NL East and forcing them to add Marlins players would just be cruel.

Nah, let grown men and women do whatever the hell they want. I swore off buying jerseys after Zach Parise left the New Jersey Devils, personally, but I have nothing against other people wearing them. Unless it’s a Royals jersey.

First of all, how dare you.

It’s hard to say he’s overrated when he’s not that... rated... to begin with. As fun as it is to note how large his biceps are, and drool at his potential if he can ever figure out how to hit the ball in the air, he’s appropriately used as backup/Triple-A third baseman right now. If anything, I think his defense is underrated. But other than the fun memes, I don’t think anyone is severely overrating him.

Also, he’ll put you in a headlock and crack you like a coconut.

I hear the Florida SunFish are looking for versatile infielders.

What is it with hot takes and Trevor Bauer? There was a very similar one brought up last week about Bauer getting Cy Young votes, but this seems even crazier to me. You’re saying that Bauer is going to be better than one of: Corey Kluber, Chris Sale, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Carlos Carrasco, etc. I’m all for the Trevor Bauer redemption tour, but top-5 is a bit much.

I mean, as a fan of them as people, I hope not. I don’t want anyone to fail, let alone two players I’ve cheered for like crazy over the last several years.

But on the other hand, they don’t play for the Indians so I wish them nothing but pain and suffering — I’m sure Indians fans would love the chance to rip Bryan Shaw on another team. At the very least, I hope they play horribly when/if they face the Indians again. Sorry, Carlos.

If the Indians can pry him away now, I wouldn’t hate it. A full season, even if it’s just one season, of Manny Machado is pretty great. Let alone the fact that it would allow Jose Ramirez to slide back to second base and give the Indians arguably the best infielder in all of baseball. I’d be a little less excited about getting him at the deadline, though, especially if it means the Indians are bidding against desperate fringe playoff teams.

You (and everyone else) may want to look away from this next question.

Good lord, son, no. Manny Machado isn’t going to be cheap, but his is franchise suicide.

It’s unfortunate, but nothing is going to move until Eric Hosmer comes to his senses and realizes that one cares about his ill-gotten Gold Gloves and no one is going to give him an eight-year contract. Between him and J.D. Martinez refusing to take a deal, it’s keeping the free agent market frozen — the smaller guys don’t have a market until the big dominos fall. None of this is the fault of the Indians, or even those smaller guys — I’m sure they’ll add a couple more before or during spring training. Did you also forget they signed Yonder Alonso?

I mean, yeah. On the heat-o-meter this is a solid 2/10.

Non-tendered is a little harsh. That’s usually reserved for a player who cannot add value in any way, but Giovanny Urshela has at least proved he can be a Gold Glove-caliber third baseman. It’s just unfortunate he can’t — and may never — be able to hit at even an average clip. Hell, I’d even take slightly below average with how good his glove is, but a career 57 wRC+ is unacceptable for everyone but Michael Martinez, apparently.

Sure, but why? Terry Francona is a great manager, what do the Indians gain sticking him in the front office and making Sandy Alomar Jr. the manager? I don’t doubt Alomar would be a good leader, but at best it’s a lateral move.

And I don’t know if I’d trust or want Tito in a front office. His biggest strengths are game management and getting the best out of his players — roster decisions and lineup constructions have always been a weakpoint. Would his incessant gum chewing annoy his cubicle neighbors? On second thought, I really want to see Tito working in a cubicle so I’ll allow it.

Let Andrew Miller pitch when and where he’s needed most and let Cody Allen keep dominating the ninth inning. If it ain’t broke, it’s worth two in the bush.

Is this a thing now? Picking a random player and giving him MVP votes? I will say, this is an interesting, albeit nearly impossible, one. Even if Chisenhall is lighting the league on fire to start the season, it’ll still be a while before Tito (or anyone) trusts it enough to stop platooning him enough to be in the MVP race. It would complete his ascension to Alex Gordon 2.0, however.