Here’s to a week with more good than bad!
Cleveland Baseball News
What’s life like after Lindor | Indians.com
From Mandy Bell:
Eliminating over $30 million for the Tribe’s 2021 payroll would certainly give the indication that the team would have the wiggle room to add at least one free agent outfielder, but with little idea of the front office’s plan, it’s hard to know for sure. The Indians have been clear that they’ve lost tens of millions of dollars due to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, but the team hasn’t been transparent about where its payroll needs to end up. Someone like Eddie Rosario seems like a perfect fit for the Tribe, but it’s difficult to know whether Cleveland would be able to afford someone who could sign a one-year, $7 or $8 million contract when it’s evident the club’s main focus is slashing its payroll.
Maybe the team is trying to save money to be able to extend someone like Shane Bieber. Or maybe Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti has been given a firm number from ownership of what to keep the payroll under for next season and the club hasn’t shared that information. Antonetti said that the financial flexibility will allow them to reinvest money back into the roster, but we’ll have to wait to see if that will end up being the reality.
Around the League
- DJ LeMahieu engaging other teams in free agency with Yankees slow to meet his price
- Trevor Bauer gives free agency update
- The longest tenured player on each MLB team