For some reason Seagull has always got his jollies taking a whiz on things other people posted. He did it with you on the Rule 5 stuff. Now me on minor league stats. As if we care what he likes.

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Indians Prospective @indiansPro

Lot to be excited about Indians 21yr old prospect Nolan Jones for 2020. Top career wRC+ by a third base prospect this past decade with at least 1,000 PA's.

1) Valdimir Guerrero Jr. 164
2) Nick Senzel 158
3) Joey Gallo 157
4) Miguel Sano 156
5) Nolan Jones 152

Not trying to pee on you guys. I read everything you post and appreciate your efforts to find stuff that makes our favorite team look better than they are. I only point out, you can't believe everything you read. But if nobody calls bullshit, what fun is it?

Honestly I have no idea what your point was. Other than to point out the obvious.

If minor leagues are so worthless why even have it? Why do teams invest millions every year? I’m assuming that wasn’t your point.

Now obviously, just because a guy does well in AAA doesn’t mean he’s a lock to do well in majors. Nobody here is that dumb. So if that was your only point well, congratulations for pointing out the obvious. I hope you felt better getting that off your chest.

But if we have a starter that has put up better numbers in his minor league career then some others that has done well in majors, like Clevinger and Civale, that is nice to know. Maybe the kid will be good? ... If we have a 3rd baseman that has put up equal numbers to some others who have went on to be good major leaguers then that is nice to know. Maybe he will help us soon. That was my only point, telling guys who may not follow minors closely that we have someone coming who may help. Obviously, they may not too.

According to The Athletic, multiple memebers of the 2018 Red Sox have told MLB that they used the replay room to steal signs that season.

Surely, replay rooms have been used for cheating since the moment they were created, which is something MLB tried to crack down on prior to the 2018 season by adding monitors.

The Red Sox reportedly used zoomed-in video in the replay room to learn catcher's signals, which could then be relayed to batters when runners were on second base. They almost certainly weren't the only ones doing that through the years.

Still, it's especially disturbing that it's another Alex Cora team getting busted, given that Cora was also with the 2017 Astros when they were cheating.

Remember when Bauer said the Indians were "out-informationed" by the Astros? Now we know what he really meant.

Eric Haase has been traded to the Tigers for cash considerations.

I'm sad about the above Haase news. But news that we might just have Lindor for the next year and a half, unless someone ponies up big time, makes me feel better.

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Mandy Bell @MandyBell02
Chris Antonetti: "I have never had a different expectation other than Francisco [Lindor] will be our shortstop Opening Day. That was my expectation as the season ended. That’s still my expectation as I’m sitting here today."

James Rapien @JamesRapien
Chris Antonetti didn't want to get into specifics about Lindor trade talks, but said multiple times today and has been consistent that he thinks Lindor will be in Cleveland this season. He also didn't want to get into specifics regarding a reunion with Yasiel Puig

Zack Meisel @ZackMeisel
Chris Antonetti: "I still have every expectation that Francisco will be our shortstop on Opening Day. I'm more confident today in saying that, as more of the offseason has passed."

Mandy Bell @MandyBell02
Antonetti on trade rumors: "I can’t control the conduct of other teams and them calling us with interest in wanting to explore things. As I’ve shared with you, we have a responsibility to be responsive to those teams when they engage with us.

I can say we’ve had conversations on the majority of our Major League roster and a bunch of players in our Minor League system over the course of the offseason. The majority of those guys, other than just a couple, are still with us.”

At 27, Haase was totally blocked in Cleveland as a catcher. He's better off with another team.

I wouldn't expect Antonetti to say anything different about Lindor. They'll listen. Not any new news there.

Keep getting e-mails from Goodyear about ST. Tickets available.

I’m thinking about going home for a visit during opening day week. Cavs play the Lakers the same night as opening day, which is early afternoon. Only thing that scares me is planning around it only to have it snowed out or something.

I thought HB made a good point referencing the haul they got for Bauer.

That was with a year and a half left.

So if we wait until the trade deadline, still should be good offers.

I do think the reason NOT to wait until the deadline is that if we are contending (likely) then it does become very difficult to deal him then.

And next offseason you then get much less for him.

Actually, my point was we have quite a history getting a good haul of prospects at the trade deadline for guys in their final year of their deal. So if guys aren't willing to part with top prospects, then we may as well wait till NEXT July to trade Lindor. Get as much as we can for him.

Bauer was actually a bad example on my part. Had a brain fart at time and forgot he had another year left.

But comparing Bauer and Lindor are as apples vs oranges as you can get. Bauer had a bad reputation. Had just chugged a ball over the fence out of frustration like a 7 year old. Was really having a bad year. Etc... Where as Lindor has a great reputation. Always smiling, always doing and saying the right thing. As marketable as it gets. We still got a haul for Bauer. What might we get for Lindor?!

But we traded Cliff Lee at trade deadline, and we got 4 legit prospects. I know Carrasco, who was baseball's 68th overall ranked prospect at the time, was the only one that made it, but the other guys were legit. Marson was one of the top ranked catching prospects in the minors at the time. Knapp was a 2nd round pick the year before. And Donald a prospect too.

We traded Sabathia for 4 prospects. LaPorta, who was one of the top ranked prospects in baseball then. Top 25 guy if I remember correctly. At the time of the deal he was hitting like 290 with 20+ homers. He was supposedly "cant miss". We also got two relief pitching prospects and Michael Brantley as a toss in, and who I wanted all along.

So my point is, if all teams are willing to give up are their second tier caliber prospects - not willing to give up their #1 prospect anyway - then why not just go ahead and wait. Get another year and a half out of him, then we can still trade him at deadline NEXT year for a haul of second tier guys. Who knows, we may just make a run. This might be the year?

I get it - but bottom line is that the Betts situation is by far the best predictor of what will/may happen. Teams deal a lot differently then back in the Sabathia days.

Betts is a star player like Lindor. Perfect comparison. He has one year of control.

Red Sox likely will trade him so will be interesting to see what they are able to get either for 1 year of control or at the deadline this coming season.

So for this price, it's hard to call DeShields a salary dump by Texas. I don't believe it. I think the Indians like him as a useful piece.

Indians and OF Delino DeShields avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.875 million contract.
DeShields was eligible for arbitration for the second time. He was acquired from the Rangers last month

Sorry, comparing a corner OF’er to a SS is apples and oranges IMHO too. Lindor is more valuable, playing the premium position of SS, as well as he does, in all regards.

Trying to find something recent to compare to Lindor.

2018, Dodgers traded 5 prospects for Manny Machado in a contract year at the deadline. Including one of their top prospects in Yusniel Diaz.