Just about everything associated with this 2020 Major League Baseball season has been strange, with a number of added variables and uncertainties built up compared to a normal year. The upcoming trading date, and how teams will approach it, is no different.
The trading date for 2020 before the season was moved to August 31, giving teams just a little over a month of regular season games to make decisions. Although, the timing of it is not the biggest issue.
It’s information. It’s video. It’s data. Teams are already limited to dealing only with players within their 60-man player pool, and cut back on the potential to find the right pieces and make a deal. But beyond that, teams are also limited in what they can see and collect on players at alternate sites of other franchises. It has added an extra layer of guesswork to the mix.
“I think the more challenging thing we face is this is a unique deadline as opposed to anything that any of us in the industry have experienced in the past,” said Indian President of Baseball Operations Chis Antonetti at a Zoom call. “That there’s so much uncertainty about the game and what the way forward might be for the balance of the season and the offseason. It’s a very different context to make decisions. That’s one element that is different.
“Two, information, especially with the players of the small league, is also very different. At least at the level of the premier league, although we have a smaller sample, we have access to video and the data we are used to to have.We do not yet have complete information of the alternative sites.We have no video so far, we do not have any additional information.And then for players who are not in the pool of 60 players, we have effective no information from the players of the teams in that group. “
All 30 top-class parks have the same technology installed for sharing data around the league. But the other sites, especially parks for minor leagues, that teams use for their alternative sites are not necessarily all the same. It’s one of the problems MLB almost had to try to figure out when the deadline approached.
“We all strive to be there as soon as possible, but there are some real logistical challenges to doing so,” Antonetti said. “Every first-class ballpark is equipped with the same technology, so sharing information is really easy at the first-class level. At the minor level, it’s more complicated because there are a variety of different technologies that teams use. In many cases, some teams use colleges or independent league teams or other second-party facilities that do not have any of these devices, so creating some technology and some video to share and contribute is much more complicated in this. environment then everything we have experienced before. “
Everything looks like the trade date and the Indians will first turn to Francisco Lindor, because the front office should at least keep the phone lines open. However, the addition of the three additional postseason spots reduced any possibility that the Indians would drop out of the race early enough to more easily allow a Lindor deal. That price tag remains high, though the Indians must seriously examine any serious offer loaded with present and / or future value. Add the potential difficulty of getting adequate updates about players from the alternate sites, and even a blow-them-out-of-the-water deal could be with added uncertainty.
Another area to see: the outdoor field. Franmil Reyes has recently taken fire after adjusting his swing to center and right-center field, in the process becoming one of the hottest hitters in baseball. Although after Reyes, Oscar Mercado, Bradley Zimmer (as of late), Domingo Santana and others have until recently struggled or been sidelined with injuries (like Tyler Naquin). Indian outfielders, who entered Sunday’s game, had -0.7 fWAR collectively. Only the Pirates have become less.
The Indians have been treating Trevor Bauer and two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber since last July to address other spots around the roster. It is possible that they were able to do well again after that, as they have practiced the best rotation of baseball so far, but one who has not received the kind of run support needed to make much of it. Considering that rotation was already the most important area of abundance of the Indians in the organization, that could certainly mean that Mike Clevinger as Zach Plesac, who recently broke protocol, were placed on the restricted list and then optional to the alternative site at Lake County. That could mean especially Clevinger, who is already in his arbitration years. Although, despite frustration and lost confidence in the clubhouse, the price tag for both pitchers would remain high.
Negro Leagues celebration
Major League Baseball on Sunday celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues, with every team, including the Indians, wearing a commemorative patch on their uniforms.
Drawing deserved attention for such a crucial and important part of the history of baseball was necessary. For Indians outfield Delino DeShields Sunday marked an important day for more than just being his 28th birthday.
“It means a lot to me,” DeShields said on a Zoom call. “You know, it’s something that grew up. I was surrounded by my parents. They made sure I knew we had our own sport, like our own League, I should say, back in the day. So yeah, this Negro League players, they were my idols growing up.They were guys I was looking up to and like, so it’s really cool that we’re celebrating the Negro Leagues this year.Although I personally think we should do it every year. Even if it’s a weekend or something. “
DeShields’ father, Delino DeShields Sr., played 13 years in the major leagues and is now a first base coach with the Reds. It was important for DeSheilds Sr. to ensure that these pieces of history were passed on. DeShields Jr. has now the same goal, that training of the Negro Leagues is a necessary piece within the larger baseball conversation of the younger generations of today.
“You know, I wanted it to be a conversation starter because I feel like when I talk about my idols, people do not know who these guys are and to me they are superheroes,” DeShields said. “And I wanted kids – black kids – to know that African Americans had their own baseball game, and that, you know, they were really good. And I know it’s not much talked about, but with the decline of African Americans. in baseball, I thought it was important to get that message out and hopefully inspire someone to start playing baseball and dream big of making it to the big leagues. “
Ryan Lewis can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Indians at www.beaconjournal.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.
