4.) Lock It Up
Cleveland over the years has done a good job at locking up its young talent early to avoid competing in free agency with bigger market teams.
Some names in that list include Michael Brantley, Carlos Carrasco, Yan Gomes, Jason Kipnis, Corey Kluber, Roberto Perez, and Jose Ramirez.
With the team playing like it has, it would make sense to try and keep the core rolling. Obviously the big name would be Francisco Lindor.
It was rumored the team offered him over 100 million before the season which he turned down. If that is the case it might hard to come to terms on an extension this year and with him not arbitration eligible for another year it can be tabled to after 2018.
Two names I would look at this offseason would be Lonnie Chisenhall and Trevor Bauer. 2017 is the last year of arbitration for Chisenhall before he becomes a free agent next year. He has quietly been one of the more solid and consistent players in the lineup.
Originally considered just a platoon guy against righties, Chisenhall has gotten off to quick starts in the season and has hit .280 in three of his last four seasons. Injuries have occasionally hampered him and the Indians could look to capitalize on that and lock him in longer instead of him banking on himself in a contract year.
He made 4.3 million this past year so a contract in the 5-8 million range with his versatility to play first if need be too would make a lot of sense with the questions surrounding the current outfield.
Trevor Bauer would be the other name to try and immediately lock up. The starters this year set all kinds of records and that included a lot of them having a slow start.
To keep that core would be amazing. Kluber and Carrasco are already signed and Bauer would be another perfect fit. After he was drafted third overall in 2011, he seemed to flip a switch in the second half of 2017. He developed a stronger slider to mix in with his fastball and slow hooking 12-6 curve.
That has lead to a new career high strikeout average for him. He finished third on the team with 17 wins, just one behind Kluber and Carrasco and will only be 27 next year, meaning he has a lot of good baseball still ahead of him. It seems as if he is finally getting comfortable and finding a groove and to not sign him now would be a mistake before that price tag shoots way up.
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