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Urshela to train with Lindor in offseason Indians want rookies to remain close as third baseman looks to improve at plate By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | November 18th, 2015 CLEVELAND -- and Giovanny Urshela are accustomed to close proximity. For the past three years, they have climbed up the Indians' organization ladder, Lindor manning and Urshela handling third base at their stops along the way. Their partnership on the left side of Minor League infields culminated in their respective promotions to Cleveland this past season, when Lindor and Urshela helped shore up the Tribe's previously troubled defense. The pair will remain close this offseason, as Urshela plans on heading to Florida to train with Lindor before they return to Arizona for . "I think it's a good idea," Indians manager said at the end of the season. "I think they'll push each other and I think it's really good." Francona's first choice was to have the 24-year-old Urshela spend the bulk of the winter training at the team's complex in Goodyear, Ariz., where the club holds a strength and conditioning camp and has trainers and medical staff on duty. The Indians manager also knows that asking a player to spend a season, and then an offseason, away from his home country (Colombia in Urshela's case) can be hard on a player. Training with Lindor was a good compromise. Francona said the plan was to have the 24-year-old Urshela join Lindor in Florida in December before a trip to his home country for the holidays. Urshela would then return to Florida to stay and train with Lindor in January for the weeks leading up to the beginning of spring camp. "I think those guys will motivate each other," said Indians president of operations Chris Antonetti. "You see the dynamic they have when they're on the field together. They have that same dynamic off the field. One of the things that's great about Francisco ... is he takes his "If that has the result of Gio and Francisco pushing each other and coming into Spring Training in the best condition possible, that seems like a really good formula for success." As things stand, Urshela projects to be Cleveland's starter at third base come . That could certainly change as the Indians maneuver through the offseason, but the Tribe knows it has a strong defender at the hot corner in the young infielder. What the Indians do not know for certain is exactly what kind of Major League hitter they have. When evaluating Urshela's offensive showing in 2015, when he hit only .225 with a .608 OPS in 81 games for Cleveland, it is important to keep in mind how many health setbacks he encountered. The third baseman sustained a left knee injury in winter ball last year, missed Spring Training due to a back issue that flared up again in May and then sat part of September with nagging right shoulder soreness. Urshela hit just .192 with a .559 OPS across August and September while dealing with the discomfort. "It was a very tough, very hard year for me," Urshela said. "I try to always be healthy and get out there and come every day being positive. I was trying to finish the season healthy, so that's what I tried to do. And that's what I did." Urshela has always been highly regarded for his defense, but he put himself on Cleveland's radar with his offense two seasons ago. Before the injuries struck throughout this past year, Urshela hit .280 with 18 homers, 60 extra-base hits, 84 RBIs and an .825 OPS in 128 games between -A and -A in 2014. "We know that potential is in there," Antonetti said. "Gio himself said that's his area of focus going into the offseason. He wants to get his body back to feeling the way it did prior to 2014. If he does that, we've all seen what he's capable of doing. We think he'd have a chance to impact us, not only defensively the way he has already despite some of his injury limitations this year, but impact our offense as well." Urshela's training this offseason is critical in that regard. "Gio understood," Francona said, "that coming into camp next year strong and fast and in good shape is going to be really important." Lindor was looking forward to training with his close friend, too. "It'll be big," Lindor said. "Having him next to me, training with me, is going to make me push myself a little harder. I'm sure he's going to push himself harder and it's going to help us continue that chemistry that we have. It's going to help us come in ready for the team next year." Jordan Bastian is a repo

Jose Ramirez's injury, Cy Young semantics and Tribe trade rumors: Zack Meisel's musings Zack Meisel, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For now, the hot stove is lukewarm. With the Winter Meetings a little more than two weeks away, that should change pretty soon. Here are five thoughts on Jose Ramirez, Cy Young balloting and Tribe trade rumors. 1. Scary sight: Tribe infielder Jose Ramirez was carried off the field in a winter ball game in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday night after a collision at second base. Late Wednesday evening, the Indians were still awaiting official word on the condition of the 23-year-old, who was taken away in an ambulance. According to Antonio Puesan, a reporter for ESPN Deportes, results from an X-ray on Ramirez's leg came back negative and revealed no fracture. Ramirez was listed as day to day. 2. Winter's tale: In 12 games with Toros del Este in the Dominican League, Ramirez has posted a .308 average and .370 on-base percentage, with five stolen bases and two triples. He posted a .219 average and .291 on-base percentage in 97 contests with the Tribe in 2015. 3. Election Day: and Carlos Carrasco each received a fourth-place vote in the balloting for the . Kluber, who went 9-16 with a 3.49 ERA, also merited a pair of fifth-place tallies. Voters were required to list their top five candidates for the honor. Kluber, the 2014 winner, totaled 245 in 222 innings. He logged a 2.97 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) and had a better walk rate and hits allowed rate than he did a year ago. Carrasco fashioned a 14-12 record and 3.63 ERA, with 216 strikeouts in 183 2/3 innings. He tossed three complete games and he limited the opposition to 7.5 hits per nine innings. 4. Another Astro: Two days after Houston's captured the AL Rookie of the Year honor, Astros southpaw Dallas Keuchel claimed the AL Cy Young Award, with finishing second. I had a vote and opted for Price, though I essentially considered it to be a coin flip. Keuchel went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA, a 2.91 FIP, and rates of 7.2 hits per nine, 2.0 walks per nine and 8.4 strikeouts per nine. Price went 18-5 with a 2.45 ERA, a 2.78 FIP, and rates of 7.8 hits per nine, 1.9 walks per nine and 9.2 strikeouts per nine. Both hurlers helped their teams end lengthy postseason droughts. Price relocated from Detroit to Toronto at the end of July. Check out full voting here. 5. Gossip folks: Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported that the Indians had spoken with the Dodgers, Blue Jays and Yankees about a potential -for- swap. The Tribe will be linked to a handful of other teams, too, before any deal is consummated. The Indians can provide another club with a commodity -- Carlos Carrasco or Danny Salazar, perhaps -- that serves as a preferable (read: less expensive) alternative to the on the free-agent market. Toronto will likely let David Price walk, so it's no surprise that new man in charge Mark Shapiro would be seeking a pitcher on the trade front. That said, just because other teams are reaching out and inquiring about an Indians starter doesn't mean that the Indians are itching to send Carrasco or Salazar or or Cody Anderson or anyone else packing. They need an outfielder or two and they know and Yoenis Cespedes and and even will be too expensive, but they also know they have a bit of leverage, so figure that they'll talk with a number of teams before they settle on a decision.

How about Justin Masterson as a buy-low, win-big free agent signing? Hey, Hoynsie Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Do you have a question that you'd like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? Submit it here or Tweet him at @hoynsie. Hey, Tom -- I'm not sure if the Indians are interested, but I think Masterson could be a great under-the-radar free-agent sign for a team. Masterson appeared in 18 games, including nine starts for Boston last season, but came down with a sore right shoulder and was released in August. Dr. Craig Morgan performed arthroscopic surgery on Masterson's shoulder in late September and he is expected to be ready to compete for a job in spring training. Dr. Morgan, who performed the surgery on Michael Brantley's right shoulder earlier this month, told Masterson after a recent checkup that he should be 100 percent for the first time in two years. A number of teams have reportedly asked to review Masterson's medicals. Masterson pitched between 180 and 216 innings for four seasons as the Indians No.1 starter. He topped out at 216 innings in 2011 when he went 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA. Masterson, who turns 31 on March 22, signed a one-year, $9.5 million deal with Boston after the 2014 season. He went 4-2 with a 5.61 ERA, but threw only 59 1/3 innings. There are a lot of high-priced pitchers on the market this winter. Masterson could be a classic buy-low, win-big sign for some team after all the big names find a home. The 6-6, 260-pound Masterson is 64-74 with a 4.31 ERA in 258 games, including 184 starts. Hey, Stacy: Jon Morosi of FoxSports reported that Yankee outfielder could be coming to the Indians for one of their starting pitchers. Like you, I think the Indians can do better. Gardner, 32, hit .259 (148-for-571) with 16 homers and 66 RBI last season. The left-handed hitting Gardner hit 12 of his homers at home where Yankee Stadium's short right-field porch favors him. Not sure if karma is at work here, but the Indians should beware. The last Yankee outfielder they acquired who was over 30 (Nick Swisher) didn't work out so well. @hoynsie Hey Hoynsie, Does the Tribe brass ever show any resentment over the fanatical devotion to the inept, and city-deserting Browns? Hey, Dan: When the Indians and Browns shared Municipal Stadium, the bitterness between the two teams was out in the open. Art Modell, owner of the Browns, and Gabe Paul, president of the Indians, did not mask their dislike for each other. The fact that Modell was the Indians' landlord stoked the fires. Things are more civilized now that the Indians have their own ballpark. In fact, Indians owner Paul Dolan and Browns owner Jimmy Haslam are friends. Still, I do think there are times when the Indians feel like the little brother in town when compared to the Browns. Remember when former Tribe Chris Perezripped the Browns and their fans? It might have been the only time that the Tribe's front office wasn't ready to slap a gag order on him. Hey, Andrew: We've talked about this before. Chris Antonetti isn't taking Mark Shapiro's place. Shapiro was president of the organization. The business and baseball side of the Indians reported to him and he reported to owner Paul Dolan. When the Indians promoted Antonetti to president of baseball operations, he maintained the same duties as when he was general manager only under a new title. Mike Chernoff and Derek Falvey were promoted and given raises to keep them in the organization because other teams were interested in hiring them. Dolan has replaced Shapiro on the business side of the Indians. Antonetti reports directly to Dolan as do four executives from the business side of the team. Hey, Lane: I know it's painful because it took the Indians a long time and a lot of patience to get Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar to this point. But the Indians need more offense and because they can't afford a high-end free agent, they're going to have to try and find that offense through trades. Pitching right now is a position of strength for the Tribe. What it comes down to is this -- if the Indians make a trade that costs them a frontline , it has to be the right one. Hey, Steve: Yasiel Puig is off the table for the Tribe. The Dodgers have put a big price tag on him and the Indians aren't willing to pay it. Hey, Scott: First things first, I think the Indians want to improve the offense. If they can do that through a trade, they will. Depending on what kind of position player/hitter they get in the deal, then I think they'll play the waiting game in the free agent market. @hoynsie which minor league prospects should we keep an eye on for appearing in Cleveland colors in 2016? Michael McCusker, Glasgow Scotland Hey, Michael: Things could change if the Indians have to trade prospects this winter, but as of now I'd keep an eye on and . Pitching wise, Shawn Armstrong should get a chance to make the bullpen in spring training. Starters Mike Clevinger and Ryan Merritt could get a call to the big leagues during the 2016 season. Hey, Kevin: I think the right-handed power-hitting Todd Frazier would look good in the middle of the Tribe's lineup. The Reds are rebuilding and ready to deal. The one problem is that Frazier can be a free agent after 2017. If the Reds want Danny Salazar, he'd be under their control for the next five years, while Frazier could skate after two years in Cleveland. If Cincinnati asks for Carlos Carrasco, he has three guaranteed years left on his contract with two club options. Unless the Indians could sign Frazier to an extension as part of the trade, that's probably not going to work. One more thing. Frazier hit a career-high 35 homers last year, but only 10 after the All-Star break. Maybe he blew himself out winning the All- Star Game home derby. Or maybe it's a trend.

Cleveland Indians fans have visions of when watching Francisco Lindor -- Terry Pluto Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "He reminds me of Omar." That's what my wife said when I mentioned that I planned to write about Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor. Omar is Omar Vizquel. Omar is so special to a certain generation of Tribe fans that he simply goes by one name. Omar is probably the most popular player from the great teams of the 1990s. He was a sensational shortstop, a flashy but fundamentally sound player whose smile would lift the gray, gloomy clouds that often rolled in from Lake Erie. Is it fair to put Lindor in that class? Not just yet. He hasn't even played 100 major-league games. He only turned 22 on Nov. 14. He is so young and so much could go wrong. So is it fair to already consider him the "Face of the Franchise," especially a franchise that desperately needs a double dose of charisma and personality? Probably not. But if you watched Lindor during his 99 games with the Tribe in 2015, didn't you begin to think much like my wife, "He reminds me of Omar." SECOND IN VOTING Lindor finished second in the American League voting for Rookie of the Year. Houston's Carlos Correa was the winner as his surprising Astros made the playoffs. I'm not going to debate the voting. If I had a vote, I'd have given it to Lindor. I saw his magic in Cleveland. But if I happened to be Houston and watched the Astros rise from the ashes of the American League, my vote probably would have gone to Correa. The two Puerto Rican are so close, their stats so strong, the home field may have been the deciding factor in the eyes of some voters. Lindor's numbers are stunning, batting .313 (.835 OPS) with 12 HR, 51 RBI and 12 stolen bases in those 99 games. Now think about this: Lindor was promoted from Class AAA Columbus on June 14. He batted .211 (12-of-57) in June. The Indians thought he could struggle at the bat. They knew he'd bring a big-time glove, and figured he'd mature into a good hitter over time. But talk about an outrageous growth spurt. He batted .295 in July. Then .370 in August. And .372 in September! He led the American League with 13 sacrifice bunts. That was a special area for Omar, who was a wonderful bunter. As for his fielding, there is an advance stat called Defensive Runs Saved. Lindor led all American League shortstops in that category despite playing only 99 games. His 10 runs saved are the most by any Tribe player in 12 years. Who did it last? You guessed it ... Omar. LITTLE THINGS MATTER Tribe General Manager Chris Antonetti told me how Lindor quickly won over his teammates. First-round drafts and those labeled phenoms are often viewed with suspicion. Most veterans had to battle their way through the thick jungle of the minor leagues. Most didn't receive anything close to the $2.9 million bonus handed Lindor after being the No. 8 pick in the 2013 draft. Antonetti talked about how after making an out, Lindor didn't run down the dugout tunnel to pout or even look at the video to check an umpire's call. "He goes to the top step of the dugout with his teammates, pulling for the next guy to get a hit," said Antonetti. "Veterans notice that." When Lindor was promoted, Terry Francona talked to him about making "helping us win" to be his top priority. "That's how you win over your teammates," said the Tribe manager. Lindor's bunting skill is something else that revealed his unselfish approach to the game. GROWING INTO A LEADER "On almost every (minor-league) team, he was the youngest player," said Antonetti. "And within a few months, he emerged as one of the team leaders. It's his personality and his approach to the game. He's enthusiastic and he's a team guy." The same was true of Omar. But Lindor's outstanding rookie season was at the age of 21. Omar didn't make the majors until he was 22, and batted .220 (.534 OPS) with Seattle. He went back to the minors again for part of the following season. He never showed the power that Lindor did with the Tribe at 21. A big asset for Lindor is that he's fluent in English and Spanish. His family moved from Puerto Rico to the Orlando area when he was 13. He has an outgoing personality, and communicates well with everyone. Know who else did that? That's right ... Omar. MAJOR CHALLENGE COMING The Indians estimate that about 80 percent of all players end up making at least one trip back to the minors at some point in their careers. Many come up from the minors for the first time during the summer. "Their confidence tends to be high and the weather is warm," said Antonetti. "It's tougher when you open the season with a big-league team for the first time." The young player is still learning. The weather is cold, harder to hit. The pressure can be more pronounced. Among the veteran Tribe players, only Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis and Cody Allen never made a return trip to the minors (unless on an injury rehabilitation assignment). The Indians naturally believe Lindor can the exception, that he's been exceptional in so many other areas. "He thinks about all the different aspects of the game," said Antonetti. "Working hard and getting better in the little things is important him. So is being a good teammate. He doesn't seem to get too caught up (in all the hype) about Rookie of the Year and things like that." Lindor has a love of the game, and it's contagious. It's part of the reason that so many Tribe fans already are in baseball love with him -- just like they were with Omar. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 11.18.2015

Head-scratching Rookie of the Year ballots and Rule 5 Draft planning: Zack Meisel's musings

Zack Meisel, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are five thoughts on the Rookie of the Year voting, the Rule 5 Draft and more. 1. Hanging chads: The end result of the American League Rookie of the Year race was far from surprising. Carlos Correa collected 17 first- place votes and 124 overall points to win the hardware. Francisco Lindor finished second, with 13 first-place tallies and 109 overall points. Some of the individual ballots submitted, however, were head-scratchers. Hideo Kizaki of the Jiji Press -- a wire service in Tokyo -- voted Correa first, Oakland outfielder Billy Burns second and Minnesota outfielder third. No one else had Burns second or had both Burns and Rosario on his or her ballot. Only one other voter included Rosario at all. Rosario's teammate, Miguel Sano, had a much more productive season. Rosario logged a .289 on-base percentage and a .748 OPS. Sano posted a .385 on-base percentage and a .916 OPS. To exclude Lindor from his ballot was a bit mind-boggling as well. Two other voters slotted Lindor third. On both of those ballots, Blue Jays reliever Robero Osuna was placed second. Osuna, 20, had a strong season in relief for Toronto, with a 2.58 ERA and 20 saves. Check out the full voting here. 2. Right to vote: There may never be a perfect voting system. In college football, the coaches' poll is a giant farce. Coaches have no time to browse the results and statistics of 25 or more teams from around the country. Some simply have a media relations assistant fill out their ballots shortly before the deadline. In baseball, writers see players from the division they cover much more frequently. In Cleveland, we saw Lindor dazzle on the diamond more often than we saw Correa contribute. No matter how long we stare at the numbers, there figures to be at least a bit of unintended bias, just because of exposure to the local kid. How else would one explain a Texas writer handing Rangers rookie Delino DeShields a third-place vote? DeShields compiled a .261/.344/.374 slash line, with two home runs and 25 stolen bases. He received only the one vote. Of course, bias doesn't necessarily account for cluelessness. A ballot that included Burns and Rosario, but not Lindor, suggests that someone didn't do his homework. As a voting member of the Baseball Writers Association of America, that's unacceptable. Sure, it didn't make a difference in the final tally, but awards can factor into a player's eventual arbitration case. Voting should be taken seriously if we want the results to be received the same way. Paul Hoynes explains his vote. 3. Five for fighting Teams have until Friday to protect players from being exposed to the Rule 5 Draft. That means minor leaguers who are eligible must be added to the 40-man roster, or else the club will risk having those players selected by another team. A team must keep a selected player on its major league roster next season, or offer the player back to its original club. The Rule 5 Draft will take place during the Winter Meetings next month. The Indians have 36 players on their 40-man roster. They'll have to leave a spot vacant if they want to participate in the draft process. To be eligible for the draft, a player signed at the age of 18 must have accrued five years in the minors. A player signed at the age of 19 or later must have accrued four years in the minors. 4. Mambo No. 5: Outfielder Tyler Naquin seems like a logical choice to be added to the 40-man roster this week. Naquin batted .300 with an .828 OPS between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus in 2015. He could make his major league debut sometime next year. The Indians could also add right-hander Michael Clevinger to the 40-man roster. He went 9-8 with a 2.73 ERA at Akron and then made a pair of sterling starts for Columbus in the postseason. He will likely start the year with the Clippers. 5. Last man standing: Would the Indians leave outfielder exposed? Ramsey, acquired from St. Louis for Justin Masterson, posted a .243/.327/.382 slash line at Triple-A in 2015. Todd Hankins, who hit .261 with 21 stolen bases for Akron, could be up for grabs. Shawn Morimando, who posted a 3.18 ERA in 28 starts at Akron, and Jeff Johnson, who logged a 1.05 ERA and limited the opposition to a .430 OPS in 51 1/3 innings at Akron, are two other candidates. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 11.18.2015

983804 Rockies 983910 Trade rumors: Indians in talks with Blue Jays, Yankees and Dodgers, per report By Ryan Lewis Published: November 19, 2015 The Indians are currently in trade talks with at least three teams, according to a report by Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi. Per the report, the Indians have engaged in at least preliminary talks with the Toronto Blue Jays, and . In all three cases, the Indians are looking to bring in an everyday outfielder in exchange for a starting pitcher. #BlueJays, #Dodgers, #Yankees among the teams to have at least preliminary trade talks with #Indians, sources say. (1/2) — Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 18, 2015 For each of 3 teams mentioned, #Indians would obtain everyday OF and part with a starting pitcher. Many scenarios in play for CLE. (2/2) — Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 18, 2015 The Indians’ collection of young, talented arms in the starting rotation has been a known target for opposing teams, dating back to last July’s trade deadline. Led by 2014 Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer, the Indians have four power arms that are under team control for the foreseeable future. Bauer’s late-season struggles aside, they combined to strike out 826 batters in 2015. After those four, the Indians also have Josh Tomlin and Cody Anderson under team control. It’s a valuable commodity to have such an abundance of talented starting pitchers, and it might be the Indians’ ticket to filling perhaps the team’s biggest need and add an outfielder, particularly one who can take over as the everyday centerfielder in favor of Abraham Almonte. The most likely candidates to be involved in these talks are Carrasco and Salazar. Kluber is the team’s ace with a team-friendly contract and Bauer likely hurt his value with his poor second-half to the season in which he was pushed to the bullpen by Anderson and Tomlin. Carrasco has a team-friendly deal as well, but his name has been tied in trade discussions before and Salazar hasn’t reached the arbitration process yet. Their value will be high. The most likely targets of the three teams mentioned would be the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig, the Yankees’ Brett Gardner and the Blue Jays’ . Puig, 24, took the baseball world by storm in 2013, making headlines with a flurry of sensational plays and turning the bat-flip into a hotly- debated topic. He had a WAR of 4.1 as a rookie in 2013 and followed that with a 5.3 WAR season. But he took a step back last year while he struggled with a hamstring injury. In only 79 games, he hit .255 with 11 home runs. Puig has spent the majority of his time in right field, though he has logged 497 2/3 innings in center. His arm, one of the strongest in the game, has naturally suited him to play right field. In terms of name recognition, a deal for Puig would certainly make the moist noise. Gardner, 32, is one who would take over everyday in centerfield. In roughly the equivalent of two full seasons in centerfield, he has 38 defensive runs saved and an Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 games of 16.5. He’s been a productive player for the Yankees, totaling 9.4 WAR in his last three seasons combined. He’s also been stable the last two years, with a batting average in the .250s, 16-17 home runs, 25-26 doubles and 20-21 stolen bases in 2014 and 2015. Pillar, 26, had a breakout season in 2015. He had a WAR of 4.3, hitting .278 with 12 home runs and 25 stolen bases. But it was his work defensively in centerfield where he garnered the most attention. Pillar ended 2015 with 14 defensive runs saved, tied for third among Major League centerfielders and enough to give him the nod as one of three AL Gold Glove finalists. Gardner and Puig are in similar contractual situations. Both are signed through the 2018 season, Gardner with $37.5 million left on his deal and Puig with roughly $24.6 million left on his deal. Both the Yankees and Dodgers could throw in cash to make the deal work, as the Indians are talking with teams in larger markets. Pillar has a more suitable situation, as he isn’t eligible for arbitration until 2018 and would be under team control through the 2020 season. Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 11.19.2015 If Cleveland Indians want to contend in 2016, they must trade pitching or prospects Paul Hoynes, on November 18, 2015 at 3:18 PM, updated November 18, 2015 at 4:07 PM CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Indians have two choices if they're serious about reaching the postseason in 2016. They can trade a starting pitcher for a hitter or they can deal their prospects for a hitter. Really, it's that simple. Free agency is out. The one and only way the market's big hitters -- Jason Heyward, , Chris Davis, Yoenis Cespedes -- are coming to Cleveland is in a visitor's uniform. So to get the hitter they need, the Indians are going to have to trade one of their top starters – Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar or Trevor Bauer. Or they could deal young starter Cody Anderson along with a prospect like Bradley Zimmer or . The Indians don't want to do that, but if they're intent on contending next season, it's a step they have to take. Plenty of teams are looking for starting pitchers. San Francisco, Arizona, the Dodgers, the Cubs, Yankees, Detroit, Toronto and Boston are among them. Among the Tribe's starting pitchers, Carrasco and Salazar would bring the biggest return. It's hard to imagine the Indians trading Kluber, their ace, who signed a five-year, $38.5 million deal at the start of last season. There's also the matter of Kluber going from a Cy Young winner in 2014 to leading the AL with 16 losses this year. Teams are smart enough to realize Kluber's 2015 stats, with the exception of wins and losses, were in line with his Cy Young numbers, but 16 losses is hard to sweep under the rug. Carrasco, 28, went 14-12 with a 3.63 ERA in 30 starts last season. He set career highs across the board and, like Kluber, signed a multiyear deal at the start of last season. Carrasco just finished the first year of a four-year, $22 million deal with two club options. That is a long way from the kind of money that free agents , David Price and Johnny Cueto are going to make this winter, which makes Carrasco a good buy. Should the Indians trade him, however, it's important that they are able to control the hitter they get back for as long as Carrasco is under control. If not, the deal doesn't make sense. The same logic applies for Salazar, who is under the Indians' control for five more years. Salazar, 26 in January, went 14-10 with a 3.45 ERA in 30 starts. He struck out 195 batters in 185 innings and made just over the major-league minimum this year. The Indians control Bauer for as long as they control Salazar, but at the moment he's probably not in as much demand. Bauer, 24, struggled in the second half and some organizations might not be as open minded as the Indians have been about his pitching philosophies and conditioning methods. If the Indians chose to trade prospects, they have outfield depth and young pitching on the way. Outfielders Tyler Naquin, James Ramsey, Zimmer and Frazier are within a year or two of the big leagues. They're all No.1 draft picks as well. Outside of Anderson, and perhaps reliever Shawn Armstrong, the Indians' pitching prospects won't be big-league ready for a while. Mike Clevinger, who went 9-8 with a 2.73 ERA at Class AA Akron and went 2-0 for Class AAA Columbus in the postseason, is probably the closest. , a No.1 pick in 2014, went 9-4 with a 3.31 ERA at Lake County. Lefty Ryan Merritt went 12-7 with a 3.63 ERA between Akron and Columbus, while Adam Plutko was 13-7 with a 3.29 ERA at Akron and Class A Lynchburg. What kind of hitter do the Indians need? It would be nice if he played a corner position – left or right field, first or third base. If he's a , Carlos Santana could move to DH. In the wake of Michael Brantley's right shoulder surgery, the outfield is barren, especially in center field. Depending on what kind of hitter the Indians acquire, perhaps they could sign a free agent to play center or platoon with Abraham Almonte. Austin Jackson and are available, but they'll be pricey. It makes sense that the Indians would be reluctant to trade their starting pitching. They've worked hard to develop Kluber, Carrasco, Salazar, Bauer and Anderson. They have them under control at reasonable salaries. As for prospects, the Indians have taken heat, much of it deserved, for their failure to draft and develop big-league players for the last two decades. But they've improved over the last several years and players such as Jason Kipnis, Cody Allen and Francisco Lindor are proof. Zimmer and Frazier could be the next in line, so why consider trading them? With ownership unwilling to play in the deep end of the free-agent pool, they have no other choice. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 11.19.2015 983912 Cleveland Indians Help wanted: Examining potential trade targets who could bolster the Cleveland Indians' outfield Zack Meisel, CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's no secret that the Indians are in the market for an outfielder or two. Michael Brantley is expected to miss at least the first month of the regular season, and Abraham Almonte might not be ideal everyday options and the free-agent route offers little in terms of dreamy scenarios that would fit the club's stingy payroll. So, barring an open tryout to the public at , the Indians' only avenue to boost the talent in its big league outfield is to acquire a player via trade. The Indians are in luck. There are plenty of outfielders who could be made available. Of course, the asking price in any swap determines how seamlessly a deal can materialize. Teams have called and will continue to burn up their cell phone minutes asking about the Indians' crop of starting pitching. Will the Tribe part with a major league hurler in order to upgrade its outfield? That remains to be seen. For now, here is a list of potential trade targets that could fill the Indians' outfield void. Give us your first-born A.J. Pollock, CF, Diamondbacks The cost: The 27-year-old is arbitration eligible for the first time this off-season. The skinny: An All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2015, Pollock finished the year with a .315 average, an .865 OPS, 20 home runs, 76 RBI, 39 doubles and 39 stolen bases. Pollock ranked eighth in the majors among position players in WAR in 2015. Arizona, though, has some outfield depth, with Yasmany Tomas, Ender Inciarte and David Peralta in the mix. The fit: Pollock could fill the Indians' void in center field. The damage: The Tribe would likely have to part with one of their top starting pitchers. Yasiel Puig, OF, Dodgers The cost: Puig is signed for about $25 million over the next three years. The skinny: The native of Cuba had a tough showing in 2015, at least relative to his first two years in the majors. He batted .255 with a .758 OPS in 79 games. Overall, he owns a .294/.371/.487 slash line. He doesn't turn 25 until next month. The fit: Puig has experience at all three outfield spots. He could, if healthy and focused, provide some sorely needed right-handed pop. The damage: Puig won't come cheap, but the Dodgers' needs might be dictated by how they approach free agency, especially with Zack Greinke on the free-agent market. Jorge Soler, RF, Cubs The cost: Soler is signed through the 2020 campaign at no more than $4.7 million per year. The skinny: The 23-year-old has logged a .268/.325/.433 slash line, with 15 homers and 67 RBI in 125 career big-league contests. He's big (6- foot-4) and powerful (.542 in the minors), and the Cubs are waiting for it to translate to the majors. He did feast on opposing pitching in the postseason, as he compiled a .474/.600/1.105 slash line in seven playoff games. The fit: Soler could fill a corner outfield spot, though that would probably force Brantley to center field upon his return. His power in the middle of the order would be a breath of fresh air. The damage: Given Soler's age and team-friendly contract, the Cubs would likely want a top-of-the-line starting pitcher in return. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 11.19.2015

Rosenthal: Marlins trading Jose Fernandez would be crazy Ken RosenthalFOX Sports The Marlins have had some dumb ideas in the past. Trading Jose Fernandez, though, would be the dumbest. Sirius XM Radio host Craig Mish floated the possibility Tuesday, tweeting, "Growing sentiment around baseball and the Marlins is (that) Jose Fernandez will be traded this offseason." Mish, who according to the Miami Herald has broken several Marlins stories over the years, later told the newspaper that there is "a very high probability" that Fernandez will be traded. Marlins officials, in talking to the Herald, did not completely dismiss the notion. To which we ask: Are the Marlins insane? Wait, don't answer that question. Just know this: If the Marlins traded Fernandez, they would break their fans' hearts (again), anger right fielder (again) and almost certainly compromise their chances of competing in 2016. Oh, and the Marlins also could jeopardize their chances of renegotiating their TV contract with FOX Sports, which expires in '20. I have zero idea where those talks stand, even though I work for FOX. But I do know that networks like stars and, ahem, winning teams. We get that the Marlins don't like Fernandez's agent, Scott Boras, who recently criticized team officials for demoting another of his clients, center fielder Marcell Ozuna, last July. Fernandez, though, is the face of the franchise -- even more than Stanton, given the pitcher's Cuban roots and importance to the city's Cuban- American population. The Marlins say they want to win while Fernandez is under club control for the next three seasons. And oh yes, they also will host the All-Star Game in 2017. Who knows, maybe the Marlins figure they could somehow improve by trading Fernandez (I'd like to see those proposals). The pitcher's injuries -- Tommy John surgery in May 2014, a right biceps strain after returning last season -- might be giving the team pause. But if anything, Fernandez should be stronger next season, in his second year removed from Tommy John. Trade him? The Marlins should be building around Fernandez, signing a starting pitcher such as free-agent righty Mike Leake, trading for a closer such as the Phillies' -- the Marlins are interested in both, sources say. Spare us the insanity, and fix the team. CARDINALS NOT DESPERATE Just for the sake of discussion, let's pretend that the Cardinals do nothing this offseason. No Jason Heyward, no John Lackey, no major play for David Price, Chris Davis or any other free agent. It's not going to happen, of course -- owner Bill DeWitt has signaled that the team will increase payroll, and the Cardinals certainly are in excellent financial shape thanks to a reported 15-year, $1 billion-plus deal with FOX Sports Midwest that starts in 2018. Still, the team is coming off a 100-win season, and its nucleus is perhaps better than people perceive. Put it this way: The Cardinals do not see themselves in dire straits even as they face the potential losses of Heyward and Lackey on top of right-hander , who will miss the 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Adam Wainwright will return to the rotation, joining ,Carlos Martinez, Jaime Garcia and Tyler Lyons/. The Cardinals need at least one more, considering the need for depth and the risk of injury with a number of those pitchers. But club officials are high on Lyons, whom they project will perform as well as some of the starters on the open market. In the outfield, the loss of Heyward could be masked by increased playing time for Randal Grichuk, Tommy Pham and , none of whom had more than 350 plate appearances last season, and the presumed return of a healthy in left. Even at first base, a combination of Matt Adams and Brandon Mosswould figure to be at least serviceable. The Cardinals, though, want to be better than that -- only four teams scored fewer runs last season. They can't bank on Holliday, 35, and , 33, to be what they once were. So, a premium offensive addition makes complete sense. Free-agent everyman Ben Zobrist is a target, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. The problem is, Zobrist ideally wants to play second base and shift between positions as needed. The Cardinals cannot offer him second ahead of . And their outfield currently is jammed. One thought would be to trade Holliday, who is owed $17 million next season with a $17 million club option for 2017 (the option would become guaranteed if Holliday finishes in the top 10 in the MVP voting, but he has managed that only once, in 2007). Holliday, though, possesses full no-trade protection. He isn't interested in leaving St. Louis, friends say, and to approve any trade, he might want his option exercised. So, the solution might be to pursue a different and more dramatic free-agent upgrade -- say, signing Davis to hit behind Holliday instead of Heyward to hit in front of him. Even as the Cardinals gain greater financial flexibility, such moves aren't their style. They won't be inactive. They can't be inactive. The question is how much they want to flex their financial muscle, how far they are willing to go. THE HIDDEN VALUE OF KIMBREL Craig Kimbrel will be a fine addition for the Red Sox mostly because of what he does on the mound. But some with the Sox also value him for the leadership they expect him to provide for younger relievers such as . Leadership is a tricky subject, in large part because it cannot be quantified. The Sox won the 2013 with Koji Uehara as their closer and might have been fine if he had remained their closer. But English is a second language for the Sox's two Japanese relievers, Uehara and setup man Junichi Tazawa. Kimbrel, on the other hand, is now 27, entering his sixth full season. If, for example, Barnes gives up three runs in the seventh inning of a close game, Kimbrel can provide him with encouragement and advice, without a language barrier. No question, performance matters most, for Kimbrel, for Barnes, for every Sox reliever. But leadership, one Sox official said, "is an aspect of Kimbrel that people don't realize." ALL ABOUT THE A'S According to major-league sources, the Dodgers were one of the teams to make a run at left-hander Rich Hill, who agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract with the Athletics, pending a physical. The addition indeed increases the chances of the A's trading right-hander Jesse Chavez, as reported by Yahoo's Jeff Passan. Chavez projects to make less than Hill in arbitration and will be a free agent at the end of the season. The Athletics are not going to make Chavez a qualifying offer, and the depth of their rotation -- while tenuous due to the returns of Jesse Hahn and Jarrod Parker from injuries -- is increasing. So, if the A's can flip Chavez to augment another part of the club, they will. The A's also showed interest in K-Rod before the Brewers traded him to the Tigers, sources said, but ultimately did not want to take on the remaining commitment, which will be at least $9.5 million. GEOGRAPHY MATTERS, WINNING MORE Zobrist, who lives in Nashville, Tenn., is open to playing in any city, sources said. But proximity to home could be a factor in his decision if all else is somewhat equal. St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Cincinnati and Atlanta are the major-league cities closest to Nashville. Zobrist's priority is to play for a winner; the Reds and Braves are rebuilding.