Indians likely to make push for Bourn

Who would want to challenge a core consisting of Nick Swisher, Mark Reynolds, Michael Bourn, Carlos Santana, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Michael Brantley? That would be a scary looking core. 

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Francona didnt come here to lose. Be afraid Tigers. Be VERY afraid 

Sorry bro, but I must disagree that offense wins championships. Just look at the G-Men.

@dk,

Then Baltimore should have been the 1997 World Series Champions..... 

Great Call!

Tribe wins the Bourn sweepstakes

4 yrs, 48mil, 12mil option for yr 5

YEH BAYBEE !!!   

I just found out. Dougplayer won't be laughing now. It's time to go in for the slaughter!

What were the Mets offering?  I heard 4 years but I don't know how much.  Indians are quietly becoming relevant

@redseat, It's about what the Mets didn't offer.


Take a look here:


Indians-4 years, $48 million, option for a 5th year


Mets-4 years, $48 million, no option for a 5th year.


The Mets talked themselves out of a deal because they weren't as gutsy as the Indians. Bourn made a point earlier that he wanted a five year deal, so he took the next best option.          

Francona didnt come here to lose. Be afraid Tigers. Be VERY afraid

This is true. I am sure part of the lure of Cleveland, besides being where his daddy played, was that the Tribe would bring in some better players. I don't know that they are with the Tigers, but I think their lineup looks pretty decent. They need Ubaldo to pitch like a top of the rotation guy, and not a bottom guy. Trevor Bauer also needs to harness his control issues, but what an arm.

Do they hit Kipnis 2nd and Cabrera 3rd, or do they go with Cabrera 2nd and Kipnis lower in the order?  

Is it: Bourn, Kipnis, Cabrera, Santana, Swisher, Reynolds, Brantley, Chisenhall, and Stubbs? It's a nice combination of power and speed, but the breezes may not just be coming from the lake in Cleveland. A lot of high strikeout guys in the lineup.

RedSeat: the Mets reportedly offered the same deal, but I read that the issue with the draft pick being protected was going to take 2-3 weeks to resolve. I guess Bourn didn't want to wait, and I don't blame him.  


  

Unless Swisher moves to 1st base and Reynolds goes to DH I doubt that Stubbs will be in the everyday lineup.  Trade bait?

Well pre-bourn signing their DH was Chris McGuiness... i know nothing about him or if he is at all supposed to be good, but i am sure they would rather have stubbs,reynolds,chisenhall, swisher and Brantley in the lineup...  

With reynolds, avilla, and chisenhall all able to play 3B i can see a minimal rotation for playing DH.   and if this mcguiness kid is anything he will be able to find time...

Unless Swisher moves to 1st base and Reynolds goes to DH I doubt that Stubbs will be in the everyday lineup.  Trade bait? 

I just read that the plan is to play Stubbs in RF, Brantley in LF, Swisher at 1B, and Reynolds at DH. Swisher would also play some RF, while Reynolds  plays 1B.

This could also be just post-signing chatter as the Indians don't want to tip their hand and reduce their leverage. As somebody mentioned, they also have this McGuiness kid they got from Texas, and he is supposed to have good power.      


  

Very little known about McGuiness but they must be high on him as he was penciled in as their DH before the trade.  Don't know if he has minor league options but if they don't trade Stubbs he would be better playing full time in AAA and be ready if needed.

Good luck with Francona, Cleveland fans. He was a good guy and good manager that got a raw deal in Boston after the collapse of 2011. I hope he does well there.

I really don't get why the Indians gave him an option for a 5th year.  He is a good player but I don't expect him to be that great in years 4 and 5.  It's good to see that Bourn wasn't all about the money, just the years.
 

I really don't get why the Indians gave him an option for a 5th year.  He is a good player but I don't expect him to be that great in years 4 and 5.  It's good to see that Bourn wasn't all about the money, just the years.

I think he figured out he wasnt getting what he wanted  He turned down 13.5 mil from Braves but was only 1 year

IF you had the choice (the 5th year not withstanding) would you have taken the Mets deal or Indians?  Rahter play in NY or Cleveland?

Good luck with Francona, Cleveland fans. He was a good guy and good manager that got a raw deal in Boston after the collapse of 2011. I hope he does well there.

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Ty rokket. Titos among friends here (Shapiro & Antonelli) plus his fathers & his tenures. Both very respected. No way he gets the shaft

Cant wait to get out to the ballpark. Got a feeling ticket sales are going to skyrocket this season 

Francona did get a raw deal from Boston.I'm not a Tribe fan but I'd love to see him do well & stick it to the Bosox every time they play each other.I doubt the Indians will beat the Tigers, but I have no doubt Cleveland will wind up with a better record than Boston.I think the Bourn signing was a better move than anything Boston did in the off season & DiceK just might surprise everyone by winning 15 games or so..As a Boston fan since '68, the past 3 years have been a disgrace.I know some would call me a fair weather fan & that's fine.In my opinion too many Boston fans blindly support their team regardless of how shabby they are treated.The only way management will pay any attention to the fans will be the sight of empty seats. This team has become almost as classless as the Marlins.At least the Indians are making some good moves, not the least of which is signing a proven winner in Francona.I think Choo is better than Stubb,but who knows.Maybe Stubbs will flourish in Cleveland.I gotta assume Bourn will lead-off with Stubbs hitting 2nd.This should lead to lots of oppertunities to manufacture runs between SB's & the lost art of the hit & run.
Cleveland-85-77
Boston-72-90.

@kinik,


To my surprise Stubbs was named as the likely odd man out but that's because we have an outfield that consists of Brantley, Swisher, and Bourn.


I am thinking Kyle Lohse may still be on the radar but one of my friends said the Indians budget is maxed out. Not sure if I should buy into that though.