With their core locked up, the Indians are in position to contend for years to come
The Indians weren't a fluke in 2016, and they'll continue to be good going forward
By
Mike Axisa
•
4 min read
There is no way to sugarcoat it: The end of the 2016 season was incredibly disappointing and heartbreaking for the Cleveland Indians. The team took a 3-1 series lead over the heavily favored Cubs in the World Series, but were unable to finish the job. The Indians instead watched the Cubs celebrate on the Progressive Field infield.
That's a tough ending, but it does not diminish what the Indians accomplished in 2016. They went 94-67 during the regular season, and they did that without Michael Brantley, their best all-around hitter, who missed all but 11 games following shoulder surgery. The Tribe then pushed the best team in baseball to extra innings in Game 7 of the World Series without Brantley and No. 2 starter Carlos Carrasco.
"That was an incredible game," said manager Terry Francona following Game 7. "I talked before the game about being an honor to be in a game like that, but to be associated with those players in that clubhouse, it is an honor. And I just told them that. It's going to hurt. It hurts because we care, but they need to walk with their head held high because they left nothing on the field. And that's all the things we ever ask them to do. They tried until there was nothing left."
Success in baseball can be fleeting for small payroll teams like the Indians -- they were 24th in payroll on Opening Day -- and while they club is about to receive a huge financial windfall as a result of their deep postseason run, they're not suddenly going to become one of the game's top spenders. That's just not how it works. They have to stay within their means.
It is undeniably true that it is more difficult to sustain success with a smaller payroll, but these Indians are poised to remain in contention for years to come. They're not flash in the pan. They almost won the World Series this year because they're a damn good team. Cleveland's core group of players is locked up long term as well. Check it out:
Under Control Through 2018
- Michael Brantley: Owed $7.5 million in 2017 with an $11 million option for 2018.
- Andrew Miller: Owed $9 million in both 2017 and 2018.
- Josh Tomlin: Owed $2.5 million in 2017 with a $3.5 million option for 2018.
- Cody Allen: Arbitration-eligible in both 2017 and 2018.
- Lonnie Chisenhall: Arbitration-eligible in both 2017 and 2018.
- Brandon Guyer: Arbitration-eligible in both 2017 and 2018.
Under Control Through 2020
- Jason Kipnis: Owed $37 million from 2017-19 with a $16.5 million club option for 2020.
- Carlos Carrasco: Owed $24.5 million from 2017-18 with a $9 million club option for 2019 and a $9.5 million club option for 2020.
- Trevor Bauer: Arbitration-eligible from 2017-20 as a Super Two.
- Danny Salazar: Arbitration-eligible from 2017-20 as a Super Two.
- Jose Ramirez: Pre-arbitration in 2017 and arbitration-eligible from 2018-20.
- Terry Francona: The manager is signed through 2020 as well, after the team exercised the two club options in his contract Friday.
Under Control Through 2021
- Corey Kluber: Owed $31 million from 2017-19 with a $13.5 million club option for 2020 and a $14 million club option for 2021.
- Yan Gomes: Owed $17.45 million from 2017-19 with $9 million club option for 2020 and a $11 million club option for 2021.
- Francisco Lindor: Pre-arbitration from 2017-18, then arbitration-eligible from 2019-21.
The team's only core player not signed long-term is Carlos Santana. The Indians just exercised his $12 million club option for 2017, but after next season, he'll be a free agent. Mike Napoli is a free agent this offseason, though there seems to be mutual interest in a reunion, so I wouldn't be surprised if the two sides work out an extension soon.
The Indians have always been very aggressive in locking up their top young players to long-term contract extensions. They actually started the trend way back in the 1990s under John Hart. It's their best (only?) way to keep top talent long-term. I fully expect the Indians to approach players like Salazar, Ramirez, and Lindor about deals this winter. Especially Lindor.
Point is, the Indians can keep this team together for another few years. It goes without saying their best chance to win will be 2017 and 2018, while they still have Brantley and Miller and Allen, but this core group isn't going anywhere, and that's important. The front office has their work cut out for them putting together a supporting cast, though that's no different than it is for any other team.
The rest of the AL Central isn't looking so hot right now -- the Tigers aren't what they once were, the Royals took a step back in 2016, the Twins are rebuilding, the White Sox are caught in the middle of rebuilding and contenting -- which means the Indians have a clear path to the postseason. Things can change in a hurry, but right now, the outlook looks pretty good.
This was a tremendously successful season that ended with heartbreak for the Indians. It stinks. It really does. They had a good team and you can't help but wonder how things would have turned out in October with a healthy Brantley and Carrasco. And Salazar, for that matter. That they got so close to winning a title without them is incredible.
The Indians arrived as a bonafide World Series contender this year, and the core of this contending team will be together for the next several years. That should be very exciting for the Cleveland faithful. The 2016 season may only be the start of something special for this group.
