CLEVELAND, Ohio – A year ago, the mood was dismal even after the Tribe had made the 2020 playoffs.
Team President Chris Antonetti wanted everyone to know what was coming in 2021, and it was going to be depressing. At least, when the subject was money.
“The reality of the finances in baseball for 2020 was the industry lost billions of dollars,” said Antonetti. “As a team, we lost tens of millions of dollars, more than we expected. So that puts us in a really difficult financial position that will take us years to recover from.”
Remember that 2020 was the COVID-19 year with no fans in the stands and a 60-game schedule.
“It’s a real cash loss and we had to borrow a lot of money to be able to fund it,” added Antonetti.
Wednesday, it was different. You could sense a sigh of relief from the franchise during its postseason review for the media, blowing away some of the financial gloom and doom of a year ago. The team will not return with a $50 million payroll, the second-lowest in the MLB in 2021.
“We’ll have resources to invest in the team,” said Antonetti. “We expect to pursue both internal and external investments.”
Internal means possible contract extensions. External means free agents or trading for players who are marginally paid by MLB standards. The team isn’t about to embark on a spending spree, but Antonetti clearly believes things are improving when it comes to the payroll for the 2022 Guardians.
If not, he’d have said so – just as he signaled the cost-cutting course of a year ago.
THE LINDOR DEAL
A year ago, where to trade Francisco Lindor also was a big question. The Tribe knew no matter what kind of deal was made, most fans would be angry. The team was aware no big-name players were about to head to Cleveland in that trade.
Looking back, they sent Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to the Mets. Here’s what happened:
1. Lindor signed his $341 million contract, then batted .230 with 20 HR, 63 RBI and a .734 OPS. At times, he was booed by the home crowd.
2. Carrasco suffered a torn hamstring. He had a 1-5 record and 6.04 ERA. He is under contract for $12 million in 2022.
3. Antonetti said Amed Rosario was told he’d be given the first chance to win the shortstop job in 2022. The Tribe was thrilled with Rosario, who batted .282 (.731 OPS) with 11 HR, 25 doubles, 13 stolen bases. He is considered slightly below average defensively, which is why they still could move him to the outfield.
4. But rather than have to talk about the possibility of Lindor being traded, now the Tribe was able to praise the attitude and production of Rosario. He will be an important part of the team, regardless of where he plays. He is under team control for two more seasons.
5. Cleveland also added Andres Gimenez. The 22 year old opened 2021 at shortstop, but didn’t hit and was sent to the minors. He returned to Cleveland in August, batting .245 (.702 OPS) with three homers and 11 RBI in 39 games. He remains a legitimate prospect (.287, .844 OPS at Class AAA) to play second or short.
6. Rosario and Gimenez along with low minor leaguers Josh Wolf and Isaiah Greene are a promising return for Lindor and Carrasco.
OTHER VETERANS WHO LEFT
After the 2020 season, the Tribe also didn’t retain the following veterans:
1. Carlos Santana, who signed a 2-year, $18 million deal with Kansas City. He batted .214 (.660 OPS) with 19 HR and 69 RBI at age 35.
2. Brad Hand, who signed a $10 million deal with Washington. Hand had an up-and-down season, pitching for three teams. He had a 6-5 record and 3.41 ERA. He was 21-of-26 in saves.
3. Tyler Naquin, who signed a minor-league deal with Cincinnati. He made the opening day roster and at 30 had his best MLB season, batting .270 (.809 OPS) with 19 HR and 70 RBI.
In the rearview mirror, they would have liked to keep Naquin. A key was Naquin finally staying healthy after having surgeries on his thumb, hip and knee during his time with the Tribe.
But overall, the players they let walk -- along with trading Mike Clevinger, out all season with elbow surgery near the end of the 2020 season -- didn’t hurt them.
This winter, the team has no big name free agents. Instead, it has one of the MLB’s youngest teams, and the youngest projected starting rotation with Shane Bieber, Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac, Triston McKenzie and Cal Quantrill.
IS IT A FRESH START?
Manager Terry Francona hopes to finally be healthy enough to finish the 2022 season. He left the team at the end of July because he needed a hip replacement and significant toe surgery. The Tribe was 50-49 with him in the dugout, 30-33 under acting manager DeMarlo Hale.
The 62-year-old Francona thinks the worst is behind him. His heart burns in his desire to manage. The Big Three of general manager Mike Chernoff, Francona and Antonetti have been together since Francona was hired on Oct. 6, 2012. In those nine years, they’ve had eight winning seasons and five trips to the playoffs.
The Tribe finished 80-82. They no longer are the Indians, but the Guardians. The name change is finally in place. Some fans still won’t like the new nickname, but the team is remaining here for at least 15 more years thanks to a new stadium lease.
The 2022 Guardians have an abundance of young pitching. They have projectable 30-HR power from Jose Ramirez, Franmil Reyes and Bobby Bradley in 2022, along with a legitimate leadoff hitter and center fielder in Myles Straw.
The team still needs outfielders. There are other holes.
But the storm clouds that hung over Progressive Field at this time last year are mostly gone. That was the reason for the upbeat tone and smiles from Antonetti, Chernoff and Francona at Wednesday’s press conference.
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