Grady Sizemore, anyone?

[Clem Fandango]

As per the suggestion of Tim, he's big enough to warrant his own thread...

 

According to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian, the Indians are expected to decline Grady Sizemore's option and pick up the $7 million option on Fausto Carmona.

The Indians held strategy meetings earlier this week and may have concluded that the $9 million option on Sizemore was not an affordable risk, given the progression and versatility of Michael Brantley and Shin-Soo Choo. While Bastian cautions that nothing has been made official, it's an interesting turn as many believed he would ultimately be retained. Still only 29, Sizemore hit .224/.285/.422 with 10 homers in 268 at-bats last season. His health and durability have limited to just 210 games in the last three years combined.

[davell]

Yes. Bring him in as a 4th OFer. If Brett struggles, put him in. If he looks good and so does Brett, then trade Byrd. Not sure exactly how high the upside is at this point, but it's worth a one year flyer, if you ask me. Give him somewhere between 6 and 8 guaranteed with incentives that could push it up a ton. Always was a fan of his and I'd love to see him bounce back.

[JockJones]

If he is healthy and the right price, then absolutely.

[Guest]

I'd love to bring him in at the right price. Given the uncertainty around Brett's performance in his rookie year and Soriano's decline and injuries, it would be a great idea to have some depth there. As someone else mentioned, Byrd should be tradeable if everyone looks good. Also, Soriano could use days off against right handers.

 

I'm not sure how high I'd get in the bidding for him, though. It's pretty reliant on how the scouting department feels he looked last year and I have no idea.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

What Tim said. Sizemore has the potential to be a coup, but I think alot of people might think just that.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'd gladly be one of Grady's ladies, but can he stay healthy enough to be productive?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Would he take something primarily incentive based? I'd love to give him a look see if the price isn't too steep. Maybe something along the lines of 8 mil and we can trade Byrd to someone willing to give us 3-4 mil.

[Rob]

There's a bigger issue at play than questions about whether the money would have to be guaranteed or if a contract could be incentive-based.

 

Can we offer him enough playing time to be attractive?

 

Sizemore could get a 3 year deal if he was willing to take a pretty low average annual value. But he's only going to want one year. And he'll want that one year because he's planning on using it to showcase how healthy and productive he can be so that he's more attractive as a free agent in the 2012 offseason. If anybody is thinking he'd be great in our 4th OF role, they're kidding themselves. He's gonna go where he can start.

 

We've got Soriano entrenched in LF. We've got Byrd manning either center or right and Brett Jackson is by all accounts ready for the big show. So... how do we make room?

[Clem Fandango]

There's a bigger issue at play than questions about whether the money would have to be guaranteed or if a contract could be incentive-based.

 

Can we offer him enough playing time to be attractive?

 

Sizemore could get a 3 year deal if he was willing to take a pretty low average annual value. But he's only going to want one year. And he'll want that one year because he's planning on using it to showcase how healthy and productive he can be so that he's more attractive as a free agent in the 2012 offseason. If anybody is thinking he'd be great in our 4th OF role, they're kidding themselves. He's gonna go where he can start.

 

We've got Soriano entrenched in LF. We've got Byrd manning either center or right and Brett Jackson is by all accounts ready for the big show. So... how do we make room?

 

Trade Byrd. If Sizemore gets hurt, use Colvin as the 4th OF/backup. Not ideal, but...

 

1) Byrd is in the last year of a contract

2) Byrd is very affordable

3) Byrd provides solid production that someone would most definitely be interested in

4) Because of these 3 things Byrd should be able to net us a fairly decent prospect in return, I would imagine.

 

I like having Byrd on the team, but he's not a game changer. Healthy Grady Sizemore is a game changer. Going with an OF of Soriano, Jackson, Colvin if Sizemore is hurt wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, especially not in a year where the Cubs aren't 100% expected to contend for a world series title, plus it would guarantee playing time for Jackson and Colvin. I'm not a fan of Colvin as a starter but giving him extra AB's in a situation that would mean the rest of the season is a throw away wouldn't be a bad thing.

 

Plus after next year there's a lot of good OF bats on the free agent market, including Kemp, B.J. Upton, Hamilton, Bourn, Cabrera, etc. so if Sizemore fails or flourishes, there are options at both avenues

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Trading Byrd should be in Theo's top 5 to do list on his to do list of his choice, even though there could be many to do lists that work out.

[Little Slide Rooter]

There's a bigger issue at play than questions about whether the money would have to be guaranteed or if a contract could be incentive-based.

 

Can we offer him enough playing time to be attractive?

 

Sizemore could get a 3 year deal if he was willing to take a pretty low average annual value. But he's only going to want one year. And he'll want that one year because he's planning on using it to showcase how healthy and productive he can be so that he's more attractive as a free agent in the 2012 offseason. If anybody is thinking he'd be great in our 4th OF role, they're kidding themselves. He's gonna go where he can start.

 

We've got Soriano entrenched in LF. We've got Byrd manning either center or right and Brett Jackson is by all accounts ready for the big show. So... how do we make room?

 

Like we said, trade Byrd. Sizemore might take a lower base salary with incentives, but I can pretty much guarantee that wherever he ends up he'll be starting as long as he's healthy.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

It should also be considered that all of the OF candidates (Soriano, Byrd, Jackson, Colvin) also double as trade bait. It just varies on how much other teams would want them, what they bring back, and how that effects the roster.

[Rob]

It's worth considering that right now Marlon Byrd is right on the borderline between being a Type A and Type B free agent. (He's currently the last A amongst NL 1B & OF).

 

Honestly, unless we get overwhelmed with a package (and Byrd does not seem to be the type a team would overwhelm for) we may be best served by trying to trade Soriano, even if it means eating a good deal of his contract.

[Guest]

It's worth considering that right now Marlon Byrd is right on the borderline between being a Type A and Type B free agent. (He's currently the last A amongst NL 1B & OF).

 

Honestly, unless we get overwhelmed with a package (and Byrd does not seem to be the type a team would overwhelm for) we may be best served by trying to trade Soriano, even if it means eating a good deal of his contract.

Well, if Theo wants to transition to a team that grinds the at bats, neither Soriano nor Byrd has a long future with the team.

[davell]

If we keep Byrd and he winds up as a Type A next year, I seriously doubt a team would even be willing to give up their 2nd rounder to acquire him. Much less their 1st. We'd probably wind up scared to offer him arb, for fear he accepts. Not worried about Theo and Jed navigating through that though, they'll make the right call. But, the point about Grady going somewhere he can play everyday at is a very good one. If his meds check out, then trading Byrd before you even go after him could very well be a prerequisite to acquiring him. As far as Soriano goes, I'm just not ready to eat that much cash yet.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Well, if Theo wants to transition to a team that grinds the at bats, neither Soriano nor Byrd has a long future with the team.

 

Neither has a long future with the team anyway.

[Guest]

If we keep Byrd and he winds up as a Type A next year, I seriously doubt a team would even be willing to give up their 2nd rounder to acquire him. Much less their 1st. We'd probably wind up scared to offer him arb, for fear he accepts. Not worried about Theo and Jed navigating through that though, they'll make the right call. But, the point about Grady going somewhere he can play everyday at is a very good one. If his meds check out, then trading Byrd before you even go after him could very well be a prerequisite to acquiring him. As far as Soriano goes, I'm just not ready to eat that much cash yet.

Easy enough to tell Grady that he's full time even if it means we have to let Jackson try to get his strikeout rate beneath 25% until we can move Byrd / Soriano. There's easy flexibility available.

[Guest]

Well, if Theo wants to transition to a team that grinds the at bats, neither Soriano nor Byrd has a long future with the team.

 

Neither has a long future with the team anyway.

 

Soriano kinda does until/unless we cut bait.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Well, if Theo wants to transition to a team that grinds the at bats, neither Soriano nor Byrd has a long future with the team.

 

Neither has a long future with the team anyway.

 

Soriano kinda does until/unless we cut bait.

 

Grand scheme, not really. But yeah...I'm always shocked that deal goes until 2014...I always think 2013.

[Rob]

If we keep Byrd and he winds up as a Type A next year, I seriously doubt a team would even be willing to give up their 2nd rounder to acquire him. Much less their 1st. We'd probably wind up scared to offer him arb, for fear he accepts. Not worried about Theo and Jed navigating through that though, they'll make the right call. But, the point about Grady going somewhere he can play everyday at is a very good one. If his meds check out, then trading Byrd before you even go after him could very well be a prerequisite to acquiring him. As far as Soriano goes, I'm just not ready to eat that much cash yet.

 

Oh, I wasn't trying to say I hope he ends up as a Type A. He'd have to have pretty much a carbon copy of his 2010 season to pull that off. But he's extremely likely to retain Type B status. And even if by the grace of god he does go crazy and is putting up numbers that might make him a Type A, well, that only makes him more attractive at the deadline.

 

The Soriano contract debate is a whole thing I don't wanna try to hash out at 2:30 AM. I'll try to remember to get back in here and finish my thought on that one though.

[17 Seconds]

man, it's amazing how far the dude has fallen this quickly, even considering injuries. an 8 million dollar option not being picked up? that would have sounded absurd a few years ago.

[Tyrant]

At this point Sizemore reminds me of a much higher upside Rocco Baldelli, who Theo signed a few years ago. Seems like the kind of guy the new regime would go after. Even in the best case scenario, Sizemore's not going to be a 6-7 WAR guy again, but he's still a nice lottery ticket.

[Bull]

At this point Sizemore reminds me of a much higher upside Rocco Baldelli, who Theo signed a few years ago. Seems like the kind of guy the new regime would go after. Even in the best case scenario, Sizemore's not going to be a 6-7 WAR guy again, but he's still a nice lottery ticket.

 

Why not? If he can stay healthy, I don't think there's any reason this is impossible. Likely? No. But not impossible either.

[Conky]

Sizemore looks very much like a Theo type target. However, as has been mentioned, others will be thinking the same thing. I think it ultimately depends on the mini bidding war that will ensue. At that point, Sizemore will have to decide among the best suitors on a one year showcase deal. The Cubs can easily find a way to have him in the lineup on a daily basis if he's healthy/ performing. Trading Byrd would not be a prerequisite to going after Grady Sizemore.

[Outshined_One]

I never realized Sizemore was only 29. That makes him a much more attractive candidate.