Indians Should NOT resign C.C.

[TigerDL71]

Now this may sound very crazy for the Indians but it could actually be better for them in the short and long term. With the record setting deal that was just signed between Santana and the Mets, C.C. will feel that he deserves a higher deal then what I personally think he should get (see link below).

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080131&content_id=2360745&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle

I also think that he will want a price that will do more than hurt the clubs budget and impede them from making roster moves in the future and keep them from resigning people. With the depth that the Indians have in their starting rotation they could afford to loose C.C. Don't forget that no matter what C.C. will be around for this season even if the club does not sign him. I say that the club keeps him around this season then tries to trade him away towards the end of the season. By doing this, I think that the club will be able to obtain a power hitting corner outfield spot or a power hitting third basemen in a trade for C.C. Why sign C.C. for the amount of money that he is asking for based off this years performance alone? Does he have the track record that Santana has? Before this past season C.C. was very inconsistent and was not what I would have called the ace of the staff. Jake Westbrook and Cliff Lee put up as good of numbers as C.C.


Now I am sure many of you will think I am crazy by now especially since I say that we get rid what some people think is the "ace" of our staff. However, didn't Fausto Carmona have as many wins and pitched as good as C.C. did last year? I am sure that many people don't realize that going into the prior season there was an Indian's pitcher that accomplished a feat that only Santana,Kenny Rogers and Cliff Lee had accomplished over the previous 3 seasons. Prior to last year Jake Westbrook and Santana,Rogers and Cliff Lee were the only pitchers in MLB with 3 consecutive seasons with at least 14 wins.

http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070413&content_id=1895735&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Before last season Jake Westbrook was very consistent and he also pitched great in the postseason last year. Also, this season the tribe should have 4 Quality left handed starters competing for a start in the starting rotation. Lofgren, Lee, Sowers, and Laffey will all have another years experience and could fill in the spot left by C.C. Let us not also forget that top prospect Adam Miller will also have another year under his belt.I will leave out Paul Byrd out of this discussion because of his age and how inconsistent he has been for the tribe but he has gotten better every year he has been with the club and pitched well in the post season.

[monte81]

CC is one of the top 3 pitchers right now in baseball!! I agree that the Indians should not overpay but we need to keep him if to maintain our current standings in the Al. We can continue to deveolop young talent at other positions but pitchers are like QB's-- you keep them if you can!

[DAWGH8R]

How long can those knees continue to support 280 pounds ???? I would demand that he only weigh 240, as part of his contract. For every pound he comes to camp over 240, fine him $ 50,000.

It's sad to see the millionaire athletes disrespect the game and their bodies.

[TigerDL71]

CC is one of the top 3 pitchers right now in baseball!! I agree that the Indians should not overpay but we need to keep him if to maintain our current standings in the Al. We can continue to deveolop young talent at other positions but pitchers are like QB's-- you keep them if you can!

C.C. was one of the top 3 pitchers last season, before that Jake Westbrook put up better numbers. How does the club know that last season wasn't just a fluke? C.C could come out next season and pitch like he did before he won the Cy young. Then the Indians could afford to resign him at a decent price. However, if he does pitch up to that level again then you can trade him while his trade value is sky high and get the big right handed hitter they need in that lineup. Heck for C.C. you might even be able to get that true leadoff hitter the Indians need as well . The Indians currently have an over abundance of pitchers so why not trade C.C. to fulfill a huge need in the lineup?

[man2man]

Tribe wopn't sign CC. He'll want more than Santana just got and the Tribe won't pay that kind of cabbage.

[CarlE]

Tribe wopn't sign CC. He'll want more than Santana just got and the Tribe won't pay that kind of cabbage.

Besides the fact I think last year was a fluke and he won't do anything CLOSE to that again.

[austinsm11]

TigerDL makes some interesting points. I wouldn't mind getting more pitching, however. Seems like you can never have enough quality pitchers.

[TigerDL71]

Besides the fact I think last year was a fluke and he won't do anything CLOSE to that again.

Any chance that the D Rays would send us Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford or B.J. Upton for C.C. and Garko or Shoppach?

[CarlE]

Any chance that the D Rays would send us Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford or B.J. Upton for C.C. and Garko or Shoppach?

Nice try buddy. Both Crawford and Upton have been declared untouchable.

[TigerDL71]

Nice try buddy. Both Crawford and Upton have been declared untouchable.

I figured that Crawford would be untouchable. I think that Upton would be a very nice addition to the club however.If the Rays can get some more depth in their roation they will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

[jbones]

Well coach wade, you win baseball games by pitching and defense. You can score as many runs as you would want but it wont matter if you dont have the pitching or the defense to back it up. In regards to C.C. you ahve to resign him, you dont want him to go to the new yankees or boston red sox in the world that you would see back in the playoffs. I would spend as much money as it takes to get him back cuz you can find a corner outfielder or a right handed power bat in your farm system. Pitching is hard to find and is the name of the game. So Mark Sharpio you better make the best offer you can to keep him

[Benchboss1]

How long can those knees continue to support 280 pounds ???? I would demand that he only weigh 240, as part of his contract. For every pound he comes to camp over 240, fine him $ 50,000.



Does the name Bartolo Colon ring a bell anyone? With his size, his body will break down way sooner than most pitchers bodies do, ie Colon.

[TigerDL71]

Well coach wade, you win baseball games by pitching and defense. You can score as many runs as you would want but it wont matter if you dont have the pitching or the defense to back it up. In regards to C.C. you ahve to resign him, you dont want him to go to the new yankees or boston red sox in the world that you would see back in the playoffs. I would spend as much money as it takes to get him back cuz you can find a corner outfielder or a right handed power bat in your farm system. Pitching is hard to find and is the name of the game. So Mark Sharpio you better make the best offer you can to keep him

Your missing the entire point of my post, if C.C. even returns to the form he was last year, and that is a big if, then you will be able to get the pieces you need offensively while allowing the younger pitchers to develop. This will still allow you to have a good pitching staff, while allowing you to control where C.C. goes. There are no guarntees that C.C. will even return to the form he was last year. If he returns to the form that he was before last year then Sowers,Miller, Lofgren or Laffey will be able to fill in and do just as good as him while allowing Fausto to become your ace. If you think that before last season that Jake Westbrook or Cliff Lee were not as good as C.C. then your crazy. The numbers speak for themselves.

Also, you think that is okay to go to match whatever C.C. wants? So then you think it is okay to lock up the teams payroll for however many years they want to sign him for so you can't resign Grady or Victor or anyone else for that matter? I don't care what anyone says....... Sizemore is the face of this franchise, you sign C.C. for as much as you are suggesting you loose grady and your fans.

[CarlE]

Well coach wade, you win baseball games by pitching and defense. You can score as many runs as you would want but it wont matter if you dont have the pitching or the defense to back it up. In regards to C.C. you ahve to resign him, you dont want him to go to the new yankees or boston red sox in the world that you would see back in the playoffs. I would spend as much money as it takes to get him back cuz you can find a corner outfielder or a right handed power bat in your farm system. Pitching is hard to find and is the name of the game. So Mark Sharpio you better make the best offer you can to keep him

And Coach JBones it's pretty obvious you know nothing about baseball or judging talent. Continue on. It's getting funny.:smartass:

[dataintsmiff]

I agree that we should probably re- sign CC, however, not at the expense that it will hurt us well into the furture....Maybe a four year deal would suffice, then let's see where he's at after that, remember, he's still relatively young and could be around for awhile, barring any major injuries....I would like to see us get a lead off hitter instead, that would be nice for once, more speed on the base paths, it would make it easier for our pitching staff too...