The Cleveland Indians roster moves involving pitchers Corey Kluber and Dan Otero and second baseman Jason Kipnis are now official.
Just what the Cleveland Indians were doing in regards to Corey Kluber, Dan Otero and Jason Kipnis was not a secret. Their intentions with their club options for these players have been well known for some time. These moves have become official Friday, November 1st.
Corey Kluber is the only player who had his club option exercised. Kluber will make $17.5 million in 2020 and will have another club option for 2020 worth $18 million. The performance of Kluber will determine their intentions for 2020. That is as long as Cleveland keeps Kluber and does not trade him before the end of the 2020 season. Although, trade discussions prior to this season are worth exploring.
Jason Kipnis will now be a free agent and is still someone that the Indians should consider bringing back. There is not necessarily a wealth of talent on the infield in the minors that is expected to impact the 2020 season. There will be options in free agency, but nobody that the Indians would spend money on that would make a larger impact than their longtime second baseman.
Dan Otero’s time in Cleveland could not have come to an end any sooner. There was a time where Otero appeared to be a nice bullpen arm. Unfortunately that was 2+ years ago. Otero has been largely ineffective in 86 games over the past two seasons. The fact Cleveland declined an option that is only $1.5 million speaks volumes about Otero’s performance. Cleveland has to rely on bargain bin contracts for certain players and Otero’s option would have qualified as such.
