Five Things Indians Fans Can Look for at the 2018 MLB Winter Meetings in Las Vegas

The MLB Winter Meetings will be kicking off next week, and Indians fans are wondering what's going to happen next after the team last week dealt catcher Yan Gomes to the Washington Nationals.

A lot of eyes will be on the Indians when they arrive in Las Vegas, and many think it could be the place that the team finally makes a huge move to ship out one of their top starting pitchers.

The team is going to have a chance to talk to all the brass from teams' around Major League Baseball at these meetings, and there's bound to be some productive conversations that could get the team closer to making a major deal.

Today we take a look at what to look forward to when these meetings kick off, and what Indians fans can expect to see when the meetings start in the land of casinos.

1. The Kluber Market

The talk all along is that the Indians are going to do whatever they can to try and shed some payroll and rebuild with some top prospects, and the easiest way to do what would be to deal ace Corey Kluber, who would bring a king's ransom back to the franchise.

There's already been chatter that a couple teams - the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and even the Reds have interest in Kluber, and there's no doubt there's going to be a darkhorse or two in the mix when the meetings begin.

If the Indians actually do follow through on a move, look for them to get 3-4 players back, and for two of them to be players with a MLB resume already to their name.

While it would sting in a big way to lose a player like Kluber, it might be the key to the rest of the way things go this offseason for the franchise.

2. The Market for Kip

The Indians by all accounts would love to find a taker Jason Kipnis, who is due to make a whopping $14.6 million this upcoming season for the Tribe.

The team may try to shoehorn him in a deal for Kluber (if there’s one to be made) and force whatever team that wants the ace to also take Kipnis off their hands.

Trading Kipnis straight up is going to be tough, as there’s not a lot of teams that are looking for a player who is making that much money coming off a season hitting .230 with 18 homers and 75 RBI.

Look for the Indians to keep up their own narrative that Kipnis might end up back in the outfield (again) if the team doesn’t make a move to acquire some players that can play left or right, but there’s no doubt they’d love to move him at this point.

3. More Free Agent Departures

The Winter Meetings are place where usually things get done, and don't be surprised to see a few more Indians players who are free agents be on the move.

The biggest name of the bunch of course is Michael Brantley, who will fill in nicely for a team that is looking for an outfielder as well as a player who can be a leader in their clubhouse.

Brantley came back and was an All-Star last season, and his hitting at the plate as well as his ability to overcome the injuries that hindered him the last w
Two more Indians players who likely will be gone are pitchers who had a lot to do with the bullpen success the last few seasons, that being Andrew Miller and Cody Allen.

Miller is already getting interest, and Allen, while he might not find as much as Miller, will get looks from teams' around the league for if nothing else as an arm in the pen.

The Indians have already lost two of their free agents, Josh Donaldson and Lonnie Chisenhall, and don't be surprised in Vegas to see a few more depart.

4. A New Deal for Carrasco

If the Indians do end up dealing Corey Kluber, the role of 'ace' on the staff will go to Carlos Carrasco, who is coming off a 17-10 season in 2018.

There's been reports of a new deal for Carrasco, as he's inked this season at $9.75M with a very affordable club option in 2020 for $10.25.

The last deal that Carrasco accepted was for four-years at $22 million, a deal the Indians would love to have once again, but obviously it's going to have to be more than that this time around.

Look for the two sides to keep talking, and it would be nice with a number of negative things happening with this team right now for them to have some good news about Carrasco at the Winter Meetings.

5. More Players on the Move?

When the offseason began and there was chatter about the Indians moving players, it went deeper than just a move to deal one of their top starting pitchers and catcher Yan Gomes.

There was also talk about the possibility of trading a couple players in their starting lineup, that being sluggers Yonder Alonso and Edwin Encarnacion.

Last season Encarnacion hit 32 homers with 107 RBI and at the plate hit .246. He's about to enter year three of his four-year deal, making $21 million this year.

As for Alonso, he hit .250 with 23 homers and 83 RBI in the first year of his three-year deal (2020 is a team option for Alonso at $9 million).

His contract for 2019 is for $8 million, and if there's a team that would take him off the Indians hands, they would for sure listen.

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