Indians Trade Away All-Star Catcher as Payroll Restructuring Commences
Despite a third straight postseason appearance, the Cleveland Indians have begun their roster reconstruction as the team traded All-Star catcher Yan Gomes to the Washington Nationals on Friday night.
In return, Cleveland will receive right-handed pitcher Jefry Rodriguez, minor league outfielder Daniel Johnson and a player to be named later.
“With this trade, we feel we’ve acquired two upper-level prospects to add to our system,” Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said via MLB.com. “I can’t get into specifics about the player to be named later. It’ll be another player of some value that we do like.”
“With this trade, we feel we’ve acquired two upper-level prospects to add to our system,” Antonetti said. “I can’t get into specifics about the player to be named later. It’ll be another player of some value that we do like.”
We’ll warn the National League teams ahead of time …
? DON’T RUN ON YAN!
Thank you for everything, @Yan_AGomes, and best of luck down the road. pic.twitter.com/klXqbWzkfX
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) December 1, 2018
This isn’t expected to be the only major move the Indians make this offseason as they attempt to slash their payroll. The team is also exploring trade options for two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber.
Gomes made his first All-Star game last season in which he batted .266 with 16 home runs and 48 RBIs. He spent six total seasons in Cleveland after being acquired from Toronto in a trade.
Gomes was drafted in the 10th round of the 2009 MLB draft by the Blue Jays. When he made his debut in 2012, he became the first Brazilian-born player in MLB history.
“In that time since we acquired Yan, we’ve had the opportunity to watch him grow and develop from an unheralded Triple-A corner utility player to an All-Star-caliber Major League catcher,” said Antonetti.
“He’s been an instrumental part of our team and our success and helped lead us to the best record in the American League over the past six years. Not only has he been a great performer on the field, he’s been a leader in the clubhouse and a great ambassador for the organization within the community.”
Due a $7 million salary for the 2019 season, Gomes also has team options in his contract for the 2020 and 2021 seasons that are now property of the Nationals.
He will replace Matt Wieters behind the plate for Washington after the three-time All-Star struggled in two seasons in D.C. Wieters hit just .230 for the Nationals after being a .256 hitter in eight years with Baltimore.
Gomes’ batterymate for the last six years, Carlos Carrasco, posted a message on Instagram thanking him.
View this post on Instagram
@yan_agomes Thank you for everything. I will miss you my friend @indians
Carrasco’s name has also come up in trade discussions despite the Indians exercising their $9.75 million option on him in October.
The team also has a club option on Carrasco for the 2020 season, but if the two sides aren’t able to agree on a long-term deal, the pitcher might be shown the door just as Gomes was.
Gomes’ trade leaves a void behind the plate for the Indians considering that his backup, Roberto Perez, hit just .168 last year in 62 games.
Cleveland is hoping that prospect Eric Haase becomes the long-term solution at the position after he was an International League All-Star last year in Cleveland’s minor league system.
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