Cleveland Indians Roundup: Francisco Lindor is ROY Finalist; Tribe Loses Byung-ho Park Bid; Targeting Nori Aoki

Clevelinks: Rookie Francisco Lindor is Finalist in BBWAA Awards

On Tuesday, the finalists for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America awards were announced. Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor was named one of the three finalists for American League Rookie of the Year, along with Twins third baseman Miguel Sano and Astros shortstop Carlos Correa.

All Lindor did as a rookie was post a .313/.353/.482 line in 99 games, hitting 12 home runs and swiping 12 bases in the process. He was selected as Rookie of the Month in September, and it’s hard to say whether that had more to do with his defense or his offense.

Lindor is one of the most impressive players to reach the major leagues in recent memory, and he’s certainly deserving of the award. However, Correa, who posted a .279/.345/.512 line and hit 22 home runs with 14 stolen bases, would almost certainly have the edge statistically. (Sano’s .269/.385/.530 line, including 18 home runs, is nearly as impressive, but give the advantage to Lindor and Correa because they play a harder position.)

Lindor’s best chance at winning the award is if voters take into consideration the rookies’ impacts on their respective big league clubs. While both players joined fairly good teams, Correa’s team played well for the majority of the season, while the Indians were in a downward spiral until Lindor arrived. The team’s second-half success can be traced back to Lindor’s debut, which should count for something, right?

In Case You Missed It:

Qualifying Offers Are A Cold Dose of Reality – Jeff Mount explains why the qualifying offers attached to this year’s crop of free agents came a shock, given the lack of success by some of the players they were offered to, and what it means for the Tribe.

Tribe Loses on Bid to Negotiate with Byung-ho Park – Along with plenty of other teams, the Indians missed out on Korean slugger Byung-ho Park. But at least the Indians made a bid, right? Nick Blazek talks about the impact of this on the Indians’ off-season.

Indians Should Consider Free Agent Nori Aoki for Outfield Help – Even before Michael Brantley had shoulder surgery, the Indians needed outfield help. Now, they really need it. Katrina Putnam writes about the need to sign veteran outfielder Nori Aoki this winter.

#Indians:

Next: Should Zach McAllister Return to the Rotation?

Around the Web:

Puckett’s Pond: Analyzing the Byung-ho Park Bid – The team that did win the bidding for Park was none other than the Minnesota Twins. What does this mean for the Twins, and was it a smart decision?