While some, if not all, of the trades Cleveland had pulled the trigger on recently may cause concern for fans, this analysis of the latest trade of Yonder Alonso reminds us how strong the team’s position is going into 2019.
With these moves, Cleveland’s payroll is now projected down to around $110 million for 2019, which represents a more than $20 million cut from last season. After gaining half a million fans in 2017 following their World Series appearances, the franchise kept the vast majority of those gains last season despite awful early-season weather and competition with LeBron James’ probable final season with the Cavaliers. Interest remains high in the club based on their local tv ratings, though the club’s rumored trade of one of their aces could serve to lower that interest. So far, the team’s moves to send away Yan Gomes, Edwin Encarnacion, and Yandy Diaz coupled with Carlos Santana’s return don’t portend much of a negative affect on the field. It would be near impossible for the team to do the same if it were to trade Trevor Bauer or Corey Kluber.
https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-yonder-alonso-trade-is-about-2019-for-both-teams/