How Some Former 2017 Cleveland Indians are Performing at the All-Star Break

The Indians lost a number of players this past offseason, some of which fans felt the team should have kept a hold of. Carlos Santana, Jay Bruce, Joe Smith and
How Some Former 2017 Cleveland Indians are Performing at the All-Star Break
How Some Former 2017 Cleveland Indians are Performing at the All-Star Break /

The Indians lost a number of players this past offseason, some of which fans felt the team should have kept a hold of.

Carlos Santana, Jay Bruce, Joe Smith and Bryan Shaw are four players that left the Tribe this last offseason for greener pastures, and the team has had to find other players to fill their roles.

With the All-Star break upon us, it's a good time to take a moment to see how those players have performed in their new homes, and some of the numbers the players are putting up may surprise you a bit.

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Carlos Santana Philadelphia Phillies

The Tribe firstbasemen/DH for the Indians for eight seasons inked a three-year deal worth $60 million, with him making $18.3 million this season.

His first year in Philadelphia has been a bit of a struggle, which isn't a shock considering that it's never easy to switch from the AL to the NL.

Santana's numbers - .209 batting average with 17 doubles, four homers, 52 RBI, 74 BB, 56 strikeouts. He has helped the surprising Phillies be the top team in the first half of the NL East.

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Bryan Shaw Colorado Rockies

Shaw took a lot of heat on twitter and from fans as the workhorse of the Indians bullpen the last few seasons, with last season the 30-year-old going 4-6 with a 3.52 ERA in an MLB-high 79 games.

He inked a three-year deal this offseason to help revamp the Rockies pen, making $27 million for three seasons, way out of the Indians price range.

So far in Colorado in 43 games, Shaw is 3-5, with a 7.23 ERA. He has put up 11 holds, 37.1 innings pitched, 52 hits allowed, 30 earned runs, 21 walks and 36 strikeouts.

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Jay Bruce New York Mets

After a deal that brought Bruce to the Indians from the Mets last August, the 34-year-old outfielder went right back to the Big Apple, inking a three-year deal worth $39 million this offseason.

A lot of Indians fans were upset the Indians didn't look to get Bruce back, instead going with a one-year deal for Michael Brantley, who played in Tuesday's MLB All-Star game.

Just like it's been for the team, it hasn't been a good season for Bruce, who has been on the disabled list and hasn't played in a game since June 17th due to ongoing hip issues.

In the first half Bruce hit .212 with three homers and 17 runs batted in with 24 walks and 48 strikeouts.

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Austin Jackson Free Agent

It's been a tough season for Jackson, who played in 2017 for the Indians, hitting .318 in 85 games. He started the season with the San Francisco Giants, inking a two-year deal worth $6 million.

He didn't last long with San Fran, as he was traded to the Texas Rangers on July 8th after he lost his spot in the Giants outfield following the emergence of Gorkys Hernandez and he had started just one game since June 16th.

The Rangers then on July 11th designated him for assignment, as he never reported to his new team.

With his future up in the air, Jackson hit .242 with the Giants, eight 8 doubles, no homers, 13 RBI, 14 walks, and 59 strikeouts.

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Joe Smith Houston Astros

It was a homecoming of sorts for Smith when the Indians made a deal at the deadline for his services last July, getting him from the Blue Jays to add some depth to the bullpen.

He appeared in 21 games for the Tribe in the last two months of the season, going 0-0 with a 3.44 ERA.

He inked with the Astros in December, and this season will make $7 million and in 2019 will make $8 million. Thus far in 29 games, Smith has a mark of 3-1 with a 4.26 ERA, recording five holds in 25.1 , 19 H, 12 ER, 7 BB, 25 K.

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Gio Urshela Toronto Blue Jays

The Indians had a tough decision to make regarding Urshela, who as a defensive third basemen turned in some amazing plays, but the issue is he was out of options and just never developed into a solid Major League hitter.

Upon his release from the Tribe earlier this season he inked a deal with the Blue Jays, and has appeared in 19 games for them to this point.

In that time he's hitting .233 (10-43,) one double, one homer with three RBI with two walks and 10 K's.

He was DFA ne, cleared waivers and is now with AAA Buffalo. AAA: .304/.333/.348/.681, 7-23, 1 2B, 2 RBI.


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Matt Loede
MATT LOEDE

Matt Loede has been a part of the Cleveland Sports Media for 26 years, with experience covering Major League Baseball, the NBA & NFL and even high school and college events. He has been a part of the daily media covering the Cleveland Indians since the opening of Jacobs/Progressive Field in 1994, and spent two and a half years covering the team for 92.3FM The Fan, and covers them daily for Associated Press Radio. You can follow Matt on Twitter @MattLoede