Cleveland Indians Spring Training: Top Story Lines

Mar. 20, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall (8) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Fans Focusing on Key Spring Training Story Lines

Today’s the day that the Indians pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Arizona to begin the journey that will become the 2014 season. The full team reports on Saturday with full team workouts commencing from there. We’re that much closer to playing real baseball games, people.

With that in mind, there are a lot of questions left to be answered and story lines to follow as the Indians prepare to follow-up a successful 2013 season. And we’re not talking about minor things either. We’re facing positional changes for key players, contract disputes, and heightened expectations for to prospects. Other than that, its just your regular, run of the mill spring training.

Here are the top story lines and unanswered questions as the Indians prepare to open spring training.

Jun 22, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher John Axford (59) delivers a pitch in the tenth inning against the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field. The Brewers won 1-0 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

#7. Who is the closer?

John Axford was brought in to be the closer, at least that is the prevailing sentiment among those who follow this team. Given his track record in Milwaukee, it stands to reason that he should be the favorite to land the role once camp breaks in April. However, that’s not to say there are no other eligible candidates for the job. Cody Allen has the stuff to be a closer. Could he steal the job? What about a healthy Vinnie Pestano? Everyone assumed he would be the next in line once the Indians rid themselves of Chris Perez. Could he step in and fill the role of closer if he is fully recovered from last season’s lingering elbow issues? Maybe there is someone else we aren’t even considering that land the closer’s role. For now, assume it’s Axford’s job to lose, but don’t be surprised by the end result.

Jun 18, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; Carolina Mudcats shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) during the first inning of the California League vs Carolina League All Star Game at San Jose Municipal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

#6. Can Francisco Lindor win the starting job at shortstop?

Logic says no. With Asdrubal Cabrera returning and increased emphasis on controlling the service time of top prospects, it seems unlikely that Francisco Lindor has any chance of winning the starting job at short stop. However, if Lindor shines and Cabrera underwhelms it will make the decision a lot more difficult. Ultimately though, a lot of decisions have to come down to money. With Cabrera set to make $10-million this season and with little to no trade value at the moment, the Indians can’t bench him. He needs to play in order to get some type of return on that $10-million and rebuild his trade value. That said, it’s situation worth keeping an eye on.

Aug 11, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Justin Masterson (63) delivers in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

#5. What is the end game in the Justin Masterson saga?

As we have talked about in painstaking detail, Justin Masterson is headed for free agency after the 2014 season. There were reports that both sides were trying to work out a long-term extension, but those talks eventually broke down. Now both sides are simply trying to avoid arbitration and work out a one year deal. Of course, it didn’t help that both sides were nowhere near close in their filed salaries for arbitration. Masterson requested $11.8-million while the Indians filed at $8.05-million. It was the largest gap between player in team in all of baseball. How will this end? Do the Indians and Masterson work out an extension? Do the Indians play out the season and take their chances with free agency? Do they make the bold move and trade Masterson at the deadline? There are a lot of possible outcomes in play here and not many of them end with Masterson on the Indians beyond 2014.

Sep 7, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (right) and catcher Yan Gomes (10) celebrate a 9-4 win over the New York Mets at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

#4. Who will win the fifth spot in the starting rotation?

Thanks to the departure of Scott Kazmir to Oakland and the probable loss of Ubaldo Jimenez, there is a hole in the back-end of the Tribe’s rotation. As it stand right now, they will open the season with Masterson, Corey Kluber, Zach McCallister, and Danny Salazar. That leaves the fifth spot up for grabs between Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco, Shaun Marcum, Josh Tomlin, or random free agent signing X. Who will win the spot is anyone’s best guess at this point, but the favorite in the clubhose would have to be Carrasco. Out of options, this is a make or break year for the right-hander. He will likely start the year on the big league roster, in the fifth spot, and work like hell to try to hold onto it. Don’t rule out the other possible candidates just yet, but this is a competition worth your time and attention.

Sep 28, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes (10) walks in from the bullpen before the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

#2. Is Yan Gomes the real deal?

Admittedly, we aren’t going to know the answer to this question until sometime during the regular season. A few weeks of meaningless practice games aren’t going to give us the answer that question. However, everyone is going to keep an eye on Yan Gomes and how he responds to the pressure of being the every day catcher. The Indians have committed to him and even gone so far as to consider a positional change for Carlos Santana in order to accommodate his impressive 2013 performance. If he struggles this spring and in the first few weeks of the season, it’s going to bring into question the decision to name Gomes the starter before the start of the season. This one is very much a wait and see.

Aug 9, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall (8) reacts after striking out to end the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

#1. What’s going on at third base?

This is the question that is generating the most intrigue. Who is playing third base for the Indians? Is Lonnie Chisenhall still the guy? The former top prospect that was valued for hit bat has been anything but spectacular so far. However, at 25-years-old there is still a lot of time left for Chiz to figure things out at the big league level. Constant uncertainty about his status with the team combined with an almost constant yo-yo like back and forth between Cleveland and Columbus hasn’t helped much. Is this the year where it finally clicks?

We may not find out. Thanks to Yan Gomes’ promotion to starting catcher, Carlos Santana has started working out at the hot corner. He played third during the Dominican winter league season, to mixed reviews, and wants to take a serious stab at playing the position full-time. His bat is certainly more reliable than Chisenhall’s at this point and it’s not like Chisenhall was the second coming of Brooks Robinson defensively. Can Santana win the job and if he does, what does this mean for the future of Lonnie Chisenhall with the Indians?

A possible position change could be in play, a la Alex Gordon in Kansas City. However, he is not a center fielder and the Indians just locked up Michael Brantley for four more years. Even in out in right field, the Indians have committed to David Murphy and Ryan Raburn for multiple years. It seems unlikely the Indians would move him to DH at age 25, so could he eventually become a trade chip? We’ll have to wait and see, but as of today, barring a red-hot spring at the plate, Chisenhall’s future with the Indians is very much in doubt.