What to Make of the Cleveland Indians Free Agent Hitters

October 7, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Elliot Johnson (30) hits a triple in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Elliot Johnson

Elliot Johnson is one of those guys who looks solid when he plays for Tampa and then gets exposed when he plays elsewhere. Somebody should figure out why that happens. [Editor’s note: Steve Kinsella, would you like to weigh in on this?] You can see a scenario where Asdrubal Cabrera gets traded and Mike Aviles becomes the starting shortstop with Johnson takeing over the utility infielder role. But, unless that happens I can’t see Johnson making the team, and there are enough real prospects (including Francisco Lindor) that there probably isn’t room in Columbus. That is unless they make a spot for him in left field, or elsewhere, just to keep him around in case something happens. He has played seven different positions in the majors and fields most of them well, but his lifetime OPS is only .592, so if he gets a lot of playing time in Cleveland it’s a problem.