What to Make of the Cleveland Indians Free Agent Hitters

Aug 3, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Jeff Francoeur (23) doubles during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the San Francisco Giants 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Francoeur

Jeff Francoeur has had the most career success out of anyone the Indians have signed, but he was possibly the worst player in baseball last year to get more than four hundred at bats. He’s at the point where another stinker probably ends his career, so he will be motivated. Francoeur has about a 20% chance of being this year’s Ryan Raburn, so it was a good gamble, but you’d have to jump through some major roster hoops to keep him around long enough to find out. Most guys with his resume who sign minor league deals do it with the understanding that they will get released rather than accept an assignment to the minors at the end of spring training, but maybe he will be different.