What to Make of the Cleveland Indians Free Agent Hitters

Jun 14, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur (21) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Indians Free Agent Hitters Could Make an Impact

I started making a list the other day of all the guys the Indians have signed this offseason, and it really is something to behold. The list of pitchers is especially staggering, but we’ll cover that another day. You could essentially field something close to a full lineup with guys that have signed minor league deals, which begs the point of what the plan is, because there is no reason to believe Terry Francona will go with fewer than thirteen pitchers again. Finding a spot for all of the Cleveland Indians free agent hitters will be tough.

Let’s review, and see if I am missing anything. You’ve got Gomes and Santana catching; Swisher, Kipnis, Cabrera, and Chisenhall in the infield; and Murphy, Bourn, and Brantley in the outfield. You have to assume the first two spots on the bench are just about certain to go to Raburn and Aviles, since they have guaranteed contracts. That leaves one spot open, and Jason Giambi would seem to have the inside track for that unless he suddenly can’t turn on a fastball in spring training.

So how many of the Cleveland Indians free agent hitters have an actual shot at making this team? Since I live in Columbus I probably have a better shot at seeing most of them than you do, but let’s look at them all.

Jul 24, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Yankees second baseman David Adams (45) gets the force out in the ninth inning against Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre (29) at Rangers Ballpark. The Yankees beat the Rangers 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

David Adams

Plays a decent third base, but has never hit enough to hold a job for a full season, and he’s 26, so he probably won’t get much better. Another issue is that David Adams doesn’t even have a good platoon split. If Lonnie Chisenhall gets hurt or doesn’t hit, it sounds like Carlos Santana would get a decent shot at third, so Adams is probably going to spend most of the season at Columbus and be an insurance policy. But, as we’ve mentioned time and time again, there is nothing wrong with an organization having a good amount of vertical depth.

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.

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.

August 11, 2012; Toronto, ON, CANADA; New York Yankees designated hitter Derek Jeter (2) beats the throw to Toronto Blue Jays first baseman David Cooper (30) during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

David Cooper

Dude has some minor league stats that make you think there’s something there. David Cooper posted a .788 OPS in 140 at bats for Toronto in 2012, but he hasn’t been healthy since then, so who knows. He only plays first base, so a lot of things would have to fall right (or fall apart) for him to get serious playing time in the near future. He can start the year at Columbus and, if he hits like he has in the past, you could see him helping out if someone gets hurt.

June 1, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Matt Treanor reacts after committing an error on a throw to third base that resulted in two runs scoring during the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Treanor

With Lou Marson gone and nobody in the minors ready for big league action, you need a catcher who can step in if Yan Gomes or Carlos Santana get hurt. Matt Treanor has spent most of the past decade on major league rosters, including stints with Texas, Detroit, and the Dodgers, so good teams have felt like he could be trusted. He also won a good-guy award with the Marlins in 2007. But Treanor be 38 in March and didn’t play at all last year, so it’s fair to wonder if the Indians need a better option since catchers are probably the most likely guys to get hurt. The only other option right now is Luke Carlin. [Editor’s note: He’s also married to Misty May. So that’s a positive.]