Should the Cleveland Indians Exercise Ryan Raburn’s 2016 Option?

Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Strictly a Platoon Bat?

Ryan Raburn has done one thing pretty consistently since coming into league: hit left-handed pitching.  Here’s a quick look at his career L/R splits:

A career OPS 125 points higher versus left-handed pitching and 36 point difference in wRC+ is pretty significant.  As his ISO shows almost all his power comes against southpaws as well.  One thing that I did find odd is that in his career he’s actually faced more right-handed pitchers than left-handed pitchers.  In fact, until last season Raburn almost always hit more versus right-handed pitching, which is strange given his rather large platoon advantage.  Here’s a quick look at his numbers versus left-handed pitching and right-handed pitching since 2009:

While he’s had some success mixed in versus right-handed pitching (particularly 2013), it’s plain to see where Raburn’s offensive value comes from.  He’s should be used as a platoon bat, playing only versus left-handed pitching, which is exactly how Terry Francona has been using him in 2015. While for his career Raburn has faced right-handed pitching more often than left-handed pitching, in 2015 Raburn has faced left-handed pitchers almost seven times as often as right-handed pitching.

One can clearly see that while he was actually better versus both left-handed and right-handed pitching in 2013, his overall hitting numbers look better since he faced lefties (whom he destroys) far more often.  It would appear Tito has found the magic formula for maximizing Raburn’s success, and given how the Indians as a team appear to be more left-handed dominate than right-handed on offense, having a guy like Raburn around can do wonders for an offense.

Next: So Why Wouldn't the Indians Keep Raburn?

Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

So Why Wouldn’t the Indians Keep Raburn?

While all signs point to why the Indians should pick up Ryan Raburn’s 2016 option, there are a few red flags to suggest they shouldn’t.  For one, Raburn is no spring chicken as he will turn 35 next April.  One has to question how much he has left in the tank.  There’s also the matter of the “Odd Year Raburn” theory that fans love to talk about.  The theory is that Raburn is only good in odd years (i.e., 2013 & 2015) and is terrible in even years (i.e., 2012 & 2014).

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While over the last four years this does hold true, but as shown above he was actually quite good in 2010, an even numbered year.  What has more been the issue for Raburn is health.  In 2012 and 2014 Raburn dealt with injuries that really limited him on the field.  He was hurt in spring training last year and never really got going.  As with his age though, it’s hard to count on Raburn being healthy in 2016…

There’s also the matter of Chris Johnson who, like Raburn, is best when used in a platoon/bench role.  Johnson also hits left-handed pitching better and there may not be room for both on the bench depending on how the Indians construct their roster.  Only four bench spots (or maybe only three) with one being taken by the backup catcher (presumably Roberto Perez) and one by the backup middle infielder (presumably Jose Ramirez, Zach Walters, or a free agent).  That leaves two spots and one can also figure that Abraham Almonte has a good chance of being on the bench as the backup outfielder rather than the everyday center-fielder (though that’s a discussion for another day).

Johnson, unlike Raburn, is guaranteed $7.5M in 2016 plus an additional $9M in 2018.  Unless the Indians can trade Johnson or decide to make him an everyday starter, he’s going to be on the bench, making Raburn’s 2016 roster fit a bit redundant, especially when one considers his lack of versatility and poor defensive ability.

Next: So Will Tribe Keep Raburn?

Could Tribe fans see this platoon in RF in 2016? Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

So Will the Indians Exercise Raburn’s Option?

Back in July I would have said there was very little chance of Raburn being on the 2016 Cleveland Indians roster.  Then the team dealt away David Murphy and Brandon Moss who both had 2016 team control via a team option and through arbitration, respectively.  It seemed the Indians were moving on from guys they deemed not in their 2016 plans and Raburn was not among those dealt.  There was still a chance in August though as we saw Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher moved, yet still Raburn remained with the Cleveland Indians.

Perhaps the illness Raburn endured in July/early August is why the Tribe never moved him.  Or maybe they felt they still had a chance in 2015 and wanted Raburn’s bat on the bench for a postseason run.  But in my opinion, they kept him knowing that he’s a bat that could help the club in 2016.  $3M is really not a lot, especially when you consider how much money the team is saving in 2016 thanks to the Bourn-Swisher trade.  They can work out the roster and bench issues but a Lonnie Chisenhall-Ryan Raburn platoon in right-field actually doesn’t sound too unappealing to me, and it’s one I think we very likely could see in 2016.

So what do you think? Should the Cleveland Indians exercise Ryan Raburn’s 2016 option or should they decline it and move on?  Let us know and be sure to check back for more Indians news and analysis.

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