Cleveland Indians: Are the Dodgers Still a Trade Fit?

But the Indians Don’t Need Another Outfielder

I know what most are thinking so far…didn’t this guy say a week ago that the Indians don’t need to add another outfielder?  Yes, yes I did. However, while I do not believe the Indians “need” to add another outfielder, that’s not saying they “can’t” add another outfielder.  I do still like Lonnie Chisenhall getting a lot of time in rightfield with his defense and Abraham Almonte really impressed in centerfield last year. Nevertheless, both are still unproven on offense. As much as I believe they both can be very solid in 2016, there is a very real chance one (or both) will struggle offensively to the point where even their gloves won’t justify them being in the lineup most days.  This is where a guy like Andre Ethier could really help.

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Ethier has experience at all three outfield spots, playing all three in 2015 even. He really has no business being in centerfield as he has a career -7 DRS (defensive runs saved).  Despite a bad reputation he’s actually been solid in the corner outfield spots though. He has a career +7 DRS in leftfield and while his career DRS in rightfield is a terrible -18, over the past five seasons he’s actually at +9 there (was -27 his first four years in the big leagues).  The Indians shouldn’t need him in centerfield thanks to the presence of Rajai Davis, Abraham Almonte, Collin Cowgill and even Michael Brantley or Lonnie Chisenhall.  Where Ethier could really help is in leftfield until Brantley is back and possibly even as the designated hitter at times spelling Mike Napoli (who isn’t a guy who will play 162 games).

Ethier is a career .286/.359/.464 hitter sporting a very solid 123 wRC+, and hit .294/.366/.486 with a robust 137 wRC+ in 2015 despite being 33 years old.  He doesn’t have the greatest power but still managed to hit 14 and had 41 extra-base hits last season.  To put in perspective how good a hitter Ethier was in 2015, his 137 wRC+ was higher than both Michael Brantley (135) and Jason Kipnis (128).  In fact, since 2007 only once has Ethier’s wRC+ dropped below 120 and only once in his entire career has his OBP been below .350.  Quite simply, Ethier has proven to be a very consistent hitter capable of batting over .280 with an OPS over .800.  The type of bat that would fit nicely into the Indians lineup. 

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