Cleveland Indians: Potential Free Agent Targets

Left-handed Relievers

Among potential free agents, left-handed bullpen arms seem to be among the most plentiful of any position. There are a couple of names that should be familiar to Indians fans, and a couple of veterans that should warrant consideration.

Miller is the type of bullpen weapon that can be utilized by Francona in multiple situations, not strictly against left-handed bats, and that versatility and dominance were on full display throughout the Tribe’s run to the World Series.

But what the team lacked, especially with Kyle Crockett suffering an injury on the eve of the playoffs, was a matchup lefty. Crockett figures to be in the team’s plans for 2017, but finding a veteran LOOGY (lefty one-out guy) would help bolster a unit that should be a strength of the team next season.

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Two names Cleveland is familiar with are Mark Rzepczynski and Ross Detwiler. Rzepczynski, better known as “Scrabble” because his name is so impossible to spell, was traded by the Indians to San Diego at the 2015 trade deadline, then shipped to the Oakland Athletics last December, and finally landed with the Washington Nationals in an August deal. In 70 games covering 47.2 innings in 2016, he went 1-0 with a 2.64 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 154.

Like Rzepczynski, Detwiler is another former Tribe reliever, traded to Oakland this past July for cash considerations. He split time between the majors and minors in 2016, throwing just 4.2 innings for Cleveland. Oakland tried Detwiler out as a starter, and he was hit hard, with a 6.14 ERA, 11.5 hits per nine innings, and a WHIP of 1.614. Transitioning back to being a lefty specialist is likely the best career choice for the 30-year old at this point.

Two other names that should garner interest from the Indians are Travis Wood and Brett Cecil. Wood, a member of the Chicago Cubs, had his best big league season in his first as a full-time reliever. Appearing in 77 games during the regular season, he yielded an ERA of just 2.95 in 61 innings, racking up an ERA+ of 137. He also pitched in nine postseason games, allowing two runs on five hits.

Cecil is another lefty Cleveland saw during the postseason, though he’s coming off a bit of a down year. In 54 appearances covering 36.2 innings, he posted a 3.93 ERA and 109 ERA+, both of which were his worst marks since 2012.

While the Indians may or may not land any of these LOOGYs in free agency, they are the type of players that could be solid complementary pieces for the team at a more or less affordable price. Big money free agent relievers like Aroldis Chapman just aren’t going to happen.

Utilityman

Cleveland entered the 2016 season with the plan that Jose Ramirez would serve as the club’s utilityman, and we all know how that turned out. Ramirez spent half the year as the starting left fielder in the absence of Michael Brantley, then the other half as the starting third baseman after Juan Uribe was released.

JRam had a breakout year offensively, and according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, the Indians are going into 2017 planning on him remaining at the hot corner. Thus the club must find an upgrade over Michael Martinez, who while adequate defensively, is historically terrible at the plate.

Ramirez played in 152 games this past regular season, right behind second baseman Jason Kipnis and his 156, and the 158 played by shortstop Francisco Lindor. Being able to spell those three players a little more often would be in the team’s best interest.

The pickings are a bit slim when looking at players who could fill the utility role, though, mostly consisting of veteran retreads past their primes. There appear to be four such players that may fit into the Tribe’s budget, and none of them will work fans into a frenzy.

The first is Aaron Hill, who began 2016 with the Milwaukee Brewers before being acquired by the Boston Red Sox at the all-star break. Hill, who will turn 35 in March, appeared in 125 games between the two teams, slashing a respectable .262/.336/.378 with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, 38 runs batted in, and an OPS+ of 89. He is capable of playing both second and third, no neither of them spectacularly.

Another option is Darwin Barney, a former Gold Glove award winner who spent the past season with Toronto. Playing second, third, short, and a little outfield, he appeared in 104 games for the Jays, putting up a 269 /.322/.373 slash line and an OPS+ of 86. Barney turns 31 this week, and would be the superior defensive choice, though his offense is certainly lacking.

A name Cleveland fans may remember from his time with the Chicago White Sox is Gordon Beckham, who in 88 games with the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants played a little bit of second, third, and short. He racked up fewer than 300 plate appearances, and slashed just .212/.294/.347 with a 72 OPS+, but at age 30, is the youngest of the potential utility candidates.

The final name to consider is Andres Blanco, who will turn 33 shortly after Opening Day in 2017, and has spent the past three season with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 90 games this past season, he had a .253/.316/.405 slash line and an OPS+ of 93, appearing almost equally at first, second, and third, while also playing some shortstop and outfield.

None of these names is the one that will put the Indians over the top in 2017, but each would provide the kind of flexibility that Francona loves to have on his roster. With Ramirez slated to be an everyday player, finding a suitable utility replacement should be a priority for the Tribe this offseason.

First Baseman

Cleveland has made its desire to bring Napoli back known, and has exercised Santana’s club option, so first base may not seem like a priority. But in the case that Napoli does end up signing with another team, the Indians need to have a backup plan that can handle some first base and DH duties. Bobby Bradley, the best power hitter in the organization’s minor league system, is still a couple of years away in all likelihood.

Much like the utility options, none of the free agent first baseman scream excitement, but there are a few proven players that could fit the role for the Tribe. The first would be Adam Lind, who is coming off his first season with the Seattle Mariners. He’s 33 and coming off his worst season in years, so that could be a red flag, but he did slash .239/.286/.431, hit 20 homers, and drove in 58 runs for the M’s.

Next on the list is James Loney, who like Lind is on the wrong side of 30 and coming off a subpar year. Loney slashed .265/.307/.397 in 100 games for the New York Mets in 2016, hitting 16 doubles and nine home runs, driving in 34, and posting an OPS+ of 87. It was the first time in four seasons that he failed to hit at least .280.

Sean Rodriguez is the third name that could be on Cleveland’s radar, coming off a year with the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he had a .270/.349/.510 slash line with 16 doubles, 18 homers, 56 RBIs, and a career-best OPS+ of 126. Rodriguez, who will turn 32 in April, can also play the second, third, short, and the outfield, and could also fit into the utility role.

Next: Tribe Built to Contend in 2017

The Indians are in the enviable position of not needing to overhaul their roster, so any free agents added this offseason are mere supplements to the players already in place. Given Francona’s love of platoon advantages, it is likely that at least a few such players will find themselves in Goodyear come February vying for a spot on the bench or in the bullpen. These may not be marquee names, but the Tribe doesn’t need them to be, and that’s a good position to be in.