Cleveland Indians Should Add Free Agent Reliever Boone Logan

What About Crockett?

Perhaps too the Indians would be hesitant to pay Logan, thinking they could get by with Kyle Crockett in the role. Crockett did some similar numbers against left-handed pitching in 2016, including a nearly identical walk rate (7.1 percent versus 7.6 percent). However, he struck out fewer hitters (28.6 percent versus 33.6 percent) and posted a batting average against over 100 points higher than Logan (.256 versus .139). Crockett did pitch in way fewer innings and is much younger at just 25 years old, but he’s also proven to be pretty inconsistent since first coming up in 2014.

Meanwhile, the veteran Logan appears to have found his niche in a big league bullpen and gives the Tribe more of a sure bet in the back of the pen. And even if Crockett finally puts things together in 2017, it’s not like the Indians are overflowing with left-handed relief options in the minors. Depth never hurt a bullpen in the history of baseball.

So while Logan may not be anywhere near as flashy a signing as Edwin Encarnacion was, he could still prove to be an essential piece to the puzzle as the Indians look to win their first World Series title in nearly 70 years. He, along with Miller, Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, and Dan Otero would form arguably the best back five in baseball, giving manager Terry Francona plenty of options and give him an even greater ability to mix-and-match late in games.

Next: Will the Closer Role be Utilized in 2017?

So what do you think, should the Cleveland Indians sign Boone Logan to bolster and already stellar bullpen? Should they roll the dice with Crockett or a rookie like Merritt or Shawn Morimando? Do you buy into Rule 5 pick Hoby Milner or waiver wire pickup Tim Cooney? Or perhaps there’s another pitcher out there that fits the bill?