Cleveland Indians: Breaking Down the 25-Man Roster

Filling a roster with 25 guys is always a large task, and the Cleveland Indians have an even tougher time because of the depth that exists in their organization.

Looking back at the middle of last season, the future looked bright for the Cleveland Indians as Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, and Tyler Naquin blossomed on the MLB stage. Now after a season that lasted until Game 7 of the World Series, the Indians look to regroup with all the talent they have at every level.

With over one hundred guys competing for playing time on the Indians or one of their minor league squads, it can sometimes be hard to spot who is going to make a difference on the MLB team.

This article is divided by position and looks at what kind of talent the Indians have at the MLB level along with the minor leagues. At the bottom of each page are other options the Indians could use for each position.

Everyone who is at spring training is included in some way, along with other minor leaguers who could make an impact this season or down the road.

This is by no means a complete look at the Indians organization, but it shows where the team has many options and where their weaknesses are.

With so many injuries last season, the Indians need as much depth as they can manage. One healthy MLB-ready player last season could have been the difference between defeat and the championship.

The Indians are in an enviable position as some good drafting and good pickups have helped the organization prepare to win now and the future.

Let’s have a look.

First/DH

On the Team

• Edwin Encarnacion and Carlos Santana

This position (along with most of the Indians’ infield), is locked up. With the signing of Edwin Encarnacion along with Carlos Santana coming off a stellar season, Cleveland will be seeing plenty of home runs this season. With the two sharing time at first, even the defense should be slightly better than last season.

Replacing Mike Napoli with Encarnacion gives the team a more consistent hitter as well as a slight upgrade at first. Last season, Napoli had a -1.4 Defensive WAR compared with Encarnacion’s -1.2 (Santana was slightly better at -1.1). Overall, the group is pretty bad at first, but Napoli led the league in errors last season with 13. In all, even if Encarnacion has a bad year on defense, Napoli was not that different.

The true upgrade with Encarnacion is offense. He finished the 2016 campaign with a league-leading 127 RBI, 42 home runs, and 56 fewer strikeouts than Napoli. His offensive WAR was 3.7, while Napoli’s was only 1.4.

The Indians had a huge hole at DH going into the offseason (or some might say going into last year’s playoffs), but Encarnacion has more than filled it. He’s very consistent at the plate in all regards (.263 batting average, eight sacrifice flies, and 87 walks in 2016).

All this talk about Encarnacion has pushed Santana aside, but he had 34 homers, 99 walks, and only 99 strikeouts last season. He seems to finally be rounding out every aspect of his game. As this is the last year of his contract, look for another huge year (and hopefully an extension).

Down on the Farm

• Nellie Rodriguez

Not to be confused with Ronny Rodriguez, Nellie had a fairly good 2016 at Akron where he hit 26 home runs to go along with 85 RBI in 132 games. He played good defense at first with only eight errors (compared with 14 last season), but he has a huge hole in his game. In 492 at-bats, Rodriguez had 186 strikeouts (37.8 percent!).

He has a lot of power, and some of his home runs were moonshots, but he needs to fix his swing before getting a call-up. He’s very athletic but striking out 1.17 times a game for your first five professional seasons throws up some warning signs.

• Bobby Bradley

In 131 games at Lynchburg in 2016, Bradley hit .235, but there is a lot more to examine. One of the Indians’ top prospects, the 20-year-old Bradley had 29 home runs and 102 RBI. He does make some errors at first, and he also had 170 strikeouts in 2016, but he is very young and has plenty of time before he will be in Cleveland.

Don’t let his batting average fool you, he is a top prospect and will most likely be a part of the post-Encarnacion era (which hopefully isn’t for a while).

Odd Ideas

• Wily Mo Pena and Chris Colabello

Colabello definitely seems like a more realistic option as he hit .321 for Toronto in 2015 before being suspended after testing positive for PEDs, but Pena would be the better story. Last playing in the MLB in 2011, Pena has 84 lifetime home runs (and some were absolute taters). Wouldn’t it be great to see him hit the 100-mark on a walk-off against the Cubs in Game Seven of the World Series?

Neither will likely make the team (especially since Pena isn’t even invited to Major League camp), but with the randomness of the outfield, Colabello could be a good fit as a utilityman.

Second/Shortstop

On the Team

• Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor

What do you do with one of the best duos at first base and DH? You pair them with a highlight reel middle infield.

Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor are simply amazing to watch.

Kipnis built on his 2015 by more than doubling his home run total (9 to 23!) and raising his RBI total by 30. He was respectable in the playoffs while hitting .290 in the World Series with a pair of homers and he looks to have found his stride.

A down season in 2014 had a lot of fans wondering if he could really put it all together, but after the last two seasons, it is clear his injuries hurt his numbers before. Plus the drive inside “Dirtbag” (Manny Acta still getting shout-outs in 2017) is unmatched.

Although 2016 was Lindor’s first full season, he hit .301 with 20 doubles, 15 home runs, and 78 RBI. His glove was even more fun to watch as he turned 83 double plays and had a great fielding percentage (.982) that was actually his highest in his professional career.

Putting an All-Star shortstop with an All-Star second baseman is almost unfair to the rest of the league, but the top of the lineup and the middle of the infield is secured for a few years with Lindor and Kipnis is in town.

Down on the Farm

• Ronny Rodriguez

The other Rodriguez in camp, who may just make the team as the utilityman is named Ronny. He hit .258 last season in Columbus and is an average fielder at a lot of positions. He could make the team if Michael Martinez, Erik Gonzalez, and Yandy Diaz have bad springs.

• Eric Stamets

Stamets is much better at shortstop than at the other infield positions, but he can play them all to some degree and could end up being a new Joe Inglett. He had a good start to the season in Akron, but Columbus hit him hard, as he hit a very low .164.

He’s at camp, but shouldn’t make the team unless ten things go wrong.

• Tyler Krieger

The 22-year-old hit .299 with 21 stolen bases in his first professional season for two teams. He did make 16 errors, but he should be a factor (or a trade chip) in a few years.

• Yu-Cheng Chang

Maybe the shortstop with the highest ceiling in the Indians system, it would not be surprising to see him moved to another team this season. After tearing the ball’s cover off in the fall league, he could be exactly what another team needs, while the Indians already have a “pretty good” shortstop in Lindor for years to come. Plus other minor leaguers like Willi Castro, Mark Mathias, and Nolan Jones (though he is primarily a third baseman) are also in the system. The middle of the infield is packed, and Chang could be a good bargaining piece.

Odd Ideas

• Michael Martinez and Erik Gonzalez

If either Lindor or Kipnis goes down, Jose Ramirez will likely step into their role on the field. If this isn’t the plan (or Ramirez is hurt also), Martinez or Gonzalez are both good enough to play at the MLB level. Neither is a Kip or Frankie, but hopefully, it never comes down to this. 

Third Base

On the Team

• Jose Ramirez

What can one say about the emergence of Jose Ramirez? He had a down year in 2015 and everyone wrote him off as an everyday player.

And then he started to hit…and hit…and hit for power? Ramirez was simply fabulous last season and was a major reason the Indians reached the World Series. He played a good left field and then secured the infield by taking third from Juan Uribe.

With 46 doubles, 11 homers, and a .825 OPS, Ramirez had one of the most complete seasons of any player in the league. He also had 22 steals and two walk-offs.

Some people think Jose will regress, while some think he is going to be a consistent hitter. Looking at his minor league stats says “clutch, consistent hitter.” He hit .304 in his minor league career with 123 steals in five years.

For a guy who barely made last year’s roster in most people’s eyes, Ramirez is showing he could be a star for the next ten years.

Down on the Farm

• Yandy Diaz

Diaz was astounding the past two season as he hit .309 and .318. He is slightly better at second than third, but he has recently been playing some outfield (and is listed that way on the Indians official website), so a utility position seems likely for the 25-year-old. He will be on the Indians this season at some point. Will it be meaningful time or a September call-up?

(#FreeYandy just because #FreeLindor worked so well.)

• Giovanni Urshela

Urshela hit .274 last season in Columbus and seems ready for another crack at an MLB roster. He has some power and his defense is incredible at third, but he just didn’t hit when he was with Cleveland in 2015 (.225 in 81 games). His career is by no means over, but he will need to find a way to rise about the rest of the infielders to make an impact this season.

Odd Ideas

• Richie Shaffer

Shaffer is an interesting option as he was claimed and DFA’d and then outrighted to Columbus. He can play the outfield, third, and first, so he could work in a number of situations if they arise. More depth is always great.

Also, don’t forget about 18-year-old Nolan Jones in a few years.

Outfield

On the Team

• Tyler Naquin, Lonnie Chisenhall, Brandon Guyer, Michael Brantley, and Abraham Almonte

What will the Indians outfield look like in October? Actually, what will the Indians outfield look like on Opening Day or any other game this season?

These three positions are still a question mark even though they are essentially set. Stats show the platooning worked, but without Rajai Davis…this gets confusing.

With Naquin, Chisenhall, and Guyer basically locked onto the roster, there are many questions about who is going to play when and where. If Brantley is fully healthy, he takes up the left field spot, so does that mean Almonte and Naquin platoon in centerfield while Guyer and Chisenhall platoon in right?

If Brantley is healthy, he won’t be playing 162 games this season, so how many games will he play? And who receives the other at-bats?

If Almonte makes the team, he’s not an above-average center fielder. He would best be suited as the backup to everyone, but that means Naquin plays most of the games.

Naquin had a phenomenal rookie season, but he hardly ever played against lefties. He had a few miscues in the World Series, but he’s known to be a good defender.

In all, Naquin is a large question mark going into his second season. If he can prove he knows how to adjust to fastballs and lefties, he could turn into an everyday player and allow Almonte to platoon in left with Brantley. If not, there are a few prospects waiting in the wings who are almost MLB-ready.

Platooning could work and Francona is a genius, but honestly, anything could happen here.

Down on the Farm

• Bradley Zimmer

The Bradley Zimmer or Clint Frazier question was answered by itself when Frazier was traded to the New York Yankees last season. Both have incredible talent, but only Zimmer is still with the team, so he is all that matters.

(Frazier has already proved his worth with the amazing spectacle of the man he was traded for: Andrew Miller.)

Zimmer may come up sometime in the 2017 season, but his strikeouts are still an issue (171 in 130 games last season at Akron and Columbus). He only has a lifetime minor league average of .268, but he is good at taking walks and plays good defense.

• Greg Allen

Allen or Zimmer is the new question (with most picking Zimmer), but watching Allen at Akron last season was unbelievable. He has the speed of Kenny Lofton (121 stolen bases in 312 minor league games) and plays defense as well (if not better) than Lofton.

Some of his catches are awe-inspiring and he is a marvel to watch. Look for him as an unexpected September call-up.

• Will Benson

The 14th pick in the 2016 draft, Benson had a lackluster start to his career (.209 in 44 games), but he is only 18. In 64 chances, he only made one error and had two assists. He has the talent, but it is just going to take a few years to come together.

• Gabriel Mejia

In 194 games in the minors the last three seasons, Mejia hit .333 and had 140 stolen bases. He’s got no power, but his other skills will help him climb through the ranks. He’s an average fielder, so if he continues his offensive production, look out.

Odd Ideas

• Austin Jackson, Dan Robertson, Colabello, Diaz, and Gonzalez

Austin Jackson is a realistic option in centerfield on Opening Day depending on the Almonte-Naquin situation. He’s only 30 and hit a respectable .254 last season. He’s a lifetime .272 hitter, so hopefully, he has a good spring and helps out the team.

In 116 MLB games, Robertson has a .273 batting average. He is the darkhorse candidate to make the squad. Colabello, Diaz, and Gonzalez can make the team as a fifth outfielder because they can play infield positions as well.

Starting Rotation

On the Team

• Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, Trevor Bauer, and Josh Tomlin

This group is one of the best in the MLB. With a Cy Young winner in Corey Kluber and two other aces in Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco, the Indians already have enough to carry a team.

But the last two spots in the rotation are what set this group apart. Last season Trevor Bauer was 12-8 with a 4.26 ERA. That may look pretty “blah,” but he just turned 26 and has been in the MLB since 2012. 2016 saw him start in the bullpen and then pitch his way into the rotation.

He did have some trouble finding consistency, but last season saw many more flashes of brilliance than before for the young man. This looks to be the season he finally puts it all together.

Josh Tomlin was magnificent last season. Do not listen to the people who point out his one bad month. His arm was clearly fatigued and if he can give the Indians 29 starts again that would be incredible for the staff. He is a filthy fifth starter, as his slow junky pitches are a great contrast to the rest of the staff.

Obviously, Carrasco, Salazar, and Kluber need to be healthy to help this team win it all, so the main focus this year is going into the playoffs at full strength. The division is as close to a lock as possible, so hopefully, these guys get the rest they need throughout the long season.

Down on the Farm

• Triston McKenzie

McKenzie posted a 1.62 ERA at Lake County and Mahoning Valley last season. One of the top prospects in the entire organization, he will be with the team in a few seasons. The video of him in high school even looks amazing.

Go watch him pitch. It’s the future of the team.

• Brady Aiken

Aiken is another future star for the Indians, but the lefty has had a rough start to his professional career. Originally the first pick by Houston in 2014, he did not sign, had to undergo Tommy John surgery and then was drafted by the Indians. To top it off, he had a 5.83 ERA last season between two clubs.

He’s young and extremely talented and will figure it out, so don’t let the numbers scare anyone. Plus, any lefty is highly valuable.

• Juan Hillman

Another lefty with a rough start to his career (4.34 ERA in two seasons). Like the others, he’s young (19) and his curveball looks pretty nasty too.

• Dylan Baker

This Dylan Baker (as opposed to the actor) hasn’t pitched in ages due to arm issues. He still could turn into the pitcher he was supposed to be, but even before the issues, he just wasn’t that great in the minors.

He won the endurance test at camp and may have a longshot at a rotation spot, but most signs point to another few years down the line.

• Rob Kaminsky

Kaminsky fell off a lot of radars this year after putting together a respectable season at Akron. He went 11-7 and was absolutely dominate at times. His name has disappeared from many people’s lists most likely due to the number of pitchers in the top prospects, but he definitely will be an MLB pitcher in a few seasons.

Plus, anything out of a Brandon Moss deal is worth it.

• Shane Bieber

In 24 innings last year, Bieber had a 0.38 ERA by giving up one run. He is 21 years old and has had limited exposure in the professional world, but he could be a great pickup for the Tribe from the 4th round of the 2016 draft.

Odd Ideas

• Cody Anderson, Ryan Merritt, Mike Clevinger, and Travis Banwart

On one hand, this group offers great depth, but on another…does it? Cody Anderson is coming back from an injury, Ryan Merritt was last year’s hero for two games, Mike Clevinger was adequate last season (but he may be more of a reliever), and Travis Banwart has been playing in Korea.

If Anderson or Merritt can turn into a viable MLB starter, that would be great because they are a different type of pitcher than the rest of the team (minus Tomlin). Clevinger looks to be the one the Indians hope can take over in the near future, but this group just looks like a lot of question marks with a very high ceiling and a low floor if no one pans out.

Bullpen

On the Team

• Cody Allen, Andrew Miller, Dan Otero, Bryan Shaw, Boone Logan, and Zach McAllister

Wow.

Andrew Miller and Cody Allen at the backend of a team would be enough. When you throw in Dan Otero, Bryan Shaw, and Zach McAllister while signing Boone Logan, there’s not much more to say.

The bullpen is another enormous strength of the Indians 2017 squad, which is surprising looking back at most of 2016. Before the Miller trade went through, the Indians were constantly searching for answers in the bullpen. Every day it seemed like a new face emerged in the sixth or seventh inning.

But then Miller came and everything realigned. Miller’s WHIP after coming to the Tribe was 0.552. He’s filthy and will be one of the cornerstones of the pen again this season.

Cody Allen was magnificent as well while posting 32 saves and a 1.000 WHIP. With Jeff Manship regressing last season, Dan Otero stepped in and was phenomenal (.906 WHIP and a 1.53 ERA).

McAllister was even much better than he gets credit for. The second half of the season, he had a 1.40 ERA.

Shaw also gets no credit, but his 3.24 ERA in 75(!) games will do the talking. He had a few rough outings, but he was great throughout most of the season. He just needs to never pitch after going in the dugout. He seems to cool down and not have the same stuff when he comes out for a second inning. Even if it’s only one out, he should only pitch one inning to be as effective as possible.

Logan adds the lefty the Indians needed all last season as Kyle Crockett and Co. did not answer the call.  As the final main piece of the team, it was a great addition and will pay off immediately as this will free up Miller to pitch in high-pressure situations.

Down on the Farm

• Adam Plutko

Plutko could definitely make the team this season out of spring training. If not, he is an option if someone struggles or gets hurt as he has been consistent in the minors. Overall, between Columbus, Akron, and Cleveland, Plutko had a 9-8 record last year. He could start or relieve, which is great.

He’s 25 years old, so this year is big for him as well.

• Joseph Colon

Colon is 26 years old and had a 0.82 ERA at Columbus last season. He didn’t impress when he came up to Cleveland (3 losses in 11 games), but he still is considered a top pitcher in the organization.

He has a 3.39 ERA in 7 minor league seasons.

• Josh Martin

Martin pitched in 47 games last season while posting a 3.41 ERA. Probably not an actual option right now, but he was invited to camp, so maybe he gets a shot at some point.

• Jeff Johnson

Not to be confused with the pitcher for the Yankees in the 90’s who then signed with the Indians (but never pitched), Jeff Johnson had a 2.87 ERA in 48 games at Columbus last season.

Like Martin, he is a longshot to make the MLB squad this season at all, but you never know.

Odd Ideas

• Kyle Crockett, Shawn Morimando, James Russell, Perci Garner, Shawn Armstrong, Tyler Olsen, Hoby Milner, Tim Cooney, Carlos Frias, Nick Goody, Steve Delabar, and Chris Narveson

So many options exist for the Indians last one or two spots in the bullpen that no clear leaders emerge from the pack. The lefties are most likely out of a job due to the Logan signing, but the righties all have a realistic shot.

Next: 5 Pitchers with Something to Prove in 2017

Looking at all the names, the smart money is on Perci Garner or one of the Shawns, but the darkhorse is Tim Cooney.