Cleveland Indians: Analyzing this week’s roster decisions

Who wasn’t added and who’s at risk of being taken?

While the Indians protected four prospects, they did leave several guys vulnerable to the Rule 5 Draft coming up in December. While I don’t think anyone is as likely to be picked as Anthony Santander was last year, there are a few guys who could hear their names called on draft day.

I still would have liked to have seen Mike Papi added to the roster. I’m not surprised he wasn’t and there is a realistic (perhaps even likely) chance he’s not taken in the draft. That said, he is a bigger name and has a true plus tool in his ability to get on base.

He draws walks at an elite rate and has played four different positions in the minor leagues (CF, LF, RF, and 1B) giving him some flexibility to any team looking to add him. That said, I’d only put the odds of him being picked at maybe 25-percent and odds of sticking at a fraction of that.

Perhaps the most intriguing name left off was left-handed pitcher Rob Kaminsky. A former top-five prospect in the Tribe’s system and top 100 prospect overall, he has not pitched well the last couple years since coming over from the St. Louis Cardinals for Brandon Moss. He spent almost all of 2017 on the disabled list with an arm issue and recorded just one start and five innings with the Akron RubberDucks.

He does not look big league ready at all but perhaps a team stashes him on their 60-day disabled list for much of the year and works him in later in the summer. This is the same tactic the Orioles used with Santander this year.

Guys like Cameron Hill, Leandro Linares and Argenis Angulo remain possibilities since teams are always on the lookout for cheap arms for the bullpen. Hill did reach Triple-A and did show an ability to go multiple innings so maybe to a pitching-needy team he could be an asset.

Shao-Ching Chiang is probably my favorite pitcher that was left of the roster; however, his lack of plus stuff/velocity likely keeps him safe. He has shown an ability to eat innings though and has good control so never say never.