Cleveland Indians: The remaining options at first base in 2018

With Carlos Santana leaving for an insane $20 million per year for three years, the Cleveland Indians are back to the drawing board at first base. Edwin Encarnacion is not an option, so where can the Tribe look externally?

The Cleveland Indians have a problem at first base that might not be a problem for long.

Before free agency started, I wrote an article on internal first base options. Others have tossed around a few ideas as well, but that was all before free agency started. Now, free agency is in full swing and moves are being made daily.

Where can the Cleveland Indians look?

The obvious choice

The most obvious Carlos Santana replacement exists right in the division. 28-year-old Eric Hosmer, now of the Kansas City Royals, replaces Santana in almost every way.

He’s three years younger, hits for power and he plays a good defensive first base. The problem with Hosmer is that he might be even more expensive than Santana. Spotrac estimates Hosmer’s value to be above $20 million per year, and that will be outside of the Cleveland Indians’ price range.

He’s a great fit, but he’s just too expensive. Unless Hosmer loses value in the next month, the Tribe will not go after him.

The fit

Logan Morrison is 30 years old, still in the middle of his first base peak and offers basically everything Santana does outside of walks. Spotrac estimates that Morrison comes in slightly cheaper at $15 million per year, and he’s coming off of a terrible Tampa Bay team, so his incentives would be much higher.

Morrison hit almost 40 home runs last year, and his power would be an added bonus to the Indians, who are looking for a power hitting first baseman to complement Edwin Encarnacion. Morrison really hits all the buttons for what the Tribe needs, it just depends on if they are willing to spend another $15 million per year on someone who’s already 30.

The trade

While teams look to get rid of some of their assets, and with the Indians loaded with pitching, it might be worthwhile to see what a trade for a first baseman looks like.

If the Tribe doesn’t trade for Manny Machado (which they won’t), they might make an equally crazy trade for first baseman Jose Abreu. Abreu obviously fits all the characteristics of a cleanup hitting first baseman who can play defense. He’s in for a hefty raise in arbitration, but what do the Tribe care?

The time to strike is now, and the White Sox would be willing to give up Abreu for the right price.

So what’s going to happen?

The Cleveland Indians are known for conservative decision-making in free agency. They splashed last winter on Edwin Encarnacion and just spent a pretty penny on keeping Michael Brantley. With a lot of outfielders and third basemen to please, the Indians will likely make first base work with what they have.

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The only move that would make sense is to sign a veteran looking for wins to a minor league contract, such as Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez is a perfect fit for the Indians in a win-win for both sides. Expect that move or something similar sooner than later.