Cleveland Indians: How the starting catcher role could play out in 2018

Francisco Mejia made a cameo during the 2017 season, but his 13 at-bats were just the beginning of what will hopefully be a long career in Cleveland.

His situation is interesting because while he is a catcher now, the team may want to move him to another position eventually, such as third base. However, it may be best just to keep him behind the plate for now.

It is highly unlikely Mejia makes the Indians’ roster out of Spring Training, unless the front office surprises us and trades either Gomes or Perez before then. I simply don’t see it happening.

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Mejia’s time likely wouldn’t come until the summer, when a trade may become more likely. If he is tearing it up in the minors the front office may decide it is time and bring him up to spark the team.

So much would have to happen for Terry Francona to entrust his pitching staff to a 22-year-old, so I don’t see this scenario as a likely one.

It would only occur if the team gets out to an extremely slow start, and both Gomes and Perez are having dismal seasons.

It is essentially a worst-case scenario, which is no offense to Mejia.

Rather, this Indians team may not want to make drastic changes to how this elite pitching staff is managed midway through a season where there are championship aspirations.