Cleveland Indians: 5 potential in-house replacements for Francisco Lindor

Tyler Krieger – Highest Level: Triple-A

This is a long shot. While Tyler Krieger has the most experience on this list at the Triple-A level, he has the least amount of experience at shortstop. Dating back through all of his minor league days, Krieger has never played shortstop.

So, why is he on this list? Well, he is a utility player, having spent time at second, third and in the outfield. In terms of where he has played, it closely resembles Jose Ramirez, although, I’m not making that comparison, just an example. Krieger isn’t Ramirez.

The other side of the coin is that Krieger has struggled at the plate. He only has 13 games at Triple-A during the 2019 season and slashed an abysmal .196/.288/.283. That won’t cut it in the majors.

While Krieger won’t replace Francisco Lindor in the field or come close to replacing him in ability, he could be the one that replaces him on the roster. If Lindor is dealt before the start of the season or early in the season, Krieger is the most ready in terms of experience and could push whoever is at second base over to shortstop if needed. This isn’t the ideal situation, but it is an option nonetheless.