Cleveland Indians: Projecting Cleveland’s upcoming free agents landing spots

IF, Cesar Hernandez

When the Cleveland Indians signed second basemen Cesar Hernandez to a one-year deal last offseason, not much was made of the move.

Hernandez spent the first seven years of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he twice posted a .294 average and hit the open market after slashing .279/.333/.408 with 14 home runs and an impressive 71 RBI’s.

In his first year with Cleveland, he continued that quiet production as he played in 58 of 60 regular season games and slashed .283/.355/.408 with three home runs and 20 RBI’s. Despite his solid season, Hernandez likely won’t earn more than a one-year deal on the open market.

He is 30-years old, mostly limited to second base and with most teams’ suffering from significant revenue losses amid the pandemic, Hernandez likely won’t be seen as a player worth breaking the bank to add. This sets up perfectly for a reunion in Cleveland.

Even if Lindor ends up being shipped off this offseason, the Indians need a starting second baseman for next season and if they end up non-competitive, they could use Hernandez as a trade-chip at the July deadline to add prospects.

It makes too much sense not to see Hernandez come back to Cleveland on a one-year deal and continue to prove himself.

Projected Landing Spot: 1-year deal with Cleveland Indians 

LHP, Oliver Perez

Oliver Perez has defied the law of age as at 39-years old; he continued to serve as a weapon out of the Indians bullpen in 2020.

Perez pitched 21 games for the Tribe this past season in which he tossed 18 innings, posted a 2.00 ERA, struck out 14 batters and even recorded a save.

The 2020 season marked the southpaw’s 18th season in the majors and third as a Cleveland Indian. In three years with Cleveland, he has posted an impressive combined 2.45 ERA, making it hard for him to call it a career.
However, this offseason may just be the one Perez decides to hang up his cleats. The left-hander has done just about everything in the majors and in 2020 even pitched through a global pandemic to continue a career that most his age can only dream of putting together.

With the Indians likely to move towards a youth movement and a to be 40-year old likely not to get buzz on the free agent market, Perez’s outstanding MLB career may just be over.

Projected Landing Spot: Retirement 

C, Sandy Leon

After helping the Boston Red Sox win the 2018 World Series and sharing the starting catching duties with Christian Vazquez, the Indians hoped to find a reliable backup for Roberto Perez in Sandy Leon when they added him last offseason.

Things would not go as planned, however, as Leon struggled with the Indians this season, slashing just .136/.296/.242 with two home runs and four RBI’s in 25 games.

With a poor showing and not much upside at 31-years old, it’s unlikely the Indians bring back Leon unless he inks a minor league deal and is given a shot to compete for the backup catcher spot in Spring Training.
Regardless of where Leon signs, he’ll likely only get a one-year deal or a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. One team that may give him that opportunity is the New York Mets.

The Mets have had a revolving door at catcher ever since Paul Lo Duca left after the 2007 season. They have also given chances to several veteran catchers such as Rene Rivera, Wilson Ramos, Devin Mesoraco and Robinson Chirinos.

Thus, maybe the Mets end up taking a similar flyer on Leon to see if he could become a steady backup catcher in Flushing.

Projected Landing Spot: Minor League Deal with New York Mets

1B/DH, Carlos Santana 

Few players to wear an Indians uniform in the last 10 years more loved by the fan base than Carlos Santana.

Santana is a former All-Star, Silver Slugger Award winner, a Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award winner, was a key member of the 2016 AL Championship Indians and has some of the best plate discipline in baseball history.

However, the 2020 season proved his best baseball is likely behind him. The 34-year old slashed just .199/.349/.350 with eight home runs and 30 RBI’s.

Santana’s future will, in part, be decided by the Indians’ front office. The Indians have a $17.5 million team option for the first basemen this offseason, which after a season of struggles doesn’t make much sense to pick up. Thus, Santana will likely hit the open market and depart Cleveland.

Teams that are most likely to pursue Santana will be one’s seeking a veteran bat on a one-year and relatively team-friendly deal. The Tampa Bay Rays fit that criteria.

Tampa, who is set to take on the Dodgers in the World Series Tuesday night, still is in need of a power bat and have been in on other big-name bats such as Nelson Cruz and Edwin Encarnacion in the past.

Thus, a one-year deal to join the defending AL Champions could make perfect sense for Santana as he looks to continue fighting for a World Series as his career comes near an end.

Projected Landing Spot: Team Declines Option, signs 1-year deal with Tampa Bay Rays

LHP, Brad Hand

Perhaps Cleveland’s toughest decision among their six potential free agents will be what to do with closer Brad Hand. The 30-year old southpaw is set to make $10 million next season but does have a $1 million buyout that would make him a free agent.

Hand was the only reliever in baseball not to blow a save during the 2020 regular season. However, former top prospect James Karinchak impressed as he continued to be groomed to be the teams’ future closer, Nick Wittgren impressed at times and Emmanuel Clase will return.

Thus, the Indians may opt to save $9 million and let Hand walk in free agency. If he does, the southpaw would be a perfect fit for the 2020 NL Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers have won the NL West eight straight years but have yet to win the World Series in that span in large part due to struggles in the bullpen. Kenley Jansen has struggled mightily in the closers’ role while no other reliever has risen to the occasion to take that role.

Hand would bring much-needed stability and a left-handed arm to that role for the Dodgers, who will likely have a much harder time winning the NL West going forward, given the emergence of the San Diego Padres as legitimate title contenders.

Projected Landing Spot: Team Declines Option, signs 2-year deal with Los Angeles Dodgers

C, Roberto Perez

Like Santana, catcher Roberto Perez has been a fan favorite in Cleveland for much of the past decade.

Perez has spent his entire seven-year career with the Indians, earning a Gold Glove Award in 2019, a monster 2016 postseason that saw him help Cleveland to the World Series with three home runs, seven RBI’s and seven walks and eventually landing a four-year extension.

This past season did not go well for Perez, however, as he slashed just .165/.264/.216 with a home run and five RBI’s and was held to just 32 games due to injury.

Thus, the Indians will have a tough decision to make when they discuss Perez’s $5.5 million club option. The team added Austin Hedges in the Mike Clevinger trade with the Padres, but outside of that don’t have much catching depth. This should lead them to keep Perez around.

While Perez may stay with the Indians for 2021, they’ll likely let him go after the season and not pick up his $7 million club option in 2022.

Projected Landing Spot: Cleveland Indians pick up team option