Cleveland Indians: Best landing spots for departing players

The Cleveland Indians are likely to see some notable names depart this offseason via free agency. Here are some of the best potential landing spots for those players.

The 2020 offseason is likely to see plenty of change for the Cleveland Indians.

On top of the inevitable future move to trade away four-time All-Star Francisco Lindor, the Indians are likely to see a handful of key contributors leave town via free agency in the coming weeks and months.

Among those players are outfielder and former first round draft pick Tyler Naquin who was non-tendered by the team last week, Delino DeShields Jr., who was also non-tendered, closer Brad Hand who is a free agent and first basemen and Cleveland legend Carlos Santana whose time with the team is almost certainly set to come to an end via free agency.

While there’s a chance other players such as Cesar Hernandez could depart, Cleveland will likely make some sort of attempt to keep him and affordable players around while allowing Santana and Hand to walk and having already decided to move on from Naquin and DeShields.

Where will the Indians set to leave the City of Rock and Roll land? Here are the best landing spots for the four players most likely to depart Cleveland this offseason via free agency.

OF, Tyler Naquin (29)

When the Indians selected in the first round of the 2012 Draft out of Texas A&M, the hope was for him to be a star in the outfield for years to come. While the 29-year old has shown flashes of living up to his first round status, injuries have plagued his career.

In his rookie season of 2016, Naquin hit .296 with 14 home runs, 43 RBIs in 116 games as he helped guide the Indians to the World Series. The following season however he was held to just 19 games due to injury and played just 61 games in 2018 and 89 in 2019.

He played 40 games for Cleveland during the shortened 2020 season but hit just .218, which led the Indians to the decision to non-tender their former first round picks’ contract and let him hit the free-agent market.
With a reunion in Cleveland unlikely, Naquin has been linked to teams such as the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates, but the best fit for the former first-rounder would be the Texas Rangers.

Naquin is a native of Harris County, Texas and played his college baseball in College Station at Texas A&M. Thus, landing in the Lone Star state with the Rangers would be a homecoming for the 29-year old outfielder.

The Rangers are also a team in need of help in the outfield. They have slugger Joey Gallo who can play either corner spot but could use help in center and on the opposite corner of Gallo, making a Texas homecoming for Naquin a perfect fit.

Best Fit: Texas Rangers 

LHP, Brad Hand (30)

In his second full season with the Indians, Brad Hand was automatic in the closers’ role.

The southpaw pitched to a 2.05 ERA in 23 relief appearances and was a perfect 16/16 in his save opportunities during the regular season, with his lone blown save coming in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees.

While having Hand back would be a big lift for the Tribe, it’s unrealistic to see them spend the closers money he will demand this offseason after the emergence of James Karinchak as a reliable late-inning man. Thus, the 30-year old Hand will likely depart Cleveland as a free agent in the coming months.

Nearly every contender has been linked to Hand, but the best fit would be with the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Despite winning it all in 2020, the Dodgers bullpen was shaky at best, with closer Kenley Jansen struggling mightily. Los Angeles’ bullpen was also majority right-handed, which makes Hand even more enticing for the defending champs.

Having spent time and being named an All-Star with the San Diego Padres, Hand is familiar with the NL West and would likely thrive with a Dodgers team looking to repeat as World Series champions.

Best Fit: Los Angeles Dodgers 

Carlos Santana will go down as one of the most beloved Indians of all-time. Known for historically great plate discipline, Santana spent seven seasons with the Tribe from 2010-17, helping guide the team to the 2016 World Series.

After leaving Cleveland for the Philadelphia Phillies via free agency after the 2017 season, it seemed as if his time with the Indians was over. Instead, Cleveland brought him back in a three-team trade after the 2018 season as Santana spent just one-year away of Cleveland.

In 2019, Santana had the best year of his career back in front of the Progressive Field crowd as he was named the starting first basemen for the AL All-Star team and won a Silver Slugger Award after hitting .281 with 34 home runs and 93 RBI’s.

2020 however, did not go as planned for Santana as he hit just .199 with eight home runs despite playing in all 60 regular season games for Cleveland.

Now a free agent again, Santana is again likely to depart, but this time he should look to stay in the AL Central and join a young and up and coming Detroit Tigers team.

Santana has a world of experience facing AL Central pitching and would be a perfect mentor for a Tigers team in-need of a veteran presence at first base with Miguel Cabrera, now the full-time designated hitter.

Signing with Santana also could allow for the veteran to join a contender come July as if he’s able to perform, he could find himself traded to a contender and help push for a World Series.

Best Fit: Detroit Tigers