Cleveland Indians: Four cornerstone players for the Tribe’s future

Nolan Jones

Despite having yet to play in the major leagues, Nolan Jones has become one of the more polarizing players in the Cleveland organization. Just 22-years old and the club’s No. 1 prospect, there is a lot to like about the potential of Jones.

With third base locked down for now with Jose Ramirez, Jones has been asked by the organization to try out a few different positions this offseason, including first base and the outfield. The drive to find a spot for Jones should be a clear indication of how highly the organization views him and his importance to the club’s future.

Now, the argument could be made for Ramirez to have this spot instead of Jones, but when talking about long-term cornerstones for the future I’m not sold that Ramirez is included. At 28-years old, Ramirez is about to see a jump in his salary which could implore the front office to explore a potential move for him down the road.

For that reason, Jones has a brighter outlook for the future thanks to his cheap contract. If Jones can live up to the hype that has surrounded him for awhile now, he should have no problem taking up the mantle as one of the faces of the franchise.