Cleveland Indians: What’s the roster look like if the season started today?

What would the Cleveland Indians roster look like if the season started today?

The offseason for the Cleveland Indians is about halfway over, so what would the roster look like if the season started today? It’s been three months since we last saw the team take the field and there have been a handful of changes, mainly departures.

Now, we’re about two months from pitchers and catchers reporting, which means we’re closer to the start of the 2021 campaign than we are from the conclusion of the 2020 season. With that being said, what does the current state of the roster look like? If the season started today, what team would run out onto the field?

There’s still plenty of moves to come, including what is most likely the blockbuster trade of the offseason, but if the season started right now, this is what the roster of the Cleveland Indians would look like.

Starting Pitchers

Shane Bieber, Carlos Carrasco, Zach Plesac, Aaron Civale and Triston McKenzie

We’ll start with arguably the best strength of the team, the starting rotation. Outside of Carlos Carrasco, all five guys that are part of the rotation are under the age of 25. Of the five, four registered an ERA below 3.25 during the 2020 season with only Aaron Civale having an ERA higher at 4.74.

Across the board this unit impressed during the 2020 season and has the tools to do so again in 2021. There isn’t much to say about this group that hasn’t already been shown on the field. There’s little doubt that the starting pitching will be relied upon to be the backbone of the team.

The only thing that could reroute the direction of this group would be the potential trade of Carrasco. While the rumors have been quiet, they have been present. While Carrasco has been a steady arm, he’s getting older and has turned into the team’s most expensive contract on the books. Should they decide to move Carrasco it would have to be done with confidence in another prospect to take his spot, like we’ve seen with the last three starting pitcher trades.