Cleveland Indians: Updated Projected Opening Day Lineup

With Francisco Lindor gone, here’s an updated look on what the Cleveland Indians Opening Day Lineup figures to look like.

The Cleveland Indians expectedly broke the hearts of their fan base by trading superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor to the New York Mets instead of giving the 27-year-old a much deserved long-term deal.

Now, the Indians franchise is at a crossroads. They still have an MVP caliber bat in Jose Ramirez, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner in Shane Bieber and a solid starting rotation but overall have a far less talented roster with Lindor and Carlos Carrasco gone.

Not to mention, closer Brad Hand and second basemen Cesar Hernandez remain on the free-agent market and are unlikely to return to the Indians while first basemen Carlos Santana signed with the Kansas City Royals.

Thus, the 2021 Opening Day lineup looks in between a fringe contender and team heading towards a rebuilding project.

Nonetheless, here’s an updated opening day lineup projection for the 2021 Cleveland Indians, with Lindor now a Met.

1. Shortstop, Amed Rosario

2020 Stats (NYM): .252/.272/.371 4 HR, 15 RBI’s 

At a glance, Amed Rosario‘s numbers don’t look to be one of a leadoff hitter.

Rosario, who was acquired by Cleveland from the Mets in the Lindor deal, has struggled with plate discipline his entire career, which could be problematic in the leadoff spot, but a deeper dig suggests the Indians will still bat him atop the order.

The main reason for this is the Indians truly don’t have a reliable leadoff hitter on the roster and have hopes Rosario will be in that role for years to come; thus, they might as well place him there and let him get his feet wet.

2. Third Base, Jose Ramirez

2020 Stats: .292/386/.607 17 HR, 46 RBI’s 

For the second time in his career, Jose Ramirez finished as a top three finalist for the MVP Award last season.

With Lindor gone and Hernandez also unlikely to return, Ramirez will likely move from the three spot in the order up to the two hole.

Most teams’ across baseball hit their top hitter second unless they’re better suited for the leadoff spot given speed. Ramirez doesn’t fall under that category so second feels like a natural fit for the Indians top all-around player.

3. DH, Franmil Reyes

2020 Stats: .275/.344/.450, 9HR, 34 RBI’s

Lost in the shadows of Ramirez’ success and an overall awful year at the plate for the Indians, Franmil Reyes had a solid year at the DH spot in 2020.

The right-handed slugger was one of the few consistent bats in the Indians lineup, earning the 25-year-old a vital role in the teams’ future plans.

Expect Reyes to protect Ramirez in the lineup as, on paper, he is the Indians’ second-best hitter and perhaps their top power threat.

4. Left Field, Josh Naylor

2020 Stats (with SD & CLE): .247/.291/.330 1HR, 6 RBI’s 

Josh Naylor came over to the Indians as part of the Mike Clevinger trade last August and now finds himself having gone from fringe major leaguer in San Diego to having a chance to hit cleanup every day for the Indians.

Naylor was Cleveland’s best hitter in their playoff series loss against the Yankees, hitting .714 with a home run and three RBI’s in the two-game set.

He has the ability to play multiple positions, but the Indians plan to use him in left field, where he’ll likely find himself a starting role and spot smack in the middle of the Indians batting order.

5. Catcher, Austin Hedges

2020 Stats (with SD & CLE) .145/.231/.290 3 HR, 6 RBI’s 

While Roberto Perez is a far-better defensive catcher than Austin Hedges, Hedges bat may just earn him the nod as the Indians’ primary catcher next season.

Hedges struggled in 2020 at the plate but is not far removed from three-straight double-digit home run seasons (2017-2019) and establishing himself as a fringe top-10 catcher in all of baseball.

The Indians added him in the Clevinger trade for a reason, so expect him to earn a significant role on the 2021 squad, even if that is in an attempt to boost his trade value come summertime.

6. First Base, Jake Bauers

2019 Stats (DNP in 2020): .226/.312/.371 12 HR’s, 43 RBI’s

Perhaps the biggest question for the Indians entering 2021 is who will play first base. Carlos Santana manned that position last season and for much of the past decade and with the patient switch-hitter now in Kansas City, Cleveland has a hole to fill.

Look for former top prospect of the Tampa Bay Rays Jake Bauers to be given the first opportunity at first. Bauers spent the entire 2020 season in Lake County at Cleveland’s alternate site. After spending his rookie season of 2018 with the Rays, he joined the Indians via trade in 2019 and hit 12 home runs.

The left-handed bat plays first base and left field and could provide the team with much-needed middle of the order power from the left side of the plate.