Cleveland Indians: Three free agents who could jolt offense

Ryan Braun, 1B/OF

It seems as though Ryan Braun might be retired, but perhaps the idea of playing again might be catching on now that the season is underway and he would have skipped over Spring Training. If convincing him to come back is a possibility, then the Cleveland Indians might be inclined to pick up the phone and give it a try.

Braun’s last All-Star appearance was 2015 and he received a handful of MVP votes in 2016, but his 2020 campaign was a fry car from those days, slashing .233/.281/.488 with only eight home runs. While there has been a steady decline in his game, Braun still showed flashes during the 2019 season that might be enough to interest teams in a brief stint if Braun would be interested.

During 2019, Braun slashed a much better .285/.343/.505 with 31 doubles and 22 home runs. Being that he plays first base and outfield, he could very easily fill the same exact role as the struggling Jake Bauers with the potential for far more offensive production.

If Braun wants to stay retired, there’s respect for that. He played 14 seasons and they were all in Milwaukee. If it’s being done with the game, not wanting to play for a different team or something else entirely, that makes sense. However, if there’s any inkling or itch to play again, then the Tribe might be a good fit. It wouldn’t hurt to give him a call and ask.