Cleveland Indians: 5 players whose futures are doomed with Cleveland

Yu Chang OR Owen Miller of the Cleveland Indians

We’re cheating the system a bit here. There’s a roster spot in 2022 for either Yu Chang or Owen Miller, but not both. The two players provide essentially the same role and it’s one that better prospects will soon be ready to fill.

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Chang and Miller have provided depth at first base with the option to play anywhere in the infield. The anywhere in the infield part could soon be filled by Gabriel Arias or another prospect. As for first base, a healthy Josh Naylor can play that role, and might be needed to due to the aforementioned overcrowded outfield.

Given their experience and the fact that service time doesn’t matter as much, Chang or Miller could stick around. However, it doesn’t make too much sense to keep both to play the same role. The only question is which one stays and which one goes?

Chang has been the better player at the plate overall this season, but Miller has shown a bit of life of late and we saw earlier this season in Triple-A Columbus what can happen if he gets hot. Chang would provide more stability, but Miller has just a bit more upside. It just really depends on what the front office views as more important to the progression of the club.