Baseball’s offseason is starting to pick up, and the Indians are likely to be in the market for an outfielder, and maybe a third or first baseman as well.
President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti and General Manager Mike Chernoff might be able to fill these needs through trades, as several teams are likely to inquire about one of the Indians’ talented arms in the starting rotation.
Antonetti also made it clear that the Indians won’t ever be a team that builds its base through free agency.
“I don’t think we’ll be in a position where we build our roster through free agency,” Antonetti said shortly after the conclusion of the regular season. “That’s not something that is a successful formula in any market, let alone ours.”
The Indians can, though, fill a need or two with an affordable player on the open market without dipping into their rotation, the team’s clear strength moving forward.
The likes of St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jason Hayward or Toronto Blue Jays ace David Price won’t be walking through those doors at Progressive Field to put on an Indians uniform.
Nor will a wave of high-priced free agents to quickly overhaul the roster.
But the Indians do have financial flexibility following the rush of deals made at the trade deadline and a clear need or two. Here are some of the more likely players the Indians could target this winter.
Outfielders
This is the Indians’ No. 1 need. Abraham Almonte got off to a lightning start with the Indians, even earning a couple of Ruthian nicknames. But he simmered and finished hitting .264 with the Indians with five home runs and 20 RBI.
Almonte is an option to fill in and a pretty good fourth outfielder who can rotate around all three spots. But as a season-long, everyday center fielder, the Indians could use a boost.
Michael Brantley was seen as a possible option to move to center field, though after he dealt with back issues and now will likely miss the start of the 2016 season after shoulder surgery, the Indians might want to keep him in left field.
Lonnie Chisenhall earned at least a spot on the roster with his play both offensively and defensively in right field. But he, too, could struggle as an everyday player, especially when facing left-handed pitchers. Jerry Sands, as the roster is currently constructed, is a fourth outfielder.
The Indians already had two possible options for center field nixed. The instant the Houston Astros’ Colby Rasmus and the Chicago Cubs’ Dexter Fowler were offered the one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer, they were likely taken off of the Indians’ big board. Rasmus accepted the offer, and Fowler would warrant a hefty price tag and the forfeiture of a first-round pick.
Here are some players the Indians could target:
Austin Jackson, center field
Projected contract, per ESPN’s Jim Bowden: Two years, $20 million.
2015 stats with the Seattle Mariners, Cubs: .267 batting average, .311 on-base percentage, 9 homers, 25 doubles, 17 stolen bases.
2015 WAR (wins above replacement), per FanGraphs: 2.3.
Overview: Jackson is a capable center fielder, having traveled between the Detroit Tigers, the Mariners and the Cubs. He likely is no longer a top-of-the-order option, as he doesn’t get on base enough, but he’d provide stability for the Indians in the middle of the outfield. And, still only 29 in February, he might be one of the safer options. Jackson is a good defender, ranking seventh among center fielders since 2012 with a 7.1 Ultimate Zone Rating.
Denard Span, center field
Projected contract: Three years, $36 million.
2015 stats with the Washington Nationals: .301 BA, .365 OBP, 5 HR, 17 2B, 11 SB.
2015 WAR: 1.4.
Overview: Span played well for the Nationals when he was on the field this past season, which wasn’t much. He played in only 61 games and then underwent hip surgery in September. But, he’s been a solid leadoff hitter, one capable of a .300 batting average and .350-plus on-base percentage. Defensively, he seems to be trending downward. It doesn’t seem likely the Indians would prioritize their plans for a 32-year-old (in February) center fielder coming off of hip surgery after missing on Michael Bourn, but those health concerns could price Span into the Indians’ plans. They did something similar with Brandon Moss last winter.
Gerardo Parra, outfield
Projected contract: Three years, $25.5 million.
2015 stats with the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles: .291 BA, .328 OBP, 14 HR, 36 2B, 51 RBI, 14 SB.
2015 WAR: 0.4.
Overview: Parra had a career year in 2013, earning 4.5 WAR and winning his second gold glove as a corner outfielder, though he hasn’t repeated that success since. His defensive numbers have dipped a bit, though it could be sample sizes playing tricks. He can play center field. He had a solid offensive season in 2015 and is still only 28.
The rest
Overview: These are the second-tier outfielders available on the open market. If the Indians wanted to find cheaper options, that could include Alex Rios, Rajai Davis, Chris Young or others. Rios, 35 in February, has been with the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals recently and could be an option in left field until Brantley returns and right field along with Chisenhall afterward. Davis, 35, would be a speedy short-term option in center field. Young, 32, hits right-handed pitchers hard and could form a platoon with Chisenhall in right field.
All three players will be cheaper (roughly $6-$7 million) and could potentially be had for a one-year deal, especially the former two.
Third base/first base
The Indians have Giovanny Urshela under team control for several years, and he looks to be a Gold Glove-caliber third baseman. But he’s never been known for his offense and hit just .225 last season as a rookie. Still only 24, the Indians might not be ready to hand over the hot corner to him full time. Including Chris Johnson, who can play either third or first, and Carlos Santana, the Indians will have to figure out the lineup each day between third base, first base and the designated hitter spot. The Indians’ No. 2 need after the outfield is likely finding a hitter who can be thrown into that mix.
David Freese, third base
Projected contract: Two years, $20 million.
2015 stats with Los Angeles Angels: .257 BA, .323 OBP, 14 HR, 27 2B, 56 RBI.
2015 WAR: 2.2.
Overview: Freese is an option as an everyday third baseman if the Indians don’t have full confidence in Urshela to permanently take over that position yet. He hasn’t been quite the same player he was when he won World Series MVP in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals, but he’s a veteran third baseman who can hit 20 home runs if healthy (he missed time last season after getting hit on the hand with a pitch) and provide an offensive upgrade. He’d also provide some stability to a position that hasn’t had much of it recently.
Mike Napoli, first base
Projected contract: One year, $9.5 million.
2015 stats with the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers: .224 BA, .324 OBP, 18 HR, 20 2B, 50 RBI.
2015 WAR: 0.7.
Overview: Napoli would be a right-handed power bat to insert at first base or the designated hitter spot along with Santana. His 2015 season improved when he was traded from the Red Sox to the Rangers. He hit .295 with a .396 OBP with five home runs in only 35 games. It could create a bit of a logjam with Johnson, though Johnson could move to third base.
Steve Pearce, first base, outfield
Projected contract: Two years, $14 million (per other sites).
2015 stats with the Orioles: .218 BA, .289 OBP, 15 HR, 13 2B, 40 RBI.
2015 WAR: 0.3.
Overview: Pearce is a player who could satisfy the Indians’ needs at either one of the corner outfield spots or at first base. He could also move between them to offer Terry Francona more options with the everyday lineup, possibly platooning with Chisenhall against right-handed pitchers. But after a terrific 2014 (.293 BA, 21 HR, 4.9 WAR), Pearce’s production severely dipped last year. If he can return to his 2014 form, he could be a useful bat in the lineup.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RyanLewisABJ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RyanLewisABJ.