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5 Moves The Cleveland Indians Need To Make This Offseason

By Nick Dudukovich

Oct 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona before game one of the 2016 World Series against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona before game one of the 2016 World Series against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 17, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians first baseman Mike Napoli (right) hits a RBI-double scoring designated hitter Carlos Santana (not pictured) against Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin (left) during the first inning in game three of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians first baseman Mike Napoli (right) hits a RBI-double scoring designated hitter Carlos Santana (not pictured) against Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin (left) during the first inning in game three of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Re-sign Mike Napoli At The Right Price

Resigning Mike Napoli should be a priority, although the Indians need to be careful about what they offer the 35-year-old slugger.

Napoli proved that he can still contribute, hitting a career high 34 home runs in 2016, but he struggled mightily through September and October. The Indians waited for Napoli to get hot in the postseason, it didn’t happen.

In September, Napoli slashed .153/.305/.353. For the postseason, he slashed at a .186/.255/.326 clip. Napoli, who just turned 35, isn’t known for a high batting average, but those low slugging percentage numbers are concerning.

While Napoli slumped to the finish line, the Indians should try and re-sign the slugger, who blasted 34-home runs.

However, the last two months should serve as a warning.

Prior to the slump, contract negations would have probably started at two years for $30 million.

Now, I’d be hesitant to give Napoli anything other than a one-year contract. No, this doesn’t mean the Indians should offer him the $17.2 million qualifying offer. That’s too much money for stats he compiled last season.

I’d give him a “raise” at $10 million per season, and load it with incentives. This would be much like the contract Napoli signed in 2015. The Indians signed him for the bargain basement price of $7 million. But because Napoli was so awesome in 2016, incentives helped him hit the $10 million mark.

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