Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
February 27, 2016; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians left fielder Michael Brantley (23) poses for a picture during photo day at the Cleveland Indians Player Development Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
February 27, 2016; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians left fielder Michael Brantley (23) poses for a picture during photo day at the Cleveland Indians Player Development Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Get Brantley Back Healthy

No more messing around with Michael Brantley. The Indians need their left fielder back on the field and ready to contribute.

When you consider that the Indians outfield consisted of Brandon Guyer, Tyler Naquin, Rajai Davis and Lonnie Chisenhall and for a good chunk of the season, savior Jose Ramirez, it’s even more amazing to think the Indians took the World Series to seven games.

Terry Francona did yeomen’s job juggling talent in 2015, but the Indians can’t take any more chances in 2017.

They need Michael Brantley back, healthy, and in All-Star form.

Brantley played in just 11 games during the 2016 campaign because of a shoulder injury that has required two operations.

There’s been speculation that he’ll miss a good chunk of the 2017 season. The Indians and Brantley have refuted this report.

More from Factory of Sadness

“Our expectation is that he’ll be ready for spring training,” said Chris Antonetti, Indians president of baseball operations via Cleveland.com. “We were told after the second surgery that the timeline (for recovery) would be four to five months. As far as I know, nothing has changed.”

If Brantley can return, the Indians, in essence, will be adding an All-Star caliber player to the roster, while giving up nothing.

Brantley slashed .310/.379/.480 with a .859 OPS during his last full season in the bigs (2015).

Even if Brantley isn’t available for April, the Indians must proceed with caution. It’s imperative for their future, and for Brantley’s they they get him back into the lineup 100 percent healthy.

Home/Cleveland Sports