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8 Free Agents The Cleveland Indians Need To Sign This Offseason

By Nick Dudukovich

Oct 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Bartolo Colon (40) in action during a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Bartolo Colon (40) in action during a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians first baseman Mike Napoli breaks his bat in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians first baseman Mike Napoli breaks his bat in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike Napoli, 1B

Mike Napoli is a free agent, and the Indians probably need to keep the slugger who just belted a career high 34 home runs and 101 RBIs. Napoli was the traditional clean-up hitter the Tribe has lacked since back in the day when Travis Hefner was the Mayor of Pronkville.

Let’s be honest. Napoli didn’t exactly end the season on a high note, slumping from Sept. 1 all the way through Game 7 of the World Series. During that span, he hit .140 (13-for-93) with five homers, 13 RBI and 31 strikeouts from Sept. 1 through the end of the regular season on Oct. 2. In the postseason, he hit .173 (9-for-52) with one homer, three RBI and 21 strikeouts.

Assuming the Indians don’t offer Napoli the $17.2 million, one-year qualifying offer (and they shouldn’t), I’d start by offering Napoli something in the one-year $10 million range. Heck, I’d even throw in incentives to get the contract to $17 million.

Prior to Napoli’s slump, I think the Indians would’ve been priced out of re-signing Napoli. Contract talks would’ve probably started at two-years, for $30 million. But now, clubs are almost going to certainly look at Nap’s last two months and proceed with caution.

Heading into free agency, No one knows Napoli better than the Indians. If Antonetti can get Napoli at a price that’s favorable to the Indians, a deal needs to get done because there’s no replacement waiting in the wings…and the Indians certainly won’t be in the Jose Bautista sweepstakes.

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