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Cleveland Indians: What the roster will look like in 2023

By Nick Dudukovich

GOODYEAR, AZ - FEBRUARY 21: Francisco Mejia of the Cleveland Indians poses for a portrait at the Cleveland Indians Player Development Complex on February 21, 2018 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images)
GOODYEAR, AZ - FEBRUARY 21: Francisco Mejia of the Cleveland Indians poses for a portrait at the Cleveland Indians Player Development Complex on February 21, 2018 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images) /
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Starting rotation

SP: If Mike Clevinger, 27, is the Tribe’s Opening Day Starter in 2023, it means the Tribe will have bought out at least the first year of free agency.

Considering the Tribe’s past and success in locking up players, it’s a good bet Cleveland will get a deal done with Clevinger.

Indians fans have already seen glimpses of how good Clevinger could be. He’s still a relative newly to MLB. He has front-of-the-rotation potential.

SP: Triston McKenzie is the No. 2 prospect in the Indians’ farm system, and if the Tribe resists trading him, they have a player with Ace potential.

McKenzie had pitched in the first two months of the 2018 season (forearm), but he’s set to make his debut for Class AA Akron soon.

SP: The Indians seemed to have the market cornered on guys who don’t blow people away with fastballs, but maintain well-lived MLB lives through their impeccable control.

Shane Bieber‘s the latest guy to fit this mold.

He recently made his MLB Debut in a spot start with the Tribe.

What’s not to like about The Real Biebs? He averaged 1/2 walk per nine innings throughout his MiLB career.

SP: Aaron Civale, a third-round pick in 2016 out of Northeastern, is in his first season with Class AA Akron and he’s continued to trend upwards. He’s issued just four free passes in 32 innings, while posting a 2.51 ERA.

SP: Adam Plutko just threw a no-hitter at Class AA Columbus, as he’s been on the bus between Cleveland and Columbus a couple times this season.

Like many others here, Plutko doesn’t blow anyone away, but he has good stuff, gets ahead in the count and possesses good control.

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