Cleveland Indians: 9 moves Tribe must make this offseason for 2021

6. Find a new closer

It’s hard to give a guy a job who bombed on the national stage, allowing a grand slam to Gio Urshela that still hasn’t landed, but James Karinchak will be your closer in 2021.

I know. Give the guy a break. The bases were loaded and he was expected to strikeout the next three batters. He’s young and those are unfair expectations.

The truth is, Karinchak was excellent for the Indians this season, recording 53 strikeouts in 27 innings. Nobody in the current pen has stuff like him.

In 2021, we’ll also finally get to see Emmanuel Clase, the centerpiece of the Corey Kluber trade. Clase was suspended for PED use this past season. Before that, it was reported that he could hit 100 miles per hour on the radar gun.

Can he do it after PEDs? We’ll find out in Spring Training.

Ideally, the Indians will also find another power arm. Terry Francona knows bullpens, and he’s got to know that guys like Phil Maton, Dominc Leone and Adam Cimber aren’t the answer.

Meanwhile, Tribe fans had to watch the White Sox pitch a guy who was drafted just six weeks ago in Garrett Crochet.

Why someone such as Sam Hentges, a 6-6 left-hander, who throws a fastball in the mid 90s with sink, wasn’t given an opportunity when it became clear the other guys weren’t cutting it, remains one of the mysteries of 2020.