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

7. Promote Daniel Johnson

The Indians treat the outfield the way the Browns view linebackackers: Throw guys out there and see what sticks.

How’s that working out for both teams?

With that in mind, it’s time to give Daniel Johnson the opportunity he deserves. He appeared with the Indians briefly in 2020, spending most of the season at the alternative training site. It wouldn’t even be fair to call his stop in the majors a cup of coffee. He was barely at Progressive Field long enough to grind the beans!

With the outfield situation unsettled as ever, it’s time to take an extended look at Johnson. How much longer can the Tribe keep running the turn-style out there?

Tyler Naquin, Jordan Luplow, Bradley Zimmer, Delino DeShields–they’re just not getting the job done. And Jake Bauers? He spent the year at the alternative site. You wouldn’t know, though, because his name didn’t come up once, despite the Indians constant rotation of outfielders.

Johnson has spent split time between center field and right field throughout his minor league career. He doesn’t have much to prove there, either.

Ideally, he’ll have a good camp and make the team out of spring training.