3 realistic free-agent options for the cash-strapped Cleveland Indians.
Despite the inactivity of the Cleveland Indians this winter, free agency is actually taking place, as the Tribe just watched their closer of the past couple of seasons, Brad Hand, sign a contract with the Washington Nationals.
The Indians payroll currently sits between $35 and $40 million. The Tribe said they would re-invest some of the money they saved by trading Francisco Lindor to the Mets, but the front office won’t likely be able to spend more than $10 million.
Michael Brantley just signed a two-year $32 million deal, making us all feel foolish about even thinking about his return to Cleveland. Meanwhile, Eddie Rosario doesn’t look like a realist fit.
The Indians are always fiscally conservative, but they’re taking it to another level in 2021. The club couldn’t host fans last season and it remains to be seen how many fans can attend in this year.
Plus, there’s uncertainty of baseball’s collective bargaining agreement. Will the season start on time? With pitchers and catchers on schedule to report in about three weeks, it’s a question we should soon be getting an answer to.
Until then, here’s three free agent the cash strapped Tribe might have a shot at signing before Opening Day.
1. Kevin Pillar, CF
Opening Day outfield candidates currently include Josh Naylor, Oscar Mercado, Jordan Luplow, Daniel Johnson and Bradley Zimmer.
So, yep, fielding a strong starting outfield is still something the Indians are trying to figure out.
Fans have had to watch the team trade Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger and Franciscon Lindor in the last 1 1/2 seasons and somehow, the Indians have yet to acquire a starting caliber outfielder (Franmil Reyes played right field for the Padres, but has been a DH since coming to Cleveland).
Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto threw out Kevin Pillar as a potential option.
Tribe fans may remember him from the 2016 ALCS when he was with the Blue Jays. He was a great defensive talent, who could hit respectably at the plate.
Pillar is at the point of his career where he’s bouncing around. He spend the 2020 truncated season with the Red Sox and Rockies. He hit .288 while posting a .798 OPS.
In 2019, the 32-year-old center fielder hit .264 with 21 homers and 87 RBIs while posting a .735 OPS. ESPN rated Pillar as it’s 61st ranked free agent, noting how this once elite defender is more “average” now. The site also dubbed Pillar as a “strong fourth outfielder.”
With Mercado and Zimmer are the best bets to play center, you could certainly argue the fourth-outfielder label for them, making Pillar the cream of that crop.
The four-letter network projected a one-year, $5 million contract for Pillar.
2. Shane Greene, RP
The Indians waved goodbye to their closer, Brad Hand, because they didn’t want to pay him his $10.5 million salary.
They tried to make a trade for him through waivers, but there was no interest. Washington ended up signing him for the same amount of money and didn’t have to give up any prospects to get him.
The Indians have a new closer ready to go in Wild Thing James Karinchak, but Terry Francona will also be gambling on reliever Emmanuel Clase to chew up some high-leverage innings.
Clase has triple-digit speed, but after missing the 2020 season for a PED suspension, nobody really has any idea if he’ll be any good.
So, the Tribe needs help in the pen. Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto threw out the name of Shane Greene. The veteran reliever may not have the upside of Clase, but ESPN described him as being of “eighth inning quality.”
Keep in mind, the Tribe would able to afford him for a reason, though. His velocity has declined from 95 in 2018 to 92.1 mils per hour in 2020. His strikeout rate from 2017 (9.7 punch outs per nine innings) is also down dramatically to t tune of 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings in 2020.
Greene is durable though, and should be good for 60 innings of relief.
3. Robbie Grossman
The casual fan probably doesn’t know the name, but this is may be a name to watch for the Tribe.
ESPN projected Grossman to sign a one-year, $8 million contract, so he’s within range.
Plus, he does all the things the Tribe likes. Most notably, he’s improving as a corner outfielder at the age of 31, which is something to watch because the Indians do put a premium on defense.
Ranked No. 34 on ESPN’s ranking of free agents, the four-letter network called him a strong option for clubs who lost out on the George Springer sweepstakes.
Grossman spent this last two seasons with the A’s where he hit .241 (.722 OPS) with 15 HR in 674 plate appearances.
Adding a player like Grossman wouldn’t generate excitement, but it would afford Terry Francona the opportunity to work in a player like Daniel Johnson without having to put a ton of pressure on the prospect.
Additionally, as a switch hitter, Grossman could platoon with Jordan Luplow. Luplow had a disappointing 2020 campaign, but a platoon could certainly work here if the Indians believe Luplow can re-discover his stroke against lefties.