The Indians bringing back Cesar Hernandez is a good move

The Cleveland Indians are bringing back second basemen Cesar Hernandez for a two-year deal, with the second year being a club-option.

The Cleveland Indians have brought back second basemen Cesar Hernandez on what amounts to a two-year deal, though the financials are not known at this moment. He did make $6 million last year, and considering he had a good offensive year while winning a Gold Glove, it’d be fair to say the 30-year-old would get at least that for his first year.

The move helps better secure the middle of the infield that he and former Indian Franciso Lindor handled last year. With Lindor now a Met, the Indians will still need to find a new body at shortstop. According to Jon Heyman, the Indians aren’t done in free agency either. Apparently the talk on re-investing in the team after the Lindor deal wasn’t just talk after all.

The Tribe had to move on from Lindor because of his salary demands. Lindor stopped negotiating with the Indians last offseason, despite the Tribes’ desire to get a deal done. Lindor will get a massive deal in line with other superstars but like those players, he’ll more than likely never justify that type of money being spent on him.

So moving on made sense, get something for him at least before he leaves. Bringing back Hernandez makes sense too. This isn’t the same Indians team in 2002 when they had no chance of making the playoffs without three or four key players. This is a much better built and ran ballclub.

Hernandez’s addition will strengthen the defense, which will help out the pitching, which will hopefully lead to more wins. The Indians can’t afford to miss on signings like this, nor can they afford to rush up prospects or delay prospects too long. Their margin of error is very small.

That’s in part why Hernandez’s return is perfect. He helps the Indians keep some key prospects own in the minors, while also returning a veteran presence in the field and at the plate. He may not have the name-value of Lindor, but Hernandez is a talent in his own right.

One that could hopefully be part of yet another playoff birth in 2021.