Indians: 3 Olympians the team should consider after the games end

The Indians should look to the Olympics for some help.

The Cleveland Indians are not done yet in their quest to chase down a spot in the playoffs. With two months left to play, the Tribe still needs some help in a few spots. Mostly at pitching and in the outfield. The team has already tried to make some moves by picking up guys looking for a bit of a redemption arc to their careers and there’s no reason to think they won’t try and look for some more assets on the current Olympic team, which is still striving for a chance at gold.

Not every player on this team is someone to consider, and shockingly enough, a few of those guys are top prospects in other promotions. So the three names we dug through may in fact have something worth offering, for the last two months anyway.

These signings aren’t dream scenarios by any means, and none of these guys should be considered season savers on their own. The hope is that they could provide something to help the team edge out those close decisions.

These are three players the Indians should consider after the Olympics

Scott Kazmir – Pitcher

A former Indian starts the list, it’s Scott Kazmir Team USA’s de-facto ace. Kazmir, who pitched for the Indians in Terry Francona‘s debut season with the Indians, had an up-and-down season, going 10-9 with a 5.26 ERA. Kazmir, who was out of the league for a bit before a failed comeback with the Giants earlier this season, has looked good in international play. In his first Olympic game, he threw five strong innings against the Dominican Republic Olympic squad, striking out five, walking two, and only giving up two hits to secure the win. Kazmir could serve as a long reliever for the Indians if they take an interest in him.

Anthony Gose – P/OF

Technically, Anthony Gose is part of the Indians organization, serving as a member of the 2021 taxi squad. He’s listed as a left-handed pitcher but Gose is actually a solid major league hitter. Not a star at the plate by any means like Shohei Ohtani, but Gose could really provide some unique depth for the Indians as they try and make a late-season push. Gose has pitched 3.2 innings and has yet to give up a run in the Olympics. He’s been used in crunch situations and has thrived on the pressure. He’s yet to walk a batter and while he hasn’t played any in the field, what he’s shown in the Olympics should be enough to warrant a call to the pen.

Tyler Austin – DH/OF

Tyler Austin might be most famous for his stint with the Yankees and Twins, putting in his best season in 2018 where he hit 17 home runs and 46 RBIs in only 69 games. Austin has incredible power but consistency is his biggest issue. As of the most recent game against the Dominican Republic, Austin is hitting .375 in the Olympics, with two home runs and five RBIs. Should the team win it all, he could easily be seen as the team’s MVP. He’s not going to be Albert Belle or Jim Thome for the Indians but the current member of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars could easily slide into the outfield and give it some power and maybe prove he deserves a spot on the roster going forward. At this rate, what’s the harm in trying?