The Cleveland Indians surprised everyone on Friday with the signing of free agent outfielder Trot Nixon to a one year contract. It says here that it’s a good signing since the Tribe added an experienced hitter at a very low cost. Although Nixon appears to be superfluous because he’s a left handed hitter, which it didn’t appear the Indians needed, he has put together very good numbers against right handers and is a much better hitter away from Fenway Park.
Nixon is a patient hitter and is slated to bat in the #2 slot against righties. He’s also a grinder which GM Mark Shapiro and skipper Eric Wedge love. He has battled injuries the past few years, but since he won’t play every day, it should be easier for him to make it through an entire season. It looks like he will take the spot of Shin-Soo Choo, who will be insurance at Class AAA Buffalo.
Unless a bigger move is coming?
I think every Tribe fan is aware the team has three key players eligible for free agency by the end of the 2008 season: Jake Westbrook after this season, and C.C. Sabathia and Travis Hafner following the ’08 season. With the current market conditions, we can assume that the big lefty is going to command at least $15 million per year on the open market. The Tribe’s best bet is to minimize the years on this type of deal, seeing if C.C. will do a 4 year deal. Hafner’s value is somewhat limited because he’s a DH, meaning 16 teams (the National League) have no interest. Still, Pronk will get over $10 million a season based on David Ortiz’ extension last season. The only way the Indians can do these deal is to not keep Westbrook. It would be better to get something before he leaves as a free agent in a trade than to let him walk away for nothing.
It’s possible that the Nixon acquisition means Choo could be included in a trade with Westbrook to bring back another starter who is a few years away from free agency. If Shapiro could get a Dan Haren or Erik Bedard for those two players, it would help with the cost certainty that the front office is always talking about. Again, I’m not saying the Indians should be trading for a prospect. If they make a deal, it should be for a young starter, who has been in a major league rotation for a couple of years. The pitcher they get ideally would have two or three years remaining before they can file for free agency. I think Choo will become a pretty good everyday player, but if dealing him would help keep Sabathia and Hafner, you have to make the deal.
Getting another younger starter to replace Westbrook would allow the ownership to keep the ace of the staff, and still would allow the team to contend in ’07. The sinker balling Westbrook is a solid starter, but is really a #3 or #4 slot in the rotation guy. He’s an innings eater, which is a great thing to have, but he’s not a top of the rotation guy. If Cliff Lee pitches like he did in 2005, he’s the #2. The Wahoos also have Jeremy Sowers, who could be a #2 or #3 starter, and Adam Miller at Buffalo projects (a key word) as another potential ace. So, there is depth in the organization’s starting pitching.
Then again, maybe Choo is going back to the minors to work on hitting lefties, and if a regular struggles early in the season, or Nixon has a re-occurance of his injuries, he’ll be back to make a major contribution to the 2007 Tribe. However, it feels like another move is coming, and it won’t be a minor deal.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 