The baseball post-season is winding down, the winter leagues are starting up, and soon the sport will be in full hot stove league mode. Indians’ GM Mark Shapiro talked about the needs of his ballclub for the 2009 season, particularly a closer, an infielder, and taking care of the lack of experience and depth in the starting rotation. Yesterday, the Tribe made news by picking up the option of utility man Jamey Carroll, a good move when you consider his production in 2008. He played more than he was scheduled to and he played well.
Here are some things I hope the Indians DO NOT do this off-season:
1). Sign a closer. The Angels’ Francisco Rodriguez is too expensive, and likely will decline before the end of any five-year contract he demands. Any other closer on the market, and I’m including the Rockies’ Brian Fuentes, has failed in the role. Therefore, you don’t know what you are going to get for at least $10 million per year. I would rather fill the role internally with a guy like Jensen Lewis, or trade for a guy like Huston Street. Remember former Indian GM John Hart’s comment about closers: They fall out of trees.
2). Re-signing Casey Blake. Blake made $6 million this year, and actually brought one of the best prospects in the Tribe farm system in catcher Carlos Santana. You have to figure Blake will be seeking a raise after a year in which he hit .274 with 21 HR and 81 RBI. The Indians should not put that much cash into a player who likely will not put up those numbers in 2009. Blake was a solid player here, and a great teammate. But, Shapiro should pass at a chance to have him on the roster in 2009, unless he would take a minimal contract.
3). Assuming Travis Hafner is okay. In fact, the front office should take the assumption that Pronk will not be available to play. They have to put a contingency plan in place at the DH spot. If Hafner’s shoulder recovers and he can return to somewhere between his 2006 and 2007 seasons, then it’s a bonus. Based on his shoulder’s lack of progress during rehab, the Indians simply cannot count on anything from Hafner in 2009.
4). Sign bits and pieces. Hopefully, the David Dellucci and Jason Johnson signings have scared Shapiro from giving guys like these prominent roles on his ballclub. There is a reason that no one is offering players like these big contracts, and that reason is they aren’t good enough to hold down everyday jobs. Paying a guy like Jamey Carroll is fine, because he is a back up player. Shapiro would be better off pooling the money and inking one impact player.
5). Be Satisfied with the Young Arms. Anthony Reyes pitched well after coming over from St. Louis, and Scott Lewis did okay after being called up in September. However, these guys, as well as Jeremy Sowers and Aaron Laffey shouldn’t lull the Indians’ front office into a sense of security. Shapiro realizes the starting rotation is unproven and not very deep. He needs to acquire an established starter.
With the correct combination of moves, the Indians can return to contender status in 2009. With the limited resources the ownership has, Mark Shapiro has to spend money wisely. Using cash on a closer, older players with no upside, and limited players is not the way to go this winter.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 
1.) Houston Street is a very good option; his price is low and his potential is high, but he struggles with injuries. Jensen Lewis kind of comes in that mold of a Houston Street, so grooming him into a closer is certainly possible. Adam Miller is a guy I would like to see get healthy enough to compete this winter for that closer’s role, because power pitching is the way to close out ball games:
2.) Casey Blake departed on a good note: he played hard, acted responsibly and he allowed us to get our hands on a top prospect. "Let’s leave it like that!" The gamble with Casey paid off once, let’s not try again. 3B is one of the deepest position in their system, but it is obvious that the talent can not be relied on, yet. Let’s hope a Wes Helms or some other prospect shines during the winter:
3.) If Travis Hafner comes back completely healthy and stronger than ever I will still not trust that he can find his swing. Scouting reports really do make an impact on the game: If Travis struggles this winter into the early spring it will be no surprise if they shelve him until he figures it out. The farm system is loaded with guys who can swing the bat, so a temporary fix won’t hurt this teams chances of contending:
4.) Standing still this winter will not be a wise idea for Mark Shapiro, this team needs some pieces: 3B, 2B, SP, Bullpen Making a good trade for an impact player is where a chunk of the money should go. (Brian Roberts, Garret Atkins, Houston Street, Jake Peavy ??? etc.) Free Agency has a few veteran players to offer such as Orlando Hudson and Ryan Dempster:
5.) They have several young left handed arms, but they are not power arms. "That scares me." If they can make some kind of significant trade for an impact player involving one or two of those lefties with exception of David Huff, I will be all for that. Anthony Reyes is already slotted as a starter in my opinion. (Fausto, Cliff, Jake, Reyes, ???) Could it be one of those young lefties, maybe Huff, Laffey or Lewis, could it be a Ryan Dempster type or a bigger name like Jake Peavy, which may be a long shot, but "they have options!"
I agree with you on Adam Miller. Hopefully, he can develop into that spot. I would much rather have a guy who doesn’t have to be perfect to succeed.
I also agree on David Huff. I think he is better and throws harder than Sowers, Laffey, and Lewis.
MW
Thank you …
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