When the Cleveland Indians decided to trade Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez at last season’s trading deadline, GM Mark Shapiro said the ballclub could have kept both players, but he wouldn’t have been able to add any pieces to the 2010 Tribe.
The underlying message was that moving both all-stars would enable Shapiro to make some moves during the off-season.
Well, how’s that working out now?
Last week, the annual winter meetings took place, and trades were made and free agents were being courted, but the Indians did nothing except draft RHP Hector Ambriz in the Rule 5 draft, and lost southpaw Chuck Lofgren to Milwaukee in the same manner.
So, keeping score, the Indians now no longer have Lee and Martinez, and they haven’t done anything as of yet to strengthen the 2010 Tribe.
Have the fans been hoodwinked again?
To be fair, the Indians do not open up training camp for two months, and the season doesn’t begin for another six weeks after that. So, there still is time to make some moves to bolster the roster.
And with the non-tendering of Anthony Reyes, Jose Veras, and Adam Miller (both Reyes and Miller have been re-signed to minor league contracts), the 40 man roster now stands at 37, meaning there is room to sign a free agent or two.
There have been rumors about interest in Marcus Thames, a right-handed power-hitting outfielder who played for the Tigers last season. Thames will be 33 next season, doesn’t show a great platoon differential, and is not a great defender. He might help in a limited role since the Tribe needs some pop from the right side, but he wouldn’t be considered a major upgrade.
One of the teams who finished behind the Indians last season, the Tigers, have apparently decided that next season is a rebuilding year after dealing CF Curtis Granderson and starter Edwin Jackson for prospects. That means the Twins and White Sox would likely be the competition for a playoff spot in the AL Central.
You have to remember that the bar is set pretty low in this division. The Twins won with 86 wins, plus the extra playoff victory. It’s not like the Indians have to get to 95 wins to advance to the playoffs. Sure, they only won 65, but they were seven games below what their record should have been based on run differential. Generally, teams like that have a good bounce back the following year.
The offense is probably good enough to win with a healthy Grady Sizemore, but the starting pitching needs an upgrade. No one can possibly think success is around the corner with a rotation of Jake Westbrook (coming off injury), Justin Masterson, David Huff, Aaron Laffey, and Fausto Carmona. Wouldn’t a Cliff Lee look great at the front of that rotation?
Again, there is time to do something. Standing pat with this team in this division is a slap in the face to the ballplayers and the fans.
Unless we all misunderstood what the GM was saying after trading two of their best players.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 
I truly believe in Huff, Laffey, Carmona and Rondon, but there is still a need for more experience at the top of the rotation. Joel Pineiro or Jon Garland would be a nice addition to the starting rotation. Who do you think is good option?
Exactly my point. I would prefer Garland because he’s durable and has won 18 games in the AL. I also think you could get him for $5-6 million per year. Pineiro seems to me to be an NL pitcher.