It is amazing to think that Opening Day for the Cleveland Indians is less than two weeks away.  It is crazier to think the season in opening in Minneapolis on March 28th, but that’s a different discussion altogether.

Who will be making the trip north with Terry Francona is still up for grabs, at least when it comes to the outfield and the bullpen.

Here is who we think should make the 25 man roster, and who we think will make it.

Starting Pitchers:  Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco, Mike Clevinger, and Shane Bieber.

This is fairly easy, although it would not be shocking if Bieber didn’t open the season with the big club, because Francona won’t need a fifth starter until April 7th.  That could open up a spot for an extra bullpen arm.

Bullpen:  Brad Hand, Oliver Perez, Tyler Olson, Adam Cimber, Alex Wilson, Jon Edwards, Neil Ramirez.

We would keep Nick Wittgren over Ramirez, whose proclivity to allowing home runs scares us, but as we said previously, both may make the final 25 man list because Bieber may not.

Catchers:  Roberto Perez, Kevin Plawecki.

Another easy one

Infield:  Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, Max Moroff, and DH Hanley Ramirez

It’s pretty obvious that Hanley Ramirez has made the roster.  He is getting regular at bats in an effort to make up for his late start.

For purposes here, we are assuming Lindor is ready for the opener.  If he’s not Ryan Flaherty probably makes the team as the utility man.  He may make it anyway if favor of Moroff, but we are keeping the former Pirate, because he’s primarily a shortstop.

If Lindor is ready to go, he will probably need some time off early, and we would rather not give up as much defensively, as Flaherty is primarily a 2B/3B.

Outfield:  Leonys Martin, Jake Bauers, and Greg Allen are locks in our opinion, and the other two spots are up for grabs.

We don’t think newly signed Carlos Gonzalez will be ready for the opener.

So, we would project Tyler Naquin to take one of the spots, likely holding it until Gonzalez is ready.

Naquin is only hitting .222 with 10 whiffs in 36 at bats in Arizona.  So, it’s not like he’s earned the position.

As for the last spot, that of a right-handed hitting outfielder, the candidates are Jordan Luplow, Trayce Thompson, and Oscar Mercado.

If all things were equal, Mercado would get the nod.  He’s had the best spring.

The 24-year-old outfielder, obtained from St. Louis at the deadline a year ago, is batting .410 with 3 dingers this spring, but if he can’t get regular at bats in the majors, it probably makes sense to give him those at bats in AAA.

Thompson has been better than Luplow (3 for 28, 12 K’s), but he is not on the 40 man roster, meaning someone would have to be outrighted to make room for him.

The Indians could put either Danny Salazar and/or Bradley Zimmer on the 60 day injured list to make room for Thompson and Alex Wilson, another not on the 40 man who will likely make the roster.

Flaherty is another player the Tribe would have to make room for, and possibilities there could be Eric Stamets, or a relief pitcher like Ramirez, assuming he doesn’t make the final roster.

The players on the bubble should be watched this week as to how they are used.  Likely, they will get plenty of at bats vs. MLB quality pitchers.

A week from now, it should all come into focus.  And in 11 days, they will be playing for real…hopefully.

MW