Better without Lindor

By Jeremy Lawless

Okay, okay … you caught me. No one in the Indians system will replace Francisco Lindor this season. The title is misleading … but is it wrong? 

The Cleveland Indians, since being swept by the Damn Yankees, have dumped over 50% of their payroll. First, they declined the club options for Brad Hand ($10 Million) and Carlos Santana ($17.5 Million). Then in a move we all saw coming they traded away Star Shortstop, Francisco Lindor, who was in his final year of arbitration ($18-$22 Million). Then they went on to do what my co-host, Kevin Sledz, saw coming back in October and threw Carlos Carrasco ($12 million in 2021 and $12 million in 2022) into the Lindor trade as well.

That’s a lot of salary dumping.

Cleveland Indians fans were not happy. Including us at CLE TribeCast. Hell, we even started a petition for the Dolans to sell the team.

But seemingly out of nowhere, the Magic Men duo of Mike Chernoff and Chris Antonetti, gave Cleveland Indians fans a couple of moves that really made us believe again…. Guardedly, of course.

Somehow. Some way. The Magic Men convinced 2020 Gold Glove winning 2B Cesar Hernandez to return to Cleveland on a one-year deal with a club-option for 2022. The crazy part about this is that BOTH years in this deal are less per year than the 1 year deal he signed before 2020 and before winning the Gold Glove. He was also arguably, the most consistent hitter in the lineup in 2020. He led the league in doubles and what I am comfortable assuming pitchers per at-bat.

Then, Kevin Sledz nails it again. The Indians signed Tribe KILLER, Eddie Rosario to a 1 year $8 Million dollar deal. In my eyes $3 million alone is worth not having to face him 19 times a year. He provides stability to the outfield along with Josh Naylor and bolsters an unproven lineup against right and left-handed pitching (.277 career avg against BOTH. Look it up. Its crazy.) 

I can literally feel you rolling your eyes and exasperatingly saying to yourself, “how does any of this make us better than 2020?”

Well, it is simple really.

Carlos Santana is a MUST start on a mediocre at best offensive team. His cleanup spot is taken up nearly every game and quite frankly, he did not produce. He was by far the worst cleanup hitter in the league last year. No, I did not fact check this. I felt it. Nearly every game.

The Indians also had NO IDEA of where Lindor fit in the lineup. Lindor is a STAR. But his inconsistencies and opposite of clutch hitting in 2020 prevented the Indians from winning some baseball games.

So, how does this make us better?

I should mention that the Indians pitching staffs is one of the best in baseball. Even after all the blockbuster trades and NUT JOB free agent signings. 

This article is about the position players and they bring one thing.

Versatility.

The Indians have a TON of young, albeit unproven, talent on their roster who are ready for their shot at the Big-League level and they will have the ability and opportunity to contribute in 2021. All of the guys, that I will mention below, have the ability to produce at a higher level than Carlos Santana did in 2020.

Josh Naylor

Jake Bauers

Daniel Johnson

Eddie Rosario

Nolan Jones

BOBBY BRADLEY.

That last one is Key.

Bobby Bradley has the potential to be the next big power hitter for Cleveland in 2021 and the future. If he lives up to what he has proven he can do in the Minors, the Indians Lineup will be exponentially better than 2020. It is a big IF. But it is possible.

Replacing Lindor is a lot more complicated to do. The Indians will need to see increased production from Franmil Reyes, Jose Ramirez, Josh Naylor and Roberto Perez. Hopefully, whether it be Amed Rosario or Andres Giminez, we don’t see a HUGE downslide of production from the SS position.

No one knows at this point what the Opening Day Roster looks like outside of Bieber on the mound. But there is a lot of young and unproven talent that deserves to not be written off. 

Regardless of how you or I feel about the ways in which this team was assembled.

Go Tribe!

Speaking of Lindor, check out our latest episode of Cle TribeCast. We interviewed, Josh Wolf, a big piece of the trade that sent Frankie to the Mets!⬆️