Analyzing the Indians outfield

A lot has been said (or not said, depending on your side of the debate) about the Indians off-season acquisitions and addressing their outfield needs. True, it hasn’t been the sexiest or even most pleasant winter months for the Tribe. Veterans and fan favorites Michael Brantley, Lonnie Chisenhall and Rajai Davis have all left via Free Agency and signed elsewhere. Brandon Guyer signed a minor league deal with the White Sox and Melky Cabrera, while still available, has not really popped up on the Indians radar. That’s 5 solid members of the Indians past not patrolling the OF grass of Progressive Field this season. So where does that leave the Indians outfield heading into spring training next week?

Could it actually be said that it leaves the Indians OF crowded, revitalized, ready for competition to see who’s hungry and who earns the starting spots and platoon roles? Let’s break that down in simple terms of who we have currently and what they’ve offered in the past.

Currently the Indians have Leonys Martin, Tyler Naquin, Bradley Zimmer, Greg Allen, Jordan Luplow, Jake Bauers, and Oscar Mercado listed on their 40 man roster as OF. Brandon Barnes is assigned to their minor league camp and got a look at the major league level last September. In a decent signing on Friday, February 8th, 9 year veteran Matt Joyce was inked to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training.

Leonys Martin

Leonys Martin offers 8 years of MLB service, a career .248 AVG, 49 HR, a little speed with 122 stolen bases. Perhaps most importantly, stability in CF. Suffering a terrifying illness shortly after joining the Indians via trade with the Tigers, Martin is healthy, refreshed, and eager to hit the reset button with Cleveland and play again.

Tyler Naquin

Tyler Naquin was the darling of the team and fans in his rookie season in 2016. He exploded on the scene and seemed destined to roam CF for many years to come. Unfortunately injuries in both 2017 and 2018 limited his playing time. According to all sources, Tyler is 100% healthy and ready to play once spring training arrives. When in action, Naquin owns a .280 AVG and features a little pop in his bat with 17 HR and 27 doubles. On defense, he has a canon of an arm with excellent instincts. With Martin most likely to get the bulk of the starts in CF, look for Tyler to get plenty of action in RF.

Bradley Zimmer

Bradley Zimmer is a wiz on defense. He features excellent speed and range. Making more than his fair share of highlight reel, run saving, diving catches. He also has a strong and accurate arm from the CF spot. Zimmer has had some trouble at the plate. Especially in the strikeout department, but still shows plenty of promise. He knows this an area in need of improvement and has been working closely with Indians hitting coaches on balancing his long swing. Currently on the DL heading into spring training, the team has not announced an expected return date. All reports indicate a quicker than expected return, barring any injury setbacks. A natural CF, when ready to return to action, it will be interesting to see where he fits into the OF puzzle.

Greg Allen

Greg Allen’s Major League service began earlier than expected in 2017, arriving fresh from AA Akron. He yo-yo’d between AAA Columbus and Cleveland last season. Allen ended up making the trip back and forth on I-71 five times. Splitting time between CF and RF, Allen is athletic, quick, and has fast reactions to the ball off the bat. A switch hitter who, as he saw more major league pitches, gained more confidence at the plate. This led to Allen becoming a tough out for opposing hurlers. 2018 saw him bat .257 with 13 doubles, 19 BB, and 12 stolen bases. Allen has the look and feel of what some like to call Rajai 2.0. Allen can play all three OF spots, has speed, can start or come off the bench ready to play and help the cause.

Jordan Luplow

Jordan Luplow was acquired via Trade with the Pirates this off-season. Luplow came to Cleveland in exchange for Utility Man Erik Gonzalez. He was the Pirates 3rd round draft pick in 2014 and has impressive minor league stats and honors. Through four MiLB seasons he shows a .277 AVG, with 59 HR, 256 RBI, 118 doubles along with 230 BB. This all adds up to, Jordan Luplow knows how to get on base, with a .368 OBP (.091 above average) to prove it.

He appeared in 37 games for the Pirates last season and slashed .185/.272/.359. While a small sample in brief MLB time, look between the numbers and you’ll see that when he did hit. He hit the ball hard with 42% of his 33 hits going for extra bases (4 doubles, 4 triples, 6 HR). Luplow is best suited for a corner OF spot and will be given every opportunity to compete for one this spring.

Jake Bauers

Jake Bauers came to Cleveland in a three team trade that involved Edwin Encarnacion departing to Seattle and Carlos Santana returning to Cleveland. A natural first baseman but to get his bat in the lineup, he played 20 games in the OF for Tampa Bay last season. Bauers admits he has a lot to learn about playing the OF and heads into spring training with a good attitude and approach. Bauers knows that if he wants to keep his bat in the Cleveland lineup he’ll learn and play wherever the Indians ask him to. That could end up being first, OF, or DH.

Oscar Mercado

Oscar Mercado is a young exciting player that also came to the Indians via trade with the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline last year. An athletic SS early in his MiLB career, Mercado was switched to the OF by the Cardinals in 2017. This was in hopes of getting him to the big leagues quicker. 2018 was a tale of two seasons for Mercado. The first half he spent under the Cardinals wing at AAA Memphis in the hitter friendly Pacific Coast League. There he batted .285 with 8 HR, 21 doubles, 42 RBI, and 31 stolen bases in 100 games.

The trade brought him to AAA Columbus in the International League where the same stats found him at .252, 0 HR, 5 doubles, 5 RBI, and 6 stolen bases in 32 games. With no MLB experience Mercado will get a look during spring training, but most likely is considered a long shot to make the club. Perhaps he’ll be called up should the need arise during the season.

Matt Joyce

Matt Joyce was signed to a minor league deal on Friday February 8th. The contract includes an invite to the Indians camp and spring training. Joyce brings the most experience of all players mentioned thus far (11 years). A solid OF who can easily play LF or RF equally well. Joyce sits on a career .240 AVG with 134 HR and 459 RBI. Impressively, Joyce owns a .339 OBP (.099 above average), which again means, Joyce knows how to get on base. If Joyce earns a major league spot out of spring training the Indians would have to make a roster move to add him to the 40 man. His experience and veteran presence might be what the Indians are looking for to solidify an OF spot.

Brandon Barnes

Brandon Barnes has past MLB experience with the Astros, Rockies, and Indians. Barnes appeared in 19 games for the Tribe last season. He owns a career .242 AVG with little power and average speed on the bases. What Barnes does offer is excellent defense. There he features a career .983 FP% and can play all three OF spots, although his arm and range place him best in the corners. Barnes is already assigned to Columbus but will see some action and at bats with the big league club during spring training. He is also not on the 40 man roster. Should the need arise for the Indians to call on an experienced major league player, he is one short call and ride away.

Who knows for sure who else might spend some time in the outfield this spring or season for the Indians. Jason Kipnis has spent time in CF and performed admirably. For now Kipnis is penciled in as the everyday second baseman. Carlos Santana has said he doesn’t like being on the bench or the DH, he wants to be on the field. First base is where he excels and belongs but Jake Bauers is expected to get some time there as well. Could Carlos see some time in LF this season?

Indians can still make additions in the outfield

Manager Terry Francona is known for telling his team every spring that “the team we start with is not necessarily the team we finish with”. Currently the teams features a solid infield that can play excellent defense and one that can hit and score runs when at bat. A starting rotation that is one of the tops in MLB. The bullpen is an article for another day, but is one that is stable, experienced, and will figure itself out this spring.

There’s plenty to like in the Indians OF. Youth, speed, homegrown talent, and now a mix of a few veteran players as well. Time and games played will tell how well this group of players perform. The Indians project to win the AL Central this season. Mid-season upgrades to the OF need to happen. Trades can always be made to upgrade talent in order to compete for the playoffs and beyond.

A few weeks ago most fans thought the Indians haven’t done enough to address the OF. Now the OF appears crowded. Decisions will have to be made, players will have to compete for their spot in spring training and positions sorted out for the opening day roster.