Danny Salazar missed all of 2018 due to injury. Now the question is what role will he play for Cleveland in 2019?
As of now the Cleveland Indians have a full pitching rotation. This leaves Danny Salazar as the odd man out and with a role that is yet to be determined. Assuming the team does not trade a starting pitcher and Salazar recovers from his shoulder surgery in time for the start of the season, the perfect landing spot for him is in the bullpen.
Salazar is not going to supplant Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger or Shane Bieber in the rotation. This is just a fact. However there are openings in the bullpen. With the departure of Andrew Miller and the assumed departure of Cody Allen, the team will need another arm in the bullpen. While the team could find some free agent relievers, the fact is they will not fill out an entire bullpen with free agents. An in-house option must be explored and that could be Salazar.
Danny Salazar in the bullpen makes sense
Considering Danny Salazar’s past history with injuries, the bullpen makes sense. If Salazar were to go down with another injury it is much easier to replace a bullpen arm than reshuffle the rotation. A reliever can be called up from the minors or even signed off the street. Cleveland did just that with Oliver Perez last season. Granted he was released by the Yankees on June 1st and pitched the very next day for Cleveland.
As a bullpen arm the Indians would be in a better position to manage Danny Salazar’s workload. If necessary Salazar could start a game, similar to the opener role that has developed. This could come into play when Cleveland has a doubleheader or wants to manage the innings of their starters. Salazar can be utilized in various situations all throughout the season. Opening games, appearing in relief or even closing if necessary.
In the modern era of the “Super Reliever”, Cleveland may have their own already on their roster. Danny Salazar can be the pitcher who does not have a defined time of the game that he pitches. Instead Salazar can pitch when called upon instead of waiting for a certain point in the game to come in. This would be to the benefit of both Salazar and the Indians, who desperately need help in the bullpen.
