Call to the pen
Fansided

Cleveland Indians: Second Base Options to Consider with Jason Kipnis Injured

By Jason Evans

Nov 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis hits a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs in the 5th inning in game six of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis hits a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs in the 5th inning in game six of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Sep 9, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Mets third baseman Kelly Johnson (55) hits a RBI double as Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers (25) and home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi are shown on the play in the eighth inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Mets third baseman Kelly Johnson (55) hits a RBI double as Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers (25) and home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi are shown on the play in the eighth inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Sign Kelly Johnson

The Indians could win the award for who trades Kelly Johnson in July to the Mets after the Braves have done it over the past couple of seasons. Johnson is a veteran guy who can play literally everywhere on the diamond except for catcher and would give the Indians another left-handed option.

Last year for the Mets and Braves, he hit .247 with a .698 OPS, 10 homers and 34 RBI. He can come off the bench and deliver a big pinch-hit, something that the Indians have had in recent years like during the short-lived Jason Giambi era.

Once Kipnis comes back, Johnson can go right into that bench role for the Indians and give some extra depth all over the diamond.

This may not be the most desirable option due to payroll constraints. Johnson won’t take anything less than a major league deal, but the Indians have spent a ton of money of late. They signed Edwin Encarnacion and Boone Logan this off-season plus will have Andrew Miller‘s contract for the whole season this year. Do they want to push it even more for a utility player or maybe save some money and use it towards the deadline to pick up another player?

Home/Cleveland Guardians