Cleveland Indians: Is it time for a rebuild?
Corey Kluber’s exit from Cleveland, when coupled with the 2019 dealing of Trevor Bauer might signal the end of the road for this iteration of the Cleveland Indians roster.
The face of the franchise and superbly talented Fransisco Lindor may not be on his way out yet, but, unfortunately for the Cleveland Indians faithful, that scenario is in their immediate future.
The Indians, while displaying a knacking for finding talent along the margins, have also demonstrated an overwhelming reluctance to commit to any player or spend the requisite money that allows a team with championship aspirations to sustain itself.
Cleveland is not bereft of talent and with the promise of Shane Beiber and Mike Clevenger, the rotation is far from ruin without the likes of Trevor Bauer and Corey Kluber. Aaron Civale, Adam Plutko, and Zach Plesac provided admirable depth in a year of such transition, especially with the lingering uncertainty of Carlos Carrasco.
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The AL comeback player of the year winner had to step away from the game for a significant portion of 2019 due to his leukemia diagnosis, yet returned in September providing a vastly encouraging sign.
The Indians must now decide, either pursue a championship and spend the money required to do so or simply begin to sell, piece by piece. They do not seem like a team that will invest in Lindor for the long-term, therefore, the wisest move may be to sell him now, at his highest value.
A team in stasis, which is a status the Indians are precariously careening towards, great players will come and go, yet nothing truly changes until the mindset of ownership is corrected. Commitment is vital for a club that is cash-strapped, whether it be genuine or self-inflicted. They must self-evaluate and if it is not within their means to compete, a retooling might protect the long-term health of the franchise.
A complete and utter bottoming out of a team, akin to the Cubs and Astros, is not advisable, as it sways the competitive balance of the sport. However, Cleveland can sell judiciously by getting high returns for players on expiring contracts. A fire sale that purges the entire roster of talent only serves to create a dire appearance for the club, in terms of public relations.
If they cannot or will commit to Lindor and other players in his situation, they must act boldly and sell, taring down the disingenuous facade that desperate fans will cling to in ultimate vein.
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In essence, I am advocating that the Cleveland Indians spare their long-suffering fanbase. If they are not truly a playoff contender, then they must recoup as many assets as possible to prevent mediocrity from settling in because, as many fanbases have come to implicitly understand, sometimes the middle class is inescapable.