3 moves for the Cleveland Indians this offseason
By David Hill
The Cleveland Indians are one of the more confusing teams in the major leagues.
They claim that they are not rebuilding, but have slashed payroll. The lineup was essentially Jose Ramirez and Franmil Reyes with nothing else around them. Their typically impressive stable of arms disappointed, making the lack of production from the lineup all the more notable. As a result, the Indians finished with a 80-82 record, far behind the White Sox in the AL Central.
Three moves for the Cleveland Indians this offseason
Cleveland has already started their moves. Roberto Perez is gone, his option declined following a miserable 2021 season. Meanwhile, they picked up Ramirez’s option for the upcoming season. This comes against a backdrop where the Indians are likely to attempt to pare down their salary even further while still trying to contend in the division. Chances are, this approach will lead to another mediocre finish.
But it does not have to be that way. Let’s take a look at three moves the Cleveland Indians should make this offseason.
Make a decision on the path of the franchise
The Cleveland Indians have been attempting to straddle the line between being competitive and saving money. It is no longer working.
This plan made sense for years. The Indians were easily the class of the AL Central, occasionally challenged by the Twins, but were in a division where everyone else was rebuilding. That is no longer the case, as both the Tigers and Royals feel that their window is opening up. The White Sox have built a potential powerhouse, and the Twins could return to competitiveness with some minor tweaks.
As such, the Indians need to figure out a direction. It is time to determine whether or not they are going to try to contend in what is quickly becoming a more competitive division or if they are going to embrace the rebuilding process.
The Cleveland Indians were able to straddle the line for years. That is no longer the case.