The Indians had a solid roster heading into Spring Training, but after a couple weeks of games, things have become even clearer. Most of this is due to more information coming out about injured players and the finalization of the starting rotation. A few more players have been added since the last update in early February as well and a few have been removed as the Indians begin to separate out the minors from the majors. Those players will be listed in green while those removed from contention will be included at the bottom of the page.
Starting Line-Up
C Yan Gomes (1)
Options: Perez
While not necessarily official, Gomes will likely start four to five games a week with Perez taking the rest of the playing time as has been the case over the last few years when both were healthy.
1B Yonder Alonso (2) – Set
2B Jason Kipnis (3)
Options: Ramirez
While spring stats are generally meaningless, Kipnis’ prodigious output so far at least shows that he is currently healthy. In addition, he has played exclusively at second, so even if Brantley starts the year on the DL, he will almost certainly stay there.
SS Francisco Lindor (4) – Set
3B Jose Ramirez (5)
Options: Giovanny Urshela, Diaz
As the certainty of Kipnis starting at second continues to grow, we can be more and more certain that Ramirez will start at third.
LF Tyler Naquin (6)
Options: Michael Brantley, Chisenhall, Tyler Naquin, Greg Allen, Kipnis
The jury is still out on Brantley, but seeing as he still can’t run and there are only a few weeks of games left in spring training, he has to be considered on the outside for the moment. Predicting Naquin here as the starting left fielder is extremely hurtful, especially after seeing him continue to flounder defensively this spring, but it’s something I could definitely see the Indians doing. He has an option left, so he could start the season in AAA, but Francona’s preference of veterans over rookies could give him this spot over the much more worthy Allen.
CF Bradley Zimmer (7)
Options: Naquin, Chisenhall, Allen
At the moment, Zimmer appears a lock for starting center field, but I’ve seen stranger things happen than the Indians keeping their best athlete off the field.
RF Lonnie Chisenhall (8)
Options: Naquin, Allen, Zimmer
Chisenhall is healthy and has been playing regularly and should still be the left side of the right field platoon.
DH Edwin Encarnacion (9) – Set
Bench
C2 Roberto Perez (10)
Options: Gomes, Perez, Eric Haase, Jack Murphy, Ryan Hanigan
Mejia and Haase will likely start the season in AAA ready for promotion at a moment’s notice and the others will likely become free agents.
INF Erik Gonzalez (11)
Options: Eric Stamets, Giovanny Urshela, Rob Refsnyder, Drew Maggi, Yandy Diaz, Mike Napoli
This is one of the few real battles left this spring along with the fourth outfield spot and the final man in the bullpen. The real contention here is between Gonzalez and Urshela as both are out of minor league options and hold significant value to the team. It is possible both make the team if they use a seven man pen, but at the moment I expect Gonzalez to take the sole spot
OF Melvin Upton, Jr. (12)
Options: Allen, Naquin, Refsnyder, Brandon Barnes, Richie Shaffer, Rajai Davis
Upton hasn’t had a good season since 2012 and has been terrible so far this spring, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he made the team as a counterpart to Chisenhall until Guyer recovers. Allen should break camp with the team in this role if not the starting left field job, but if they want to keep him in AAA then it would most likely go to Naquin, Upton or Davis.
Rotation
Ace Corey Kluber (13) – Set
SP2 Carlos Carrasco (14) – Set
SP3 Trevor Bauer (15) – Set
SP4 Josh Tomlin (16) – Set
SP5 Mike Clevinger (17) – Set
While there initially appeared to be a battle for the final two spots in the rotation, injuries to Salazar, Anderson and Merryweather have cleared the situation up to the point that Terry Francona has already announced his starting rotation. The odd man out will be Merritt, who will likely fit in with the bullpen to avoid being exposed to waivers. There, he could be used as a long man or the first man into the rotation in case of further injury.
Bullpen
Closer Cody Allen (18) – Set
LH Set Up Andrew Miller (19) – Set
RH Set Up Dan Otero (20)
Options: Goody, McAllister
At the moment Otero appears to be the heir apparent for Bryan Shaw.
LOOGY Tyler Olson (21)
Options: Merritt, Jeff Beliveau
The Indians brought in a few other options for a second lefty in the pen this year in Orlan and Zarate, but both have since been relegated to minor league camp. Olson did everything right last year and deserves the spot, but Merritt needs to be on the roster or will be exposed to waivers. At the moment, it appears both will make the team by increasing the pen to eight men.
RP5 Nick Goody (22)
Options: Lisalverto Bonilla, Evan Marshall, Neil Ramirez, Cameron Hill
The Indians have the option to send Goody to AAA if they believe they need the roster space for a player without options, but he was so dependable last year it would be hard to see them doing so.
RP6 Zach McAllister (23)
Options: All the relievers listed above.
McAllister will be on the team, however, his usage in the bullpen is yet to be determined.
Long Relief Matt Belisle (24)
Options: Ben Taylor, Stephen Fife, Alexi Ogando and any other pitcher listed above for the sake of brevity.
This is one of the most open spots on the team as it could go to a reliever currently not on the 40 man roster like Belisle or Ogando, or it could go to an outfielder, infielder or even Mejia if they feel like getting really weird. We probably won’t know for sure until the final week of spring.
Last Man In Ryan Merritt (25)
Options: Anyone listed above or below who doesn’t otherwise make the team.
With the starting rotation announced and Merritt not involved, there is an ever increasing chance that the Indians will have an eight man bullpen instead of another outfielder. That chance is increased further if they don’t begin the season with Brantley.
Removed since last update:
Injuries
Brandon Guyer: Left Wrist Surgery
Danny Salazar: Right Shoulder
Julian Merryweather: Sprained UCL
Cody Anderson: Right Elbow (60 Day DL)
First MiLB Cuts
Willi Castro: AA Akron
Yu-Cheng Chang: AA Akron
Nellie Rodriguez: MiLB Camp
R.C. Orlan: MiLB Camp
Robert Zarate: MiLB Camp
Cole Sulser: MiLB Camp
Second MiLB Cuts
Francisco Mejia: AAA Columbus
Abraham Almonte: AAA Columbus
Shawn Morimando: AAA Columbus
Adam Plutko: AAA Columbus
Bobby Bradley: MiLB Camp
Louis Head: MiLB Camp
Adam Wilk: MiLB Camp
Josh Martin: MiLB Camp
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