For everyone else, new additions and promotions are marked in green while players dropped from a starting spot or removed entirely will be listed in red. The original group can still be seen back here.
Starting Lineup
C(1) Yan Gomes
1B(2) Carlos Santana
2B(3) Jason Kipnis
SS(4) Jose Ramirez
3B(5) Lonnie Chisenhall
LF(6) Michael Brantley
CF(7) Michael Bourn
RF(8) Brandon Moss
DH(9) David Murphy
Removed: Nick Swisher
With Swisher officially out for the opener, Murphy will be the starting DH, although likely in a rotation position.
Bench
C2(10) Roberto Perez
Removed: Brett Hayes
MIF(11) Mike Aviles
OF(12) Ryan Raburn
Starting Rotation
Ace(13) Corey Kluber
SP2(14) Carlos Carrasco
SP3(15) Trevor Bauer
SP4(16) T.J. House
SP5(17) Zach McAllister
Removed: Danny Salazar, Josh Tomlin
After a poor start with just a week left in training, Salazer was sent back to AAA, opening up the fifth spot in the rotation again. With camp coming to a close, McAllister has all of a sudden become the best man for the job for a few reasons. First, he has been one of the Indians best pitchers this Spring statistically, carrying over his positive September of 2014, but he also has experience in the bullpen. Due to an open schedule early on, the Indians will only need a fifth starter a few times in April and by making it McAllister, he should be able to help from the bullpen from time to time between starts. This may also give Terry Francona enough relief flexibility to carry a seven man bullpen with an extra position player (see IF/OF2/RP8 above).
The rotation listed above was made official on March 29th.
Bullpen
CP(18) Cody Allen
SU(19) Bryan Shaw
LHP(20) Marc Rzepczynski
RHP(21) Scott Atchison
Mid RP(22) Kyle Crockett
Mid RP(23) Nick Hagadone
Francona’s dream has come true as he will begin the season with a very versatile bullpen featuring four right handers, three left handers and a starting pitcher who can flex his way into just about any situation. Hagadone is the final left hander in that mix and will likely allow Francona to use his pitchers for shorter lengths of time, earlier in the game. Hagadone and Crockett will be used early in games in less pivotal situations to start the year, with Rzepczynski taking the more important roles, but this may change as the season goes on, especially if Hagadone pitches like he did last season.
RP 7 (24) Anthony Swarzak
Removed: Jeff Manship
Likely the biggest surprise to make the 25 man roster this year was Swarzak, who won the last bullpen spot, beating out C.C. Lee, Bruce Chen, Austin Adams, Scott Downs, Bryan Price, Dustin Molleken and Michael Roth, all of whom out pitched his 9.35 ERA in 8.2 innings with 11 strike outs. If this year is anything like the last, he will be taking over the Price/Lee role meaning he will almost never be used in 2015.
RP 8 (25) Austin Adams
Removed: Tyler Holt, Jerry Sands, Jesus Aguilar, Michael Martinez
Down to just three players for the final spot during the last week of training, Adams was chosen over Aguilar and Martinez for this final roster spot. Given that McAllister will be used in a relief role for much of the month when he is not needed as a starter, this addition seems to be superfluous, giving the Indians a nine man bullpen for much of April.
All Removed: Jeff Manship (AAA), Josh Tomlin (AAA), Nick Swisher (DL), Danny Salazar (AAA), Brett Hayes, Jerry Sands (AAA), Tyler Holt (AAA), Jesus Aguilar, Michael Martinez
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