Kerry Wood Not Enough to Make Cleveland Contenders

Can a baseball team really be a contender for the playoffs when the manager can only write in two names in his opening day starting lineup?

That’s what Indians' general manager Mark Shapiro is hoping.

Shapiro recently signed closer Kerry Wood to take over the closer’s role in Cleveland. Shapiro has said that his team’s biggest need is a closer, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.

Only centerfielder Grady Sizemore and pitcher Cliff Lee have definite positions when the Indians open the season April 6th in Texas. The entire infield is open to interpretation and even the inevitable platoons in the outfield are undecided.

Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta will likely be in the lineup, but neither has a definite position. Designated hitter Travis Hafner probably opens the season, but has many questions to answer about his health and production.

If Shapiro really thinks that this team can contend (which he does), then he has to find a second baseman or third baseman. Now that Casey Blake is set to reup with the Dodgers, Shapiro will have to look elsewhere for infield help.

To me it is in the Indians best interest to move Peralta, but if not if they expect to contend this season. Given the dearth of third basemen on the market, Shapiro would be wise to find a second baseman and move Peralta and Asdrubal Cabrera over a position. That gives him more time to find a partner for Peralta and gives highly-touted third base prospect Wes Hodges time to develop in AAA.

Of the second basemen on the market, the best fit is probably Mark Grudzielanek, who the Indians have seen plenty of during his time in Kansas City. Other options would be Ray Durham and Orland Hudson. All have serious questions, but so does the in-house option of Josh Barfield.

First base, catcher, and DH are all interconnected and will be filled by a group of at least five people. Ryan Garko, Martinez, Hafner, and Matt LaPorta will all compete for time at first base and DH. Martinez also has to contend with Kelly Shoppach at his preferred position of catcher. I personally am done with Hafner, but again if they want to contend they have to take that chance and leave LaPorta in AAA.

The remaining outfield positions will be filled by Shin-Soo Choo, Ben Francisco, and LaPorta. The Indians are still committed to David Dellucci, but he can’t factor into this team. The same can be said for Franklin Gutierrez, but I would keep him as a fourth outfielder for his defense. Trevor Crowe is still on the 40-man roster, but he really has never done anything at the major league level.

None of this sounds like a contending team to me, and it gets worse when you begin looking at pitching.

Lee and Fausto Carmona are in the rotation. Jake Westbrook will join them once he returns from injury. But the last three spots will be filled by some combination of Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers, Anthony Reyes, Zach Jackson, and Scott Lewis. I would take Laffey and Reyes for sure, and then wait until spring to find the fifth starter. But if you’re a contender that won’t cut it.

And the bullpen should be a concern, but since the Indians seem to have one every other year, I’ll take my chances on it now that Wood is a member of the Tribe. But if Shapiro thinks this team is in contention he might want to reevaluate before he’s a seller in July again.