Indians Close to Signing Kerry Wood...Scratch One Off The Needs List?

Reports have the Indians very close to free-agent signing closer Kerry Wood. The Tribe needs to ink Wood, a solid closer when he's healthy, and then train Adam Miller as his understudy and eventual replacement.

If Wood goes down, there is Jensen Lewis or possibly another free agent until Miller is ready. Those moves should be enough to consider the closer position set. What a relief. Wood is not the answer to all the bullpen problems, and he's no Brad Lidge, but after what the Tribe had going at closer last year, this is undoubtedly an upgrade.

As for the rest of the bullpen, Rafael Perez can be solid and often filthy as the set-up man, but the Indians still need another solid contributor. Add this to the following list of needs: one or two solid starters, third baseman, first baseman, and other positions that could still use upgrades.

Sliding A. Cabrera to SS, a good move, would create a hole at 2B, where the Tribe could possibly look to deal Scott Lewis and others for Brian Roberts of the Orioles.

No more journeymen, average third and first baseman. LaPorta is probably the first baseman of the future, but third base only has Wes Hodges in sight, and he appears to be a decent ways away. Moving Peralta to third and Asdrubal to SS?

Sure, if Peralta can handle it.

Sources say he's an even worse 3B-man than SS. We'll see. Only one thing is for sure: if the Tribe has another lackadaisical offseason from a talent-acquiring standpoint, it will be another long year for the Cleveland Indians.

Shapiro has successfully dealt the big guns (Colon, Sabathia) for the small pieces, but can he deal the small pieces (Scott Lewis) for the big guns? He may have to, because the Tribe may have to become serious buyers if they want to contend again soon.

The talent is not there, and it has to get there somehow. If the right moves are made, contention can be as early as next season. That "if" should be the dwelling point for fans, but it needs to be the action point for the Tribe.