2018 hasn't been the particularly kind start to the new year many Indians fans might have hoped for. More players, key players at that, have departed the club than new players have joined. Carlos Santana joined the Phillies, Bryan Shaw is now a Rockie, Joe Smith is an Astro, Jay Bruce is back in New York with the Mets, and Boone Logan has moved to Milwaukee.
With the news that Austin Jackson signed for the Giants yesterday, another one bites the dust. The Tribe have not had the greatest off-season when it comes to retaining their free agents. Jackson moves to the west coast on a 2-year deal worth $6 million initially and with eyes on a starting gig in center field.
I was optimistic about Jackson's chances in Cleveland and he proved me right. I felt he was fantastic value for money as a depth option in the outfield and he brought solid and consistent defense to a position that required some of that. He was offensively decent too; over 85 games Jackson batted .318 with a .869 OPS, to go along with 7 home runs and 35 RBI. Not too shabby for a minor league invite. Unfortunately two trips to the disabled list somewhat derailed his output over the whole season but he was undoubtedly effective when he was in the lineup.
Jackson's departure leaves the Indians with Bradley Zimmer, Michael Brantley, and Lonnie Chisenhall as their primary outfielders. Minor league invitee Melvin Upton will be hoping to replicate Jackson's 2017 success and make a case for himself to be on the roster as well. Prospects like Greg Allen will also be hoping to catch the eye of manager Terry Francona.
Apart from Upton, the Indians' outfield is looking very one dimensional at the moment, with Zimmer, Brantley and Chisenhall all left-handed batters. Upton is a righty but he's not even a sure thing to make it through spring training.
So before the sunny skies of Arizona shortly greet this 2018 ballclub, they could really do with an extra dimension in the outfield. Specifically, a right-handed one.
One option still available is Lorenzo Cain and, coincidentally, he bats right-handed.
Cain is arguably the top free agent left on the market. Though likely to be more expensive than what Jackson cost San Francisco, his output was superior in 2017. Cain slashed .300/.363/.440 with an .803 OPS, good enough for a 112 OPS+ over 155 games for the Royals. He hit 15 home runs, 49 RBI and stole 26 bases, combining for a 4.1 WAR overall. Cain is clearly an asset that will benefit the majority of major league teams
One possible red flag to consider is the similarities he shares with a certain Michael Bourn - a speedy player who uses those legs to cover the outfield, but hits for a high average too. Bourn's legs and overall production declined soon after his big money move to Cleveland. The concern is that Bourn's time with the Indians provides a cautionary tale ahead of any potential deal for Cain.
However Cain might not be the kind of player we presume him to be. Maybe there's more to him than just speed and good defense. In fact, the outfielder might be getting better in some aspects, especially when it concerns his offensive abilities. In 2017, he posted the best walk rate of his career at 8.4% and his strikeout rate was a career-low, just 15.5%. Perhaps he can avoid the same path as Bourn, even as he approaches 32 years of age.
Another factor to consider is Cain's qualifying offer from the Royals, which will unfortunately cost any team that signs him up to two Draft picks. And last but not least, the biggest obstacle in the Indians’ way could be Cain’s contract demands, as he isn’t likely to be cheap. A player of his quality and at his age will be looking for the most he can get (understandably) so the Tribe could miss out to one of their wealthier rivals if they can’t negotiate a deal.
With doubts still lingering over how healthy Michael Brantley can be in 2018, signing Cain to man left field could be a wise decision. I would certainly welcome him on a short-term deal, and if the Indians could pick him up for 2 years I think it could be a great acquisition. I'm a big Brantley fan and would love to see him return to the sort of form we saw in 2014-15, but I think the smartest move would be to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Signing Cain, one of the top outfielders in this market, would be significantly wise preparation.
Oh, and he did this too.
Jackson's departure leaves the Indians with Bradley Zimmer, Michael Brantley, and Lonnie Chisenhall as their primary outfielders. Minor league invitee Melvin Upton will be hoping to replicate Jackson's 2017 success and make a case for himself to be on the roster as well. Prospects like Greg Allen will also be hoping to catch the eye of manager Terry Francona.
Apart from Upton, the Indians' outfield is looking very one dimensional at the moment, with Zimmer, Brantley and Chisenhall all left-handed batters. Upton is a righty but he's not even a sure thing to make it through spring training.
So before the sunny skies of Arizona shortly greet this 2018 ballclub, they could really do with an extra dimension in the outfield. Specifically, a right-handed one.
One option still available is Lorenzo Cain and, coincidentally, he bats right-handed.
Cain is arguably the top free agent left on the market. Though likely to be more expensive than what Jackson cost San Francisco, his output was superior in 2017. Cain slashed .300/.363/.440 with an .803 OPS, good enough for a 112 OPS+ over 155 games for the Royals. He hit 15 home runs, 49 RBI and stole 26 bases, combining for a 4.1 WAR overall. Cain is clearly an asset that will benefit the majority of major league teams
One possible red flag to consider is the similarities he shares with a certain Michael Bourn - a speedy player who uses those legs to cover the outfield, but hits for a high average too. Bourn's legs and overall production declined soon after his big money move to Cleveland. The concern is that Bourn's time with the Indians provides a cautionary tale ahead of any potential deal for Cain.
However Cain might not be the kind of player we presume him to be. Maybe there's more to him than just speed and good defense. In fact, the outfielder might be getting better in some aspects, especially when it concerns his offensive abilities. In 2017, he posted the best walk rate of his career at 8.4% and his strikeout rate was a career-low, just 15.5%. Perhaps he can avoid the same path as Bourn, even as he approaches 32 years of age.
Another factor to consider is Cain's qualifying offer from the Royals, which will unfortunately cost any team that signs him up to two Draft picks. And last but not least, the biggest obstacle in the Indians’ way could be Cain’s contract demands, as he isn’t likely to be cheap. A player of his quality and at his age will be looking for the most he can get (understandably) so the Tribe could miss out to one of their wealthier rivals if they can’t negotiate a deal.
With doubts still lingering over how healthy Michael Brantley can be in 2018, signing Cain to man left field could be a wise decision. I would certainly welcome him on a short-term deal, and if the Indians could pick him up for 2 years I think it could be a great acquisition. I'm a big Brantley fan and would love to see him return to the sort of form we saw in 2014-15, but I think the smartest move would be to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Signing Cain, one of the top outfielders in this market, would be significantly wise preparation.
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