Cleveland Indians: Potential Free Agent Targets

The Cleveland Indians are not expected to be big players in the free agent market this offseason, but there are a few names that the team should consider.

The Major League Baseball offseason is only a few days old, and teams have through Tuesday of this week to negotiate exclusively with their own free agents before the market opens. The Cleveland Indians, who are not expected to be big spenders on free agency because so much of the 2016 team will be returning, have already made a couple of decisions, and have a several more to consider.

Cleveland has already picked up the 2017 club option of first baseman/designated hitter Carlos Santana and declined the option of outfielder Coco Crisp. The team has also expressed a desire to bring back free agents-to-be Mike Napoli and Rajai Davis, though they would likely have to be on team-friendly deals, and there’s no indication that either player will accept that.

Beyond those internal decisions, though, the Indians do have some holes that need to be filled, or at least the potential for holes. Among them, the three most pressing seem to be a left-handed reliever to pair with Andrew Miller in the bullpen, a utility-type infielder who can provide flexibility for manager Terry Francona, and a replacement at first base in the event that Napoli signs elsewhere.

So who are the options? Let’s take a look at a few realistic names Cleveland should be considering if they hit the open market.