Roster Debate: Bullpen

Bullpens always fluctuate from year to year and guys are signed on minor league deals all the time.  So how this bullpen looks in November when the rosters are frozen is not the full story about what the bullpen will look like in April of 2022.   

One thing to consider, however.  There likely won't be much play in the roster next April as a 40-man roster spots likely will be occupied by guys who are not ready for the majors.   So what you see here might make up the relievers who will be counted on next year.

So let's look at who should keep and who we will let go:

Emmanuel Clase - Keep

James Karinchak - No choice but to keep him.

Logan Allen - Keep. They should keep him on the roster as a reliever.   I think he finds his niche there.

JC Mejia - Keep. As a sinker/slider guy and being young, he becomes a full-time reliever and claims a 40-man roster spot this winter.

Sam Hentges - Keep

Francisco Perez - KEEP - I saw enough in the majors to trust him next year.

Nick Sandlin - Keep

Trevor Stephan - Keep

Nick Wittgren -  Remove.  He has had an off-year.   Relief pitchers do that but Wittgren may and probably SHOULD be a casualty of the roster crunch this winter.   He's gone, most likely in a trade.

Bryan Shaw:  Remove, maybe re-sign to a minor league deal.  Great signing by the Indians but he should be another casualty of the roster crunch.  Bring him back on a minor league deal again but he can't take up a roster spot this winter

Blake Parker - Remove.  Re-sign to a minor leagu deal.  Ditto as with Shaw in all aspects

Justin Garza - Remove.  He was a great find this year but at 28 with a decent chance he is a one-year wonder we either have to trade or DFA him as I doubt he would be dependable as one of the top 8 next year.

Anthony Gose - Remove. Again, this is not Jim Morris time.  His minor league numbers suck and all he has is that 100 mph fastball.   He stays on the roster if this is a 1970s/1980s roster.   But not this winter.   DFA him and hope he makes it through waivers and you can re-sign him.''

Cam Hill - Remove.  He was hurt all year and his stuff is very marginal even when he is healthy. 

Scott Moss - Remove.  The one most likely to come back and bite us but he needs to be healthy.  

Kyle Nelson - Remove,  He has fallen out of favor with the Indians.  

Alex Young - Remove.  The only way he stays on the 40-man roster is as a space filler for a free agent signing.  Still, to the average fan, if we lose someone in the Rule 5 and Young is still on the roster, it will look really bad.

Summary - I am suggesting that we only keep 8 relievers on our 40-man roster.  Crazy, right?  But we need roster spots for this winter.   I am suggesting, one way or another, not bringing these 9 back.   There are arguments that you should keep all these guys but, in a roster crunch, 

Nest: On to the outfielders