Roster Debate: The Outfielders

 As we start talking about outfielders we have to look at how this team will be constructed next year.   Key questions include (1) will we sign any significant free agents and (2) If so, will we look at outfielder/DH types.   So let's dive into the outfielders and see what we have/need.

Myles Straw - KEEP - He is a grinder and plays the game hard...something we said about Zimmer when he came up.  He is the key piece to this outfield puzzle because he addresses things (strong defense in CF, leadoff hitter, capable of playing against both righthanders and lefthanders AND a righthanded bat) that we might have to address with two different players.

Franmil Reyes - KEEP - Yes, I am counting the Franimal as an outfielder because I see a scenario (sign a DH or firstbaseman (pushing Bradley to DH) this off-season) that pushes Reyes to the OF almost full-time. 

Bradley Zimmer - KEEP - Zimmer is the perfect 4th outfielder.   Good defense in CF, OK arm in RF, pleny of speed on the bases, stolen bases, ability to take a walk and a HBP and occasional power.  Yes he Ks too often for his production and his boneheaded running plays in the doubleheader were maddening.   That being said, in almost every category he is  better than his competitors for a roster spot and we are talking about a 4th outfielder, right?   He's on.

Josh Naylor - KEEP - Assuming his medicals are telling us he will be ready for spring training, you have to keep him.   I talk a lot about replacement level players.   Naylor is barely above replacement-level but if he can play LF and bring that same energy that he brought this year, he is on.   One warning: If he looks like he will not be ready until June, I would think about DFAing him as roster spots are precious.

Oscar Mercado - REMOVE - He is just replacement-level.   He has had plenty of opportunities and has regressed to a mean that is, well, substandard and not worthy of a roster spot in a winter where we have a roster crunch.

Daniel Johnson - REMOVE - DItto for what I said for Mercado.   Yes, he has less ML ABs and yes, there is a good potential that DFAing him or trading him for magic beans could easily come back to haunt us.   But I doubt that he is making the 26 next spring and, given that, I would rather have Steve Kwan and Oscar Gonzalez in the minors when we need to make a callup.  

Harole Ramirez - REMOVE - For the people who read this blog and a lot of Cleveland fans, this would be a head-scratcher.   But what I say to those people is to keep your eye on the ball.   Harold is barely replacement level and his defense just sucks.   I mean, I think Franmil is a better outfielder.   Harold just looked good this year because his replacement level performance was so much better than our below replacement level outfielders that he APPEARED to be valuable.   Taking a step back, unless he suddenly develops 20 HR power with good defense and speed (cough! Tyler Naquin.  cough!) Ramirez's roster spot is needed elsewhere.

SUMMARY 

The Indians have a lot of mediocre in the OF in the majors.   You just have to take a step back and see that guys like Gonzalez and Kwan, overall, are the future and the guys above who I say to remove from the roster have not shown they are the present, let alone the future.   Yeah, could we be burned by letting these guys go?  Sure, but that is what replacement-level players are all about.  They can easily be replaced by a minor league free agent (see Ramirez, Harold).    You have to go out on a limb sometimes to protect your prospects.   Keeping Harold Ramirez, Daniel Johnson and Oscar Mercado is taking the safe major league team way and NOT considering the future closely enough.