Several former Cleveland Indians could return to the team via free agency this offseason.
The Cleveland Indians had a clear window of contention that may come to an end with the eventual trade of Francisco Lindor at some point this offseason. The team nearly won it all in 2016 and started spending to chase a World Series, but now the focus appears to be on having one of the lowest payrolls in baseball.
That means getting rid of the top contracts and if veteran help is sought, it must come cheap. The Indians aren’t a franchise that is tanking, so some cheap veteran talent should be sought out as they try to follow the Tampa Bay Rays model and win at a low cost.
One option is to look at familiar names who have suited up in Cleveland before. A few players stand out as the Indians look to avoid a total rebuild beginning in 2021.
Which former Indians could return and upgrade the roster for next year?
3. Jason Kipnis
Kipnis was a true mainstay in Cleveland throughout the past decade. The Indians drafted him in 2009 and he was with the big league club from 2011-2019.
He then got a bit too expensive and was let go last year in favor of Cesar Hernandez at second base. Kipnis was able to land a minor league deal with his hometown Chicago Cubs and made the most of it, appearing in 44 games.
2020 was obviously a weird season and the Cubs are entering a new era with Theo Epstein leaving town. Kipnis is on the open market and the 33-year-old is now in search of a new team.
The Indians cut ties with Kipnis because he had a $16.5 million option for 2020. His value is now well below that mark and he could get a one-year deal worth a few million dollars to return to his old club. A minor-league deal is also an option, depending on if those will even be offered given the effects of COVID-19 on minor league baseball.
He is capable of holding down second base if the Indians want Jose Ramirez at third while top prospect Nolan Jones continues to develop. And while Kipnis is no longer playing at an All-Star level, he does have a career .333 on-base percentage and averages well over 20 doubles per season. He is once again a suitable option as develops younger talent.
2. Asdrubal Cabrera
Asdrubal Cabrera made his MLB debut with the Indians in 2007 and quickly became an everyday player before being sent to the Washington Nationals in 2014. He ended up bouncing around a bit before returning to the Nats in 2019 and becoming a World Series champion for the first time in his career.
The 35-year-old is now a free agent and is another cheap, veteran option like Kipnis. He can play all over the infield and could be a temporary replacement for Francisco Lindor at shortstop. He also brings legitimate postseason experience to what will be a young team.
The stats don’t jump off the page with Cabrera. He slashed .242/.305/.447 in the shortened 2020 season and posted a negative WAR. But once again, he is not coming in to be a star. He would just provide some stability and would be a step up from someone like Mike Freeman as a temporary option in the infield.
Cabrera made two All-Star Games with the Indians and will come cheap if he makes a return. His experience would be a nice addition and there is no hurt in bringing him in and seeing if he can still play at an acceptable level.
1. Corey Kluber
Oh, how the mighty fall. Corey Kluber was a two-time Cy Young Award winner with the Cleveland Indians and remained the ace heading into the 2019 season. Then the injuries struck and he was ultimately traded to the Texas Rangers last offseason.
He appeared in a total of one game and just one inning with Texas before missing the rest of the season with an injury. Now he is a free agent after the Rangers decided he wasn’t worth his $18 million option.
It is tough to gauge Kluber’s value given he has barely been healthy since 2018. Spotrac lists his market value just over $6.5 million annually and that may even be a stretch given the financial limitations caused by COVID-19.
Kluber is someone the Indians can keep an eye on as the offseason progresses. If he can’t find a suitor and his value plummets, he could be someone to bring back on a one-year deal. He will be significantly cheaper than he would have been had the Indians never traded him and it would be a huge win for the front office.
His resume speaks for itself and the only question is his health. If he looks to have recovered, the Indians may want to take a chance on their former ace.