• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cleveland Daily

Cleveland Sports News, Rumors & Highlights

  • Home
  • Guardians News
  • Cavs News
  • Browns News
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • About

Top Remaining Question For The Indians This Season

By Steven Kubitza May 21, 2021 @kubitzawrites

Cleveland Indians left fielder Jake Bauers (10) celebrates his 2-run home run with left fielder Josh Naylor (22) in the eighth inning of an MLB game between the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals on May 04, 2021 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO.
(Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)

 

The Cleveland Indians enter play Friday with a winning record.

That is good news no matter the time of year.

Specifically, the team is 23-18 with a weekend series against the last-place Minnesota Twins.

The terrible Minnesota pitching should mean the Indians offense can coast to some easy victories.

However, anyone watching the team this season knows the offense can go cold at any moment.

Being no-hit twice before June proves that point loud and clear.

MLB.com beat reporters got together and came up with top questions for each American League Central team.

The one for the Indians had to do with how the organization can improve the offense.

That is a million-dollar question right there.

 

The Patient Option

The first, and easiest option, is just to be patient.

Players like Cesar Hernandez, Eddie Rosario, Jake Bauers, and Amed Rosario got off to slow starts and should slowly start approaching their normal career averages.

That is especially true for Eddie Rosario, as his .580 OPS remains one of the biggest shocks of the year so far.

But baseball fans know averages usually level out throughout a 162-game season.

Josh Naylor has started to improve as of late to join Jose Ramirez and Franmil Reyes as a top producer in a lineup.

I'm still in awe of the potential of the #Indians Clevinger trade return with the Padres.

Josh Naylor
Cal Quantrill
Austin Hedges
Owen Miller
Gabriel Arias
Joey Cantillo

— Indians Prospective (@indiansPro) May 21, 2021

If the team was impatient early in the year, he never would have had the time to make his turnaround.

Now comes waiting for others to join him.

 

The Prospect Option

Another obvious move is to make some call-ups.

Owen Miller would top that list as the Columbus slugger is batting .455 this season.

It’s Owen Miller’s world, we’re just living in it. pic.twitter.com/xJ3fdbSgST

— Columbus Clippers (@CLBClippers) May 20, 2021

His promotion could come at any moment and seems more inevitable than anything else at this point.

Bobby Bradley could even get a promotion as well, but that would mean the team moves on from Bauers once and for all.

The front office may not want to do that just yet.

Andres Gimenez being sent to the minors was an initial step toward getting better talent in the lineup on an everyday basis.

And if Amed Rosario can’t do well at the shortstop spot in the lineup, the Indians have plenty of top prospect talent at the position.

 

The Outside Option

The Indians could always try to swing a trade before the deadline for literally any player with a positive WAR value on offense.

This may end up being the most unlikely option given the way the team is navigating the salary table.

Wins are coming with the current young, cheap core in town and ownership may prefer that stay the case.

If the Indians make a trade, it will be for a player still under team control.

And such a move would require something in return.

Players like Miller and Bradley coming up represent more likely options.

Staying patient could also end up being the best strategy given we are still so early in the 2021 season.

    Get ALL the latest Cleveland sports news straight to your inbox! Subscribe to the Cleveland daily newsletter here!    

Filed Under: Cleveland Guardians Rumors And News (Updated Daily), Cleveland Indians News And Rumors (Updated Daily) Tagged With: cleveland indians

About Steven Kubitza

Steven has been an Indians fan since the day he was born. Lucky enough to not remember the World Series losses in the 90s, he will never forget the magic and the heartbreak of Game 7 in 2016. He wore the No. 13 playing baseball growing up because of Omar and still rocks a Cody Allen jersey for good luck.

Reader Interactions

Follow Cleveland Daily!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More Cleveland Indians News

Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians on August 7, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

Shane Bieber, Jose Ramirez, Brad Hand Named To All-MLB team

2 years ago

A general view of the Progressive Field scoreboard during the Cleveland Indians Summer Camp in preparation for a shortened MLB season during the coronavirus

Cleveland Indians Top 3 Prospects Of 2021

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) delivers a pitch to the plate during the ninth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Indians on August 4, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

Top 3 Cornerstone Cleveland Indians Players Of The Future

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians pitcher Jefry Rodriguez (68) delivers a pitch to the plate during the fourth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Indians on May 22, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

Cleveland Indians Parts Ways With Pitcher Jefry Rodriguez

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians center fielder Oscar Mercado (35) motions towards the Indians dugout as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians on September 17, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

2 Indians Players Who Could Have Breakout Seasons In 2021

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) on the field during the ninth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels played on September 9, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA.

2 Prospects The Indians Must Get From Mets In Lindor Trade

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians left fielder Jordan Luplow (8) is congratulated by Cleveland Indians catcher Roberto Perez (55) after scoring a run during the third inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians on July 16, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

3 Indians Players With Something To Prove In 2021

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona (77) looks to the dugout as he makes a pitching change after Cleveland Indians pitcher Hunter Wood (54) hit by a ball off the bat of Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland (18) during the sixth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians on August 12, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

Is It Time For The Indians To Begin Rebuilding For The Future?

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado (35) is congratulated in the dugout after scoring a run during the seventh inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians on September 15, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

3 Bold Predictions For The Cleveland Indians In 2021

2 years ago

indians logo

3 Indians Players To Watch During Spring Training

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) in the dugout after scoring on a Yasiel Puig (66) single in the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels played on September 9, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA.

Who Will Replace Francisco Lindor At Shortstop For The Indians?

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians owner Paul Dolan addresses the crowd prior to the Opening Day Major League Baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians on April 11, 2017, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland defeated Chicago 2-1 in ten innings.

Should Paul Dolan Sell The Cleveland Indians?

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) singles to drive in a run during the first inning of the Major League Baseball interleague game between the Philidelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians on September 21, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

Carlos Santana, Kansas City Royals Reach 2-Year Deal

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) on the field during the seventh inning of the Major League Baseball interleague game between the Philidelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians on September 20, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

Report: Indians To 'Aggressively' Listen To Offers For Francisco Lindor

2 years ago

A general view of Progressive Field during the Cleveland Indians Summer Camp in preparation for a shortened MLB season during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on July 19, 2020, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

Cleveland Indians Draft Trevor Stephan In Rule 5 Draft

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) delivers a pitch to the plate during the first inning of the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians on June 9, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

Should The Indians Attempt To Extend Shane Bieber?

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians dugout

Cleveland Indians Projected 2021 Lineup (Updated)

2 years ago

Minnesota Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario (20) hits a homerun in the second inning of the MLB baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox on September 16, 2020 at Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, IL.

Indians Agree To 1-Year Deal With Eddie Rosario

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians second baseman Cesar Hernandez (7) grounds out during the seventh inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates on August 19, 2020, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh PA.

3 Things To Know About Indians 2B Cesar Hernandez

2 years ago

Outside of Progressive Field

Where Will The Indians Finish In The 2021 AL Central Standings?

2 years ago

Minnesota Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario (20) hits a homerun in the second inning of the MLB baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox on September 16, 2020 at Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, IL.

3 Things To Know About Indians Outfielder Eddie Rosario

2 years ago

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Bryan Shaw (27) pitches during the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox on September 4, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois.

Bryan Shaw Returning To Indians (A look At His Past)

2 years ago

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (27) throws a pitch during the National League Wild Card Series game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves on September 30th, 2020 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA.

Trevor Bauer Is Making More Than the Indians 2020 Payroll

2 years ago

Members of the Cleveland Indians staff wear masks during the Cleveland Indians Summer Camp in preparation for a shortened MLB season during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on July 19, 2020, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

Will The 2021 Indians Finish Better Than The 2020 Indians?

2 years ago

Primary Sidebar

Search Cleveland Daily

Follow Cleveland Daily!

Footer

Privacy Policy

Terms And Conditions

Contact Us

Copyright © 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - ClevelandDaily.com is not affiliated with the Cleveland Indians or Major League Baseball.