A LOOK INSIDE A BUSY OFFSEASON

The offseason moves have subsided, and it is time to break down the club’s recent transactions. Like most extended stretches of time, there were the ups and the downs, but the front office is quite happy with the team’s personnel heading into the season.

Here’s a look at each transaction, complete with last season’s final stat line:

ADDITIONS

Resigned OF Karim Garcia – .299-16-52 (in 197 at-bats)
It doesn’t get much better than this, as Garcia was one of the top hitters in the league last season. Unable to make the club out of spring training, Garcia latched on with the Yankees. However, Garcia was released by the Yankees midway through last season and resigned with the Tribe. Upon arrival with the big-league club, Garcia was sensational. His overall stats were sensational, and he will play a key role with the club this season.
Fantasy Spin: Expect Garcia to propel this team throughout the 2003 season. The best bet has Garcia continuing slightly below his projected pace from last season, had he played the entire year. If there is one Indian hitter to have on your team this season, it’s Garcia.

Signed SP Jason Bere – 1-10, 5.67 ERA
Bere is nothing more than a stopgap signing, yet he will likely start the season in the second spot in the rotation. Signed to eat the innings, that’s exactly what Bere will be doing this coming season. It is clear that Bere is not in the long-term plans of the front office, but he should be a decent innings-eater until the young guns are ready to assume Bere’s spot in the rotation.
Fantasy Spin: Don’t expect much out of Bere, as he’ll need to significantly upgrade on last season’s stats to even be considered in most fantasy leagues. With a lack of run support and a poor 2002 campaign, it’s a good bet to assume that Bere will lose at least twice as many as he’ll win.

Signed SP Brian Anderson – 6-11, 4.79 ERA
It was originally thought that Anderson would be too expensive for the Indians’ tastes, but the Cleveland native apparently lowered his demands to revisit his hometown. While Anderson is a better option than Bere for the second spot in the rotation, it’s highly unlikely that new manager Eric Wedge will want to place the left-handed Anderson next to ace C.C. Sabathia.
Fantasy Spin: Anderson didn’t pitch quite as poorly as many people thought last season, as his WHIP was respectable at 1.32. However, as stated with Bere, it’s unlikely that Anderson will be overwhelmed by offensive support. Most American League hitters are familiar with Anderson, a former Indian, so he might find things harder on his second trip to the league. Only consider Anderson in 16+ team leagues.

Resigned RP Terry Mulholland – 3-2, 4.60 ERA
Nothing much to get excited about here, as Mulholland’s performance was overrated after the midseason trade that landed him in Cleveland. His strikeout ratio was poor at best, and his 1.49 WHIP doesn’t show great effectiveness. He was a decent arm out of the bullpen and served as a solid spot-starter, but most fans would be shocked to see Mulholland in Cleveland past this season.
Fantasy Spin: Mulholland has virtually no value in fantasy leagues. Unless you’re in a 30-team league with a strong emphasis on holds, Mulholland isn’t a viable fantasy option.

Signed 1B/OF Shane Spencer - .247-6-34 (in 288 at-bats)
This signing was somewhat puzzling, even with the club’s desire for a versatile bat. Surely Spencer will provide another bat and fill the gap at multiple positions, but so could numerous young guys already in the organization. Spencer is an old veteran with below-average plate discipline, no speed, and little power. The team would’ve been much better off keeping 3B Travis Chapman, whom it selected in the Rule IV draft before shipping him off to Detroit. Even Earl Snyder, recently lost to the Red Sox, would’ve filled the hole just as well as Spencer while providing youth to this club.
Fantasy Spin: It doesn’t appear as though Spencer will be a reliable fantasy option for fantasy squads. It wouldn’t be a shock to see him hit .255-15-60 if given 500 at-bats, but even that is unlikely to happen. Hopefully Spencer will stay on the bench, where his fantasy value would be non-existant.

Resigned SP Dave Burba – 1-0, 4.50 ERA (in 34 innings pitched)
Burba is an old fan favorite from his previous stint with the club, and he pitched fairly well when given the opportunity last season. If not for injury concerns, Burba could very well be a better option for the rotation than Jason Bere. However, as it stands, Burba looks to be a long-reliever/spot-starter for the Indians, a role in which he should post decent numbers.
Fantasy Spin: It’s not wise to draft Burba in any league, as his age will likely limit his productivity. He is, however, a nice bullpen arm and has greater value to the Indians than any fantasy team.

Signed C A.J. Hinch - .249-7-27 (in 197 at-bats)
This is an interesting signing, as Hinch will be given every opportunity to compete for the backup job behind Josh Bard. Should Hinch win the backup spot, there is a decent job that he’ll end up as the starter at some point in the season. It’s quite possible that Bard will falter, and injuries are never out of the question in baseball. Should this happen, Hinch would become one of the more intriguing catchers in baseball, as it’s unlikely the Indians would rush Victor Martinez to the majors. Hinch is a well-traveled veteran, and has decent pop in his bat. Don’t be surprised if he posts decent numbers if given the chance.
Fantasy Spin: It’s not advisable to draft Hinch in most fantasy leagues, but the Indians’ catching situation deserves to be watched closely. Their young catchers have large upsides, and could open a few eyes as early as this season.

Signed OF Wendell Magee - .271-6-35 (in 347 at-bats)
The signing of Magee was surprising, but is a low-risk proposition for the front office. While Magee didn’t put up very good power numbers last season, his average was respectable. His plate discipline is in need of severe help, but a trip to the minors could fix that.
Fantasy Spin: It would be a big shock if Magee was a major contributor for the Indians, but his signing wasn’t much of a gamble. Don’t draft Magee, as there’s a good chance he may not even be in the organization past opening day.

Aquired from Rangers: 1B Travis Hafner - .342-21-77 (in Class AAA Oklahoma)
SP Aaron Myette – 7-4, 3.14 ERA (in class AAA Oklahoma)
This trade was one of the better deals GM Mark Shapiro has made, as the potential rewards are enormous. Hafner is one of the better prospects in all of baseball, and has huge power potential. He is the top candidate to open the season at first base, and should be a more-than-adequate replacement for the departed Jim Thome. Myette also has great potential, even with his big-league struggles last season. He turned things around upon arrival in the minors, and looks to have a bright future ahead of him once again. It’s doubtful that Myette will crack the Indians starting rotation out of spring training, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him as one of the Indians’ main set-up pitchers.
Fantasy Spin: The fantasy outlook for Myette in single-season leagues isn’t very high, but he could be a decent starter at some point in the season. He has some value in keeper leagues, but with the quantity of young starters in the organization, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Myette needs to find a new zip code to become a legitimate fantasy option. Don’t be shocked to see him start the season in the bullpen. Hafner, however, is one of the better sleepers for the 2003 season. The job is hardly his to keep, but he has the best chance at coming away with the starting spot at first. Cautious optimism has him hitting .285-25-85, but that could easily change based on the turn of events in spring training.

DEPARTURES

Lost SP Jaret Wright to free agency – 2-3, 15.71 ERA
Wright was once a budding young ace, with tons of potential. Now, he’s simply hoping to latch on with the Padres. There was no chance that the Indians would pick up Wright’s hefty option for 2003, but it was somewhat disappointing when they let him walk. Wright is far from his old form, but the potential will always be there. Hopefully a change of scenery will help turn things around for Wright.
Fantasy Spin: Don’t look for too much out of Wright for the 2003 campaign. The Padres are stacked with young starters, and Wright is a longshot for legitimate productivity. A long-term return to form is not out of the question; however, the odds are against it.

Lost 1B Jim Thome to free agency - .304-52-118
Thome stated that he didn’t want to leave Cleveland, and refused to waive his no-trade clause for the Indians, even with the generous offer to return after the season’s end. The front office proceeded to load on the incentives for Thome to return, yet money easily swayed this “loyal” hitter. Words cannot describe the disgust of Cleveland fans, who provided an environment Thome will find nowhere else.
Fantasy Spin: Thome’s back condition is severe, and looks to be worsening. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if his career is cut shorter than planned. This corner will never draft Thome in a fantasy draft again, and would recommend that others do the same.

Lost 1B Lee Stevens to free agency - .222-5-26 (in 153 at-bats)
Stevens wasn’t very effective in a limited role last season, and was acquired only to ease the salary cap hit of the Expos. He doubled as a potential replacement for Thome over the second half of the season, as the team was likely to trade the slugger had he agreed to waive his no-trade clause. Although that never transpired, Stevens was an adequate replacement for the tired Indians’ bats.
Fantasy Spin: Stevens signed with the Devil Rays, and doesn’t appear to have much potential there. It’s not a smart move to draft Stevens, unless all other options are expired.

Lost RP Charles Nagy to free agency – 1-4, 8.88 ERA
It seemed the day would never come when Nagy, formerly the club’s best pitcher, was no longer an Indian. Nagy, however, does not fit into the club’s future plans, and the Padres were willing to sign him as a mentor to their young pitchers, if nothing else. He showed tremendous courage pitching through extreme pain last season, as the cartilage in his throwing elbow was gone, and his bones scraped together on every pitch. It’s amazing Nagy pitched at all, yet he had a few dazzling moments even in his immense pain.
Fantasy Spin: Unfortunately, Nagy’s playing days appear to be winding down. Nagy should be remembered for the pitcher he was, but isn’t worth a spot in fantasy leagues.

Lost C Eddie Perez to free agency- .214-0-4 (in 117 at-bats)
Perez earned his reputation as a defensive-oriented catcher, and was a nice mentor for the organization’s young pitchers. Perez will now attempt to fill a similar role with the Brewers. A nice fill-in at times for the Tribe, Perez fits the role of backup catcher well.
Fantasy Spin: Perez isn’t worth drafting, and much like Burba, he has move value to his real team than any fantasy team.

Lost 1B/3B Earl Snyder after designation for assignment – .200-1-4 (in 55 at-bats)
Snyder had a chance to make the team out of spring training as the third base slot is up for grabs, but he was lost to the Red Sox in mid-January. Snyder was never considered a top prospect, but would have been a nice stopgap option until the team’s other young third baseman are ready for the big leagues. Until then, don’t be surprised to see Ricky Gutierrez at third for much of the 2003 season.
Fantasy Spin: This move doesn’t appear to have much fantasy league value, but could end up being significant by season’s end. Gutierrez played well at some points last season, and qualifies as a second baseman in nearly all fantasy leagues. Gutierrez is sure to be undrafted in most leagues, and could make a nice midseason pickup should he prove fully recovered from offseason neck surgery.

Traded RP Roy Smith to Oakland A’s (for cash) – 0-0, 3.00 ERA (in 4 appearances)
Smith was never a significant fantasy option, but had shown potential in previous big-league stints. It’s unlikely that Smith will ever be drafted in most fantasy leagues, but he has the potential to develop into a holds guy in the future should he get into the right situation.
Fantasy Spin: Don’t worry about keeping an eye on Smith. It would be surprising to see him develop into a viable fantasy option, and the potential for a few holds is the depth of his fantasy value.

Traded to the Rangers: C Einar Diaz - .206-2-16
SP Ryan Drese – 10-9, 6.55 ERA
The Indians were able to deal to struggling players for two youngsters with excellent upside. Clearly one of the better deals for this team in recent memory, there’s no questioning that the total potential is much higher on the Indians’ side of the deal. However, it wouldn’t surprise many to see Diaz and Drese turn things around in Texas. Diaz was hurt much of last season, and never looked as healthy as the Diaz of past years. Drese also struggled, but he is young and the front office was enamored with Drese. Unfortunately, his poor attitude signaled the end of his Cleveland days.
Fantasy Spin: Diaz is still one of the better catchers in a thin crop of American League backstops. Improved numbers upon last season are nearly guaranteed, but the extent of his improvement is debatable. The best bet has him improving significantly, but don’t count on a return to his pre-2002 form as a sure-thing. As for Drese, anything is possible. In the best-case scenario, he is given the opportunity to pitch for Class AAA Oklahoma, improves his attitude, and becomes a successful big-league pitcher. He has a solid chance of making the major league club out of spring training, but don’t expect big things out of Drese until he proves himself.

The offseason has been a busy time for the Indians front office, but productive in terms of adding young talent. The club continues to build for a 2004 playoff push, which is hardly out of the question.