CLEVELAND, Ohio – Free Agent Second Baseman Cesar Hernandez is expected to take his physical with the Indians sometime this week. He arrived in Miami from Venezuela on Tuesday, but it is still unclear whether he will train in Cleveland or Goodyear, Arizona, where the Indians are due to open spring training on February 17th.
If Hernandez passes the physical exam, his one-year $ 5 million deal with a $ 6 million club option for 2021 will be official.
Not only have the Indians received good value for their $ 5 million – they signed Hernandez to a $ 6.25 million one-year contract prior to last season – but it also gives them an opportunity to improve the list through a deal in case they want to chase you.
You’re overloaded in the middle of the diamond. The Indians acquired medium infields Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez from the Mets for shortstop Francisco Lindor and right-hander Carlos Carrasco on January 7th. Rosario and Gimenez can play shortstop and second base, which makes one of them dispensable because Hernandez won a gold glove on second base last year.
It is not currently the intention of the Indians, Rosario or Gimenez to act. Both could play shortstop while the other becomes the utility infielder for this season. Or Gimenez, 22, could join the AAA class earlier this season. Rosario is the better batsman while Gimenez is the better defender at shortstop.
But there is a market for short stops, even though Lindor is trading and freelance agents Andrelton Simmons (twins), Marcus Semien (Toronto) and Freddy Galvis (Orioles) have already signed up. Didi Gregorius is the last known shortstop for freelance agents and is expected to make over $ 10 million a year. The Phillies and Reds need a short stop and Rosario could be their target if Gregorius is too expensive.
The reds are of course a popular trading partner of the Indians.
The Indians paid Rosario $ 2.4 million this year. With their payroll slashed to an estimated $ 37.5 million (excluding Hernandez’s contract), it stands to reason that they won’t be paying him that much to sit in the bank. So if you start Gimenez for a moment, you could trade Rosario.
Or they could make Rosario a super-utility player, let him bounce around the inside and outside of the field, and maybe swap him out at the end of the season.
Assuming Hernandez passes his physical passport, the Indians have a small amount of money left to add a player. Maybe they can get a cheap helper or help for the outfield. The money was generated by the estimated $ 32 million they saved by trading Lindor and Carrasco in 2021.
A variety of Cleveland Indians face masks are available online today. (Fanatics.com)
New Indian face masks for sale: Here, you can purchase Cleveland Indian-themed face covers for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($ 14.99) and a 3-pack ($ 24.99). All MLB proceeds are donated to charity.
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