The more this up and down season has progressed, it’s becoming abundantly clear that some of the Cleveland Indians’ key leaders from the 2016 American League Championship team have failed to fill their roles as needed this season.
Terry Francona will go to bat for his guys any time a player is criticized, particularly when they have the veteran experience of guys like Jason Kipnis or Michael Brantley.
That belief in his players and confidence he instills in them is one of the aspects of what makes him one of the all-time great managers.
However, there comes a time when veteran experience has to be put in proportion with actual contributions.
The fact that Carlos Santana hit 34 homers last season is irrelevant to this year’s World Series quest. Cleveland cannot afford to sit pat at the trade deadline and moving Santana would be one way to address starting pitching depth.
Leading up to the trade deadline, my hope is the Tribe seeks a trade for a legitimate No. 3 starter with playoff experience under his belt.
As much as Clevinger has been on a roll these past two months and although we hope Danny Salazar can get back to pitching like an ace, the dreaded No. 3 starter position could be their downfall in a series against teams like Houston or Boston, who can match up with the two aces, Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco.
At number three, do you trust Trevor Bauer? Mike Clevinger? Josh Tomlin? Danny Salazar?
I have a tough time believing the Tribe would be the favorites in those games and Kluber and Carrasco can’t win a World Series by themselves.
So let’s say the Tribe manages to find a dependable number three starter in exchange for Santana and a mid-tier prospect or two.
Now what do they do about first base?
Although Encarnacion has primarily served as a designated hitter in recent years, he’s a serviceable first baseman.
It doesn’t seem probable that moving Encarnacion to first base would be the decision that costs the Tribe a playoff-berth.
Here’s where the dominoes could start to fall in place after that.
Assuming Encarnacion plays first base and a healthy infield consists of Jose Ramirez at third, Francisco Lindor at shortstop and Jason Kipnis (when healthy) at second base.
Healthy is the key word for Kipnis.
He’s been battling through a rough season from a health standpoint, still playing great defense at second base, but his offense is clearly suffering.
Kipnis is the type of guy who will play through pain if he can, won’t make excuses for himself and knows the significance of being solid up the middle to contend for a championship.
The problem is his continued admirable process of playing through pain this season is ultimately hurting the team’s offense as a whole.
So here’s a potential remedy.
After a Santana trade, DH would open up. I propose moving Kipnis to DH until he is fully healthy and capable of playing pain-free at second base.
Naturally, the next question becomes who will play second base.
Jose Ramirez would be more than capable of holding the fort down and turning double plays with Lindor.
At that point, Cleveland could take another look at Yandy Diaz at third base, whose offensive presence alone makes the Tribe’s already potent lineup that much more dangerous.
Would the defense at the corner infield spots take a dip? Yes. But the upgrades with the number three starting pitcher spot along with the probability of finally putting together an offense that hits with runners in scoring position would outweigh the defensive dropoff.
If Diaz blooms in the second half, his star potential could be what tips the scales in an evenly matched playoff series.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Kipnis’ bat is back in the second half, whether at DH or as a position player.
But for argument’s sake, let’s say Kipnis and Diaz both find a way to be a part of Cleveland’s lineup heading into the playoffs and both are hitting up to their potential… combined with the lineup protection from guys like Lindor, Brantley, Encarnacion, Ramirez, Chisenhall and Zimmer…. I’d put that lineup against any in baseball.
I’d put Cleveland’s two aces against any other team’s top two.
We all know the bullpen is one of the best in modern baseball history and has revolutionized the game.
So what’s the worse thing Cleveland has going for it? A poor hitting catcber duo.
Compared to the rest of MLB, Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez would be starters on quite a few teams, even a few other playoff teams (Boston, Colorado, Arizona), even with their poor offensive numbers .
It can’t be overstated how valuable Gomes and Perez are for defense and until Francisco Mejia is ready to take the big stage, this duo can keep the ship afloat with their steady dependability behind the dish.
However, if the Tribe were to bolster the lineup with Diaz and Kipnis both in there on a regular basis, the offensive deficiencies of Gomes and Perez won’t be felt as much by a stronger all-around lineup and then the subject of their offense can take a backseat – as it should – to how they play the catcher position and lead a pitching staff.
Remember last August when we wrote about Lucroy’s veto being a blessing in disguise?
Perez turned out to be one of the most clutch Indians hitters in the playoffs.
So yes, trade Santana. Make Kipnis’ job easier until he’s back to his old self.
Let Diaz, who is batting . 326 at Triple-A Columbus with four homers and eight doubles in 47 games, pick up some of the load in the lineup.
Heck, when Kipnis is healthy, move Ramirez back to third and let Diaz DH.
Santana hasn’t been the same player as the one who led Cleveland to an AL Pennant and in a contract year, Cleveland would be better served from a short-term and long-term standpoint to get something in return for him.
It’s one position they can afford to tweak with and have capable options to go to.
If this team keeps Santana, and Kipnis continues to struggle, health-wise and at the plate, it could be an example of two key guys dragging the team down.
There’s more to gain and more potential for boom in a somewhat riskier move to give a budding star a bigger role.
Cleveland is not the favorite in the American League right now, but they have the pieces to repeat, if they don’t let this Kipnis injury snowball into an even bigger problem in the second half and/or playoffs.
One final suggestion, if you’re a Santana stan, consider the possibility of trading for a first, second, or third baseman with proven positive contributions this season.
If it takes a little more than Santana to pull off that type of upgrade, so be it, but as of the All-Star Break, I can’t count on him to deliver clutch hits when needed.
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