2010 RECORD: 69-93, fourth in AL Central
BIGGEST ACQUISITION: Does signing Nick Johnson to a minor league deal last week count? No? Then we'll go with Orlando Cabrera, who signed a one-year deal for the Indians to have a Cabrera-(Asdrubal) Cabrera double play combo.
BIGGEST DEPARTURE: N/A. One of the few positive things about trading away talent at the midseason deadline is that there weren't many difficult goodbyes over the offseason.
FIVE QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT THE INDIANS:
1. Shin-Soo Choo is here to stay, right? It sounds strange to say, but the Indians' biggest win of 2010 may have come in a November game held in Guangzhou, China. That was when the South Korean national team beat Taiwan to win the gold medal at the Asia Games and earn Choo his long-awaited military exemption. Anything less and Choo (above, right) would have soon had to take the 22 homers, 90 RBI and .885 OPS he hit last season to the barracks for two seasons in the prime of his career.� As for the question above, that can now only be answered in the future by Choo, his agent Scott Boras and the Indians. While there was some talk about an extension this offseason, Choo only signed a one-year deal in his first year of arbitration and can still become a free agent after the 2013 season.
2. When will Carlos Santana and Grady Sizemore be ready to go? Opening day, if all goes well. Sizemore is back running the bases after microfracture surgery on his left knee last summer and remains hopeful that he can get back into game shape by the first of April. Santana, meanwhile, can shift from catcher to first base after a broken leg last year and has already seen game action in spring training. The Indians' lineup suffers from a severe lack of starpower without these two, so all eyes ? and whatever chance Cleveland has at a winning record ? will rest on their ability to come back and stay healthy.
3. Does Lonnie Chisenhall own the best prospect name in the majors? Mike Trout might have a strong claim, but as someone who has bemoaned the lack of Lonnies in the majors since Lonnie Smith retired in 1994, I say yes. Still, let it be known the future of third base at Progressive Field is more than just a name: As detailed on Roto Arcade, Chisenhall has hit .478/.538/.913 through 11 spring games, with two doubles, two homers, five runs scored, and a team-leading 21 total bases. The 22-year-old will start out the year in Triple-A to get a little more experience, but other than seasoning and service time manipulation, there is little blocking his eventual ascension to the bigs.
4. Is Fausto Carmona the next big name to be traded? That's anybody's guess. Cleveland's ace by default had a nice rebound season in 2010 and part of the reason he would be a hot item on the trade market ? his $6.1 million salary plus three club-friendly options from 2012-14 ? is the same reason he holds so much value for a Cleveland club that needs cheap quality innings. Given Carmona's up-and-down career, I'm of the belief that the Indians should trade high. Then again, Cleveland had a chance to ship Carmona off last deadline and all this winter, but didn't.
5. Are there any reasons to be hopeful for 2011? At the end of Monday's exhibition, I heard an A's fan wish a nearby Indians fan the best of luck. "Thanks, we're going to need it," was the response. That's about right. While Cleveland will have some nice young players to track and a Sizemore comeback to monitor, it's going to be tough to outmuscle the Twins, White Sox and Tigers in what should be a tough AL Central. The Kansas City Royals might provide a nice buffer between the Tribe and last place for one more season, but with the young talent they're stockpiling even that might not last long. Cleveland has a tough road ahead of it.
Kelly Clarkson Natalie Portman Jessica Biel Christina Milian Kelly Brook
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