Your 2018 Cleveland Indians

[Derek]

I don’t think it’s likely at all that Davis or Upton makes the roster

 

[CBBI]

I don’t think it’s likely at all that Davis or Upton makes the roster

I think it all depends on the health of other guys.

If Brantley and Guyer are both going to start the year on the DL, that’s presumably two open roster spots to fill (starting LF, 4th OF) with the logical candidates being Upton, Davis, Naquin, Almonte, Allen.

I guess Gonzalez and Diaz could fill in if they absolutely had to as well.

 

[CBBI]

I don’t think it’s likely at all that Davis or Upton makes the roster

I think it all depends on the health of other guys.

If Brantley and Guyer are both going to start the year on the DL, that’s presumably two open roster spots to fill (starting LF, 4th OF) with the logical candidates being Upton, Davis, Naquin, Almonte or Allen.

I guess Gonzalez or Diaz could fill in if they absolutely had to as well.

 

[Derek]

I think it all depends on the health of other guys.

If Brantley and Guyer are both going to start the year on the DL, that’s presumably two open roster spots to fill (starting LF, 4th OF) with the logical candidates being Upton, Davis, Naquin, Almonte or Allen.

I guess Gonzalez or Diaz could fill in if they absolutely had to as well.

And I think Davis and Upton rank 4-5 out of those 5 players.

 

[Huber.]

And I think Davis and Upton rank 4-5 out of those 5 players.

Yes but Allen and Naquin need to play every day somewhere instead of sitting on the bench as the 4th/5th outfielder. My bet is on Almonte.

 

[CBBI]

Yes but Allen and Naquin need to play every day somewhere instead of sitting on the bench as the 4th/5th outfielder.

I don't disagree with your point that Allen and Naquin should be playing every day, especially Allen, but in this scenario Brantley and Guyer are both opening the season on the DL. Thus making one of the available Opening Day spots starting left fielder which would presumably mean every day at bats.

Throw in the fact that Francona preferred to platoon both Zimmer and Chisenhall against LHP last year and there are other avenues for whoever the 4th OF ends up being to see additional playing time in both CF and RF.

 

[Steve_424]

I don’t think it’s likely at all that Davis or Upton makes the roster

You're taking at least one of:

Davis
Upton
Almonte
Naquin
Allen

Naquin/Allen would be my picks if Brantley is out and they need an every day LF. Otherwise it makes more sense to have them get more ABs in Columbus, at least to start the year.

I want my 4th OF to be able to handle all 3 spots. Almonte can do that in a pinch, but I'd rather not play him in CF. That's why I go Davis or Upton. And I think Tito will go that route as well.

 

[Derek]

You're taking at least one of:

Davis
Upton
Almonte
Naquin
Allen

Naquin/Allen would be my picks if Brantley is out and they need an every day LF. Otherwise it makes more sense to have them get more ABs in Columbus, at least to start the year.

I want my 4th OF to be able to handle all 3 spots. Almonte can do that in a pinch, but I'd rather not play him in CF. That's why I go Davis or Upton. And I think Tito will go that route as well.

Well, Upton is complete trash, and Davis isn’t a good outfielder.

I’ll take my chances with Allen and/or Naquin/Almonte. Really depends on how comfortable they are with Chisenhall and Zimmer hitting against lefties.

 

[CBBI]

Well, Upton is complete trash, and Davis isn’t a good outfielder.

I’ll take my chances with Allen and/or Naquin/Almonte. Really depends on how comfortable they are with Chisenhall and Zimmer hitting against lefties.

If Brantley and Guyer both open the year on DL, I'd go with a Naquin/Upton platoon in LF and if Diaz can handle it defensively, I'd also work him into the lineup at the corners against LHP as well.

Allen can play everyday in Columbus.

As it stands right now with no Brantley and no Guyer, this team might struggle hard against left handed pitching unless they catch lightning in a bottle again like they did last year with Austin Jackson.

 

[Steve_424]

Well, Upton is complete trash, and Davis isn’t a good outfielder.

I’ll take my chances with Allen and/or Naquin/Almonte. Really depends on how comfortable they are with Chisenhall and Zimmer hitting against lefties.

Davis isn't a good outfielder but Almonte is? C'mon now. Davis isn't what he was before, but he's a better all-around player than Abe.

 

[Derek]

Davis isn't a good outfielder but Almonte is? C'mon now. Davis isn't what he was before, but he's a better all-around player than Abe.

I mean, throughout their careers, yeah, Almonte has been a better outfielder. They both suck, but I'd give Almonte the edge at this stage in their careers as an overall player.

 

[sportscoach]

Actually there is a good probability they keep Davis on the roster, but thats just a hunch of mine. I think Francona wants the veteran guy there especially if Guyer and Brantley are out.

Currently only Zimmer and Chisenhall are slated to be playing right away. Guyer and Brantley at this point are going to start the season on the DL so they can get the at bats/time needed to get 100%. They likely will have 5 guys for the OF, at least projection wise, so a guy like Allen/Naquin has a good shot of getting an everyday spot to start the season, while Davis and Almonte will be the bench guys. Once guys get healthy then the roster will change some, but at least to start the season, I am actually expecting Davis to be there as the last player on the bench type of guy.

Whoever between Allen/Naquin that we keep up, will go down when Brantley comes back and between Davis and Almonte, one we will moved to the minors/released when Guyer comes back.

IT is hard to predict who between Urshela and Gonzalez will be kept, but its possible both could be kept to start the season since Gonzo can play in the OF, but I am not sure if he has this spring or not.

 

[Steve_424]

Almonte optioned to AAA.

 

[thestatman]

Getting rid of Almonte was long overdo. He can't hit a lick, has a horrible arm, and isn't very good at tracking balls hit over his head. The only thing I liked about him was his hustle out of the box. It' too bad EE and others don't do the same.

 

[Steve_424]

I'll be updating the original post as players are cut/sent down.

FWIW, I've heard Upton won't make the team.