Offseason Issues Facing the Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians had quite the successful season in 2007. They won the American League Central and finished the regular season with an overall record of 96-66. They also defeated the New York Yankees in the ALDS and even won the deciding game at Yankee Stadium. However, the Tribe cannot help but feel disappointed heading into the spring of 2008 after losing the American League Championship Series to the Boston Red Sox after jumping out to a 3-1 series lead.

The Indians will once again be a playoff contender in 2008. There are several issues facing the Tribe that must be addressed before the season begins. Do the Tribe need another big bat in the outfield? Who should be the closer for the Indians next season? Here are just a few of my thoughts on the Indians' off-season.

There are some in Cleveland who believe that the Tribe should consider shopping Travis Hafner. Pronk was below average at the plate during the regular season, at least for his standards. Hafner finished with a .266 batting average, 22 home runs and 100 RBI. Hafner was downright awful in the 2007 postseason, hitting .186 with only two homers and four RBI. The stats only tell half the story. Hafner was behind on almost every pitch during the playoffs and looked like a player who had aged a decade right before our eyes.

I was as disappointed as any Cleveland fan by Hafner's terrible performance at the plate this past October. It is ridiculous, though, for the Tribe to even thinking about letting Hafner go at this point. For starters, his 100 RBI during the regular season aren't anything to be taken lightly. There is a better than good chance that Pronk is going to rebound in the 2008 season. Giving up on Hafner right now would be just plain stupid.

Closer Joe Borowski was arguably the most underrated relief pitcher in baseball last season. Yes, it is true that Borowski had a 5.07 ERA during the regular season. Borowski's ERA doesn't change the fact that he was the American League leader in saves in 2007, finishing with 45. Borowski did give fans and teammates a scare during the ninth inning one too many times last season. Do the Indians want to go that again in 2008?

In my opinion the Indians only have two viable options for closer next year. The Tribe must either bring back Borowski for at least one more season or make lights-out reliever Rafael Betancourt closer. Betancourt was incredible this off-season and was un-hittable until the end of game seven of the ALCS. There is little doubt in anybody's mind that Betancourt would be a fantastic closer. If he were to become the closer for the Tribe, though, the bullpen would have a huge void.

This could all be taken care of if Mariano Rivera came to the Tribe and showed Betancourt how to get the job done.

Victor Martinez was once again great at the plate in 2007. What was just as impressive, though, was the play of Martinez behind the plate. Before the season began there was serious talk about trading first baseman Ryan Garko in order to move Martinez to first base on a permanent basis. Now the Indians are in a great position as many teams have shown interest in backup catcher Kelly Shoppach. As long as Martinez is going to be the "everyday" catcher for the Tribe I see no problem with sending Shoppach to another team, especially for the right price.

The Indians have the best young one-two combination of starting pitchers in all of Major League Baseball. Despite their play in the postseason C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona are ace pitchers that are bound to once again be spectacular in 2008. This in no way means that the Indians are set in their starting rotation.

Young southpaw Cliff Lee has not lived up to his potential as an Indian. Lee missed time at the beginning of the season due to an injury and then was sent to the minors after getting shelled in his return to the rotation. The Indians do have talented lefty Aaron Laffey waiting for his time to shine. With Sabathia and Laffey on the team there really isn't room for a third lefthander in the rotation. I think that Lee could be a star in baseball but I think that he needs a change of scenery.

Paul Byrd was excellent in the postseason. However, it was leaked during the ALCS (how convenient, by the way) that Byrd received shipments of HGH between 2002 and 2005. Whether or not Byrd faces any punishment from Major League Baseball is unclear at this time. The Tribe must now decide whether or not they want the potential media "headache" that Byrd could create for the franchise.

I have the perfect guy in mind to replace Byrd in the Indians' rotation. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. Curt Schilling. The Indians are on Schilling's "list" of teams that he would like to play for in 2008. Schilling would be a great addition to the rotation and he could work with Sabathia and Carmona and teach them a thing or two. It's perfect.

The great thing about the Cleveland Indians is that they are still a young team. The Tribe are going to be good for years to come so there is no reason for the franchise to make any big moves in this off-season. However, it is clear that the Indians do need to make some minor changes if they are going to win a World Series before the decade is over.