Why the Cleveland Indians Should Offer Jeremy Hermida a Contract

Jeremy Hermida has fallen on harder times, picking up work with teams only later to be dumped for not performing. Most recently trying to make the Cincinnati Reds roster, Hermida hit .342 with three homers and six RBIs. He's proven himself in the past to be a decent hitter with mediocre power.

So why should Hermida, 27, be offered a contract by the Cleveland Indians? The simplest answer would be his age and skills. The Indians have outfielders Austin Kearns and Shelley Duncan. While both showed decent success with the Indians last year combining for 18 homers and 78 RBIs, they needed 530 at-bats to accomplish this. They also truck-out 154 times which didn't suit well for their on-base percentages. Hermida can easily replace both Kearns and Duncan who will be 31 and 32 this year. As has been written and talked about in the past power numbers for most players after they turn 30. There are very few who continue to tear it up at the major league level who haven't juiced. I can think of only one player in that of Jim Thome and he only gets 250 at bats these days.

The Indians do have Trevor Crowe and Michael Brantley to patrol left field and platoon in center field while Grady Sizemore takes it slow in his recovery from microfracture surgery. However neither put up spectacular numbers. Together they batted under .250 and barely made it to first base with a combined on-base percentage under .300. Hermida's career numbers are well above both those not to mention he has much more pop in his bat than both Crowe and Brantley. If his .342 spring average is any indication he may be due a comeback, the Indians should be the one's to give him that chance. Not only would he challenge both Crowe and Brantley for playing time he could cut into Travis Hafner's playing time at designated hitter.

The Indian's need to realize Hafner will never return to half the feared, power-hitter he once was. What the Indian's front office need to do is wake up smell the coffee and take some lessons from the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. Travis Hafner should be cut. Sign Hermida and add some either prospects Lonnie Chisenhall or Jason Kipnis to the bench. While they don't have any experience above triple-A, they have shown the ability to hit and play at any level. Allow these two prospects to play in the late innings of day games that follow night games. Allow them to play the night games of doubleheaders. Do they really need two months experience at triple-A only to be called up in June?