Indians see opportunity amid change

For the Indians, the changes go beyond just dropping their debated name.

As a new season dawns, the four-time All-Star shortstop and face of the franchise is long gone, traded to the Mets this winter along with one of Indians’ most popular players and established pitchers. There are holes to fill at short, first and in the outfield.

Manager Terry Francona, who zips around Cleveland on a scooter, is driving a golf cart after surgery. Fans can’t escape the Midwest cold and watch the Indians field grounders or take batting practice in the warm Arizona sunshine.

Things look a lot different.

But despite their altered state, and gloomy projections about their win total 2021, the Indians are confident they can contend.

Maybe even do more than that. “I know we’re going to make a lot of noise,” warned slugger Franmil Reyes. “Watch out!”

Bounced by the Yankees in the wildcard round to end the shortened 2020 season, the Indians held their first fullsquad workout in Goodyear, Arizona, on Monday in a training camp that looks very different from ones in the past because of COVID-19 protocols.

But protective masks, social distancing and player pods are only part of the transformation.

The Indians finally did what seemed inevitable for years in January by dealing Francisco Lindor, one of baseball’s best all-around stars, to the Mets with righthander Carlos Carrasco for young infielders Amed Rosario, Andres Gimenez and other prospects.

The Indians’ seismic trade came less than a month after the club announced it’s dropping the name it has used since 1915 at some point in the future. But for at least another season, they’ll still be known as the Indians, who have been consistent winners for a decade.

Cy Young winner Shane Bieber isn’t expecting that to change.

“Very confident,” Bieber said when asked about the club’s ability to stay competitive. “We had a young team last year and we’ve got a young team this year again. We were kind of learning on the fly last year. That’s the beauty of baseball, Major League Baseball specifically, turning over rosters year after year.

“You got to learn each other and learn on the fly, but I guess if anything, it’s fortunate we’ve got quite a bit longer season this year, a little bit more time to work towards our ultimate goal.”

That would be winning a World Series for the first time since 1948.

This year, perhaps more than ever, the Indians, who also chose not to re-sign first baseman Carlos Santana or closer Brad Hand, will rely on a solid starting staff led by the 25-year-old Bieber. In just three major league seasons, the righthander has become one of the AL’s most dominant, front-of-the-rotation starters.

Bieber pulled off pitching’s Triple Crown in 2020, leading the majors in wins, ERA and strikeouts. It’s not a stretch to think he can’t get better, which is scary for opposing hitters and equally worrisome for the Indians, who will have to pay him market value at some point.

The team has contractual control of Bieber until 2025 — he’ll be arbitration eligible the next three years — and the right-hander said Monday that he’d welcome a chance to talk to the team about a long-term contract extension.

“It’s absolutely something I’d be open to,” he said.

After dealing Lindor and Carrasco, the cost-conscious Indians invested some of the saved money back into the roster by signing free agent outfielder Eddie Rosario (1 year, $8 million) and re-signing second baseman Cesar Hernandez (1 year, $5 million), two players who can help them stay in step with the Twins and White Sox in the AL Central.