The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Indians do not tender Naquin
Tyler Naquin, an oft-injured outfielder during his time with the Indians, is now an outfielder with no team.
Naquin was one of six Indians eligible for arbitration in 2021, but to maintain team control in that process, arbitration eligible players had to be tendered an offer by 8 p.m. Dec. 2. The Indians let the deadline pass without an offer to Naquin.
The Indians also did not tender outfielder Delino DeShields and pitcher Jefry Rodriguez.
Deciding to move on from Naquin and DeShields opens a door for Daniel Johnson to become a full-time outfielder with the Indians.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor, relief pitcher Nick Wittgren and Phil Maton plus catcher Austin Hedges are also arbitration eligible. All four were given undisclosed contract tenders.
Naquin played i n 116 games in 2016 and hit .296 with 14 home runs and 43 RBI. He never came close to matching his rookie season.
Naquin played only 40 games with the Indians in 2017. A hamstring injury and later hip surgery limited him to 61 games in 2018. A left calf strain and then a torn right ACL cut his 2019 season to 89 games.
Naquin suffered a toe injury in an intrasquad game during the training camp reboot in July of 2020. He played in 40 games of the 60-game season and hit .218 with four home runs and 20
RBI.
Naquin made $1.45 million in 2020 and was projected to make $2.1 million after arbitration in 2021. Naquin, 29, was a firstround draft pick (15th overall) by the Indians in 2012.
DeShields was acquired from the Texas Rangers last December along with relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase for pitcher Corey Kluber. DeShields played in 37 games in 2020 with no home runs and seven RBI while batting .252. He made $1,875,000.
Rodiguez was acquired from the Washington Nationals along with outfielder Johnson for catcher Yan Gomes two years ago. Rodriguez was 1-5 in 2019 and was not on the Indians roster last season.