THE BASICS
Home stadium: Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear, AZ, 85338
Directions: Take 1-10 East. Exit 126 (Estrella Parkway). Travel south on Estrella Parkway for about 3 miles. Goodyear Ballpark will be on the left. Information: Indians.com/spring Prospect to watch: Nolan Jones, 3B.
Jones continued his march to the majors in 2019, hitting .272 with 15 home runs across high A and Class AA. He has natural strength oozing throughout his game with 30-plus home run potential, though his hit tool has regressed. The 21-yearold has a strong batting eye and is an average defender. He’ll return to Class AA for now.
Will Francisco Lindor be traded?
The rumors were loud this offseason that the Indians were shopping their AllStar shortstop. Lindor has two years of club control remaining, and the front office appears resigned that it will lose the face of its franchise at that point.
This makes now the prime time for Lindor to be moved for the proper return. This issue will dip and dive with each streak and skid the Indians experience, and it will come into better focus at the July 31 trade deadline and depend on Cleveland’s chances to contend.
Has their window to win closed?
Gone are the days when the postseason is a given for the Indians. The Twins were the surprise division winners in 2019 after Cleveland had won three consecutive American League Central crowns from 2016 to 2018. Minnesota isn’t going away, especially after adding Josh Donaldson, and now the White Sox have joined the fray of division contenders after a busy offseason (adding starters Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Keuchel, catcher Yasmani Grandal and first baseman-DH Edwin Encarnacion).
Cleveland should be able to stay in the mix, thanks in large part to its deep rotation, which can sustain the loss of twotime Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, whom it traded to Texas. Its offense also looks better on paper than at this time last year after adding second baseman Cesar Hernandez (.279-14-71 with the Phillies last season) and boomor-bust outfielder Domingo Santana (.253-21-69 with the Mariners).
But the front office will have big decisions if the team falls out of contention.
– Casey Moore