The Indians are getting set to make some big changes in the offseason. WKSU commentator Terry Pluto said he got some inside information about what the team is planning to do first.
who are now free agents, and it鈥檚 likely that most of them will be gone.
So, the team without breaking the bank.
Yandy and the infield
Enter Yandy Diaz, who Pluto says will likely be named the team鈥檚 permanent third baseman. He鈥檒l replace free agent Josh Donaldson, who the team signed late last season.
Since the 2017 All Starbreak, 27-year-old Diaz is batting .312 with 1 HR, 15 RBI and a .797 OPS. He spent the 2018 season splitting time between the Indians and AAA Columbus.
鈥淚鈥檝e been pleading for almost two years for them to put him in the lineup," Pluto said.
"He doesn鈥檛 hit a lot of home runs; he hits singles and doubles. You need some guys who just make contact and hit the ball hard.鈥�
Rounding out the infield is Francisco Lindor at shortstop, Jose Ramirez at second and Yonder Alonso at first.
The outfield
The Indians鈥� regular second baseman, , will move to left field, to replace All-Star Michael Brantley. Brantley is a free agent and it鈥檚 likely the team won鈥檛 match his $18 million option. Kipnis, meanwhile, played center field for the team during the playoffs.
At center field, the team will likely play Leonys Martin and Greg Allen.
鈥淎s for Martin, they traded for him but we forgot all about him because he suffered a season-ending bacterial infection. He is an elite defensive center fielder and a decent hitter.鈥�
Tyler Naquin is expected to play right field.
鈥淣aquin had hip surgery last season and is already playing games in Goodyear, Arizona. He was almost ready for the playoffs but they didn鈥檛 just want to put him in there when he hadn鈥檛 played.鈥�
Pluto says he鈥檚 not sure what exactly the opening day outfield will look like, because the team will likely be picking up other players this offseason.
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