With the start of spring training about a month away, the Indians still hadn't acquired the impact bat they had hoped to get at some point during the offseason.
If and when that bat is acquired, it's possible it could be a first baseman, replacing disappointing former phenom Matt LaPorta.
However, should the Indians be unable to trade for or sign as a free agent a first baseman to replace LaPorta, Plan B remains LaPorta himself.
According to general manager Chris Antonetti, the Indians haven't given up on the 27-year-old first baseman, who was the top prospect in the package of prospects the Indians got from Milwaukee in the CC Sabathia trade in 2008, but has been a major disappointment since that trade.
However, Antonetti said LaPorta will have to win the first base job in spring training. The fact that LaPorta has a minor league option left means the Indians can still keep him in the organization without committing to him fully in 2012.
During the offseason, Indians' hitting coach Bruce Fields traveled to LaPorta's home in Florida and worked with him on some mechanical adjustments.
According to Antonetti, those workouts went well and Fields was encouraged by the progress shown by LaPorta.
That doesn't mean the Indians will stop looking for a hitter during what remains of the offseason. It does mean that that the team perhaps will feel more comfortable about LaPorta, at least going into the 2012 season, should he remain the everyday first baseman.
There aren't many in-house candidates to replace LaPorta. The most likely scenario, should the club not trade for a first baseman or sign one as a free agent would be for catcher Carlos Santana to get increased playing time at first base, in the event LaPorta continues to struggle.
NOTES, QUOTES
Chisenhall won't be handed the third base job
--3B Lonnie Chisenhall will have to win the third base job in spring training, according to general manager Chris Antonetti. As a rookie last year Chisenhall in 212 at bats batted .255 with seven home runs and 22 RBI. Antonetti said Chisenhall will compete with defensive specialist Jack Hannahan during spring training. "We will leave spring training with the best team we can," Antonetti said. "Whichever one of those two gives us the best chance to win will be the starter."
--RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, who was supposed to make five or six starts in the Dominican Republic this winter, made only one before being sidelined because of a case of the flu. Jimenez then decided not to pitch any more this winter, although he has been working out with Nelson Perez, one of the Indians' strength and conditioning coaches.
--INF Jason Donald is expected to see some playing time in the outfield in 2012. Donald has been exclusively an infielder to this point in his career, but general manager Chris Antonetti said the team is looking to expand Donald's utility role this year. "He can help us win games so we're looking for opportunities to get him in the lineup more," Antonetti said of Donald, who played some left field and center field during the Instructional League last fall.
--RHP Chris Ray, who worked in the closer's role for the Orioles in 2006-07, has been signed to a minor league contract and invited to the Indians' major league training camp as a non-roster player. Ray, 30, made 29 relief appearances for Seattle in 2011 and was 3-2 with a 4.68 ERA.
--LHP Chris Seddon has been signed to a minor league contract and invited to the major league camp as a non-roster player. Seddon, 28, spent the 2011 season with Seattle's Class AAA Tacoma affiliate, where in 28 games (25 starts) he was 9-7 with a 6.27 ERA.
BY THE NUMBERS: 15 -- Non-roster players invited to the Indians' major league training camp.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We feel we're in a good spot, poised to contend for a division title in 2012." -- Indians general manager Chris Antonetti.
ROSTER REPORT
The Indians finished the season with a rotation that is much less of a question mark than it was at the start, but they began to address it by acquiring RHP Derek Lowe from the Braves. RHPs Justin Masterson and Josh Tomlin both won 12 games, and the midseason acquisition of RHP Ubaldo Jimenez gives the Indians a solid top three to their rotation. The bullpen was playoff-caliber all year. Offensively, Cleveland has question marks in the outfield and at first base. The team also must decide on whether Carlos Santana, who played both catcher and first base in 2011, is better suited to play one position or the other full-time, or if he should continue to split time between the two spots.
ARRIVALS: OF Aaron Cunningham (trade with Padres), INF Jose Lopez (minor league free agent from Marlins), OF Felix Pie (minor league free agent from Orioles), RHP Derek Lowe (trade with Braves).
DEPARTURES: INF/OF Luis Valbuena (traded to Blue Jays), DH Jim Thome (free agent, signed with Phillies).
FREE AGENTS: OF Kosuke Fukudome, RHP Chad Durbin.
Fukudome was a useful player after being a acquired in a trade with the Cubs, but there is no way the budget-conscious Indians will offer him anything close to the $13 million salary he made this year. Durbin will not be re-signed because the Indians have multiple, and more economically priced minor league prospects who can fill Durbin's role.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: LHP Rafael Perez, SS Asdrubal Cabrera
The Indians may try to sign Cabrera, their MVP this year, to a multiyear deal, which would buy Cabrera out of his last arbitration year and beyond, although the club has of late shied away from such long-term deals. Choo and the Indians had preliminary discussions on a multiyear deal in spring training this year, but those talks went nowhere.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--RHP Justin Masterson (arthroscopic left shoulder surgery in October 2011) should be ready for spring training.
--RHP Carlos Carrasco (Tommy John surgery in September 2011) will spend the offseason rehabbing. He is expected to miss the entire 2012 season.
--LF Michael Brantley (right hand surgery in August 2011) will spend the offseason rehabbing after having the hamate bone removed. He should be ready for spring training.
