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Left field on table when talks begin next week
By Sheldon Ocker Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Thursday, Oct 25, 2007
CLEVELAND: The wheels are only beginning to turn in the Indians' front office, but General Manager Mark Shapiro gave a hint of what moves he will make in the offseason.
In basic concept, Shapiro likes what he has. He would not hesitate to go into the 2008 season with virtually the same roster.
''I think about (changes) all the time,'' he said Wednesday at Jacobs Field. ''But one of the greatest benefits of the way the team has performed is that I don't need to fill spots this year. We have a unique situ ation in that we can be opportunistic in the offseason. If we are open-minded, opportunities will present themselves to us.''
What does that mean? Unlike past seasons, the Tribe does not enter the winter in dire need of a starting pitcher, a closer or a particular kind of hitter or position player that might force Shapiro to make a deal he doesn't particularly like.
Instead, he feels he has the flexibility and probably the financial wherewithal (though he has no firm budget yet) to pick and choose. If something looks good, he can go for it.
And if he began next season with fundamentally the same team he has now?
''I feel good about that,'' Shapiro said.
A number of reasons for that include, ''We do not have a declining age issue, we play exceptionally well as a team, there's still upside to many of our players and we have depth,'' he said.
Then why doesn't Shapiro spend the winter in Miami Beach or Maui? There's always the bullpen, the most elusive and unpredictable part of most teams.
Shapiro seems pleased with the work of closer Joe Borowski, setup man Rafael Betancourt plus Rafael Perez and Jensen Lewis. But the other three spots could be tinkered with.
''The bullpen is one area where we might be opportunistic,'' Shapiro said, indicating moves could be made.
Moreover, Borowski is one of three players Aaron Fultz and Paul Byrd are the others whose contracts include a club option. The team has 10 days after the World Series to exercise those options, and Shapiro will wait.
He did not point to left field as a trouble spot, but he also didn't concede that the position is settled.
''I think David Dellucci can play a role if he's healthy,'' Shapiro said. ''Jason Michaels also is an alternative, and Ben Francisco and Shin-Soo Choo also could be in the mix.''
In other words, when Shapiro and his staff sit down next week with manager Eric Wedge to discuss offseason priorities, left field will be on the table.
Dellucci missed the last half of the season because of hamstring surgery, and Choo is healing after undergoing Tommy John surgery, replacing a ligament in his throwing elbow. He probably will take a diminished role in spring training and is not expected to be ready to play until sometime in April.
The platoon in left this year Dellucci and Michaels was hardly an unbridled success, even before Dellucci got hurt. The acquisition of Kenny Lofton in late July helped, but at 40, Lofton might not be asked back.
''We haven't addressed our free-agent decisions,'' Shapiro said. ''But it was fun watching Kenny play. He engaged our fans, and it was good to see him play a meaningful role.''
Asdrubal Cabrera made an instant and positive impact when he arrived from the minors and took over second base from Josh Barfield. So Cabrera, a career shortstop, might have begun a new career.
Asked whether he might return to shortstop, Shapiro said: ''Jhonny Peralta is our shortstop. Cabrera will play second base, though he could be a guy that allows Jhonny to get some rest. It would be difficult for me to imagine Cabrera not playing a prominent role.''
Where does that leave Barfield? Up in the air, apparently.
Shapiro assured that Casey Blake would return at third, but first Shapiro will want to avoid going to an arbitration hearing to re-sign Blake.
If Blake plays third, it puts Andy Marte's future with the Tribe in serious jeopardy. Marte spent almost the entire season at Triple-A, and his performance was spotty. When he comes to spring training next February, he will be out of options.
''It's premature to try and figure out now what role Marte will have next year, if any,'' Shapiro said. ''But we will do anything we can to keep him around.''
Re-signing C.C. Sabathia remains an issue that Shapiro wants to deal with sooner rather than later, which means before training camp starts. However, if he sees that talks are promising, he will be flexible with his timetable.
Unlike many fans and those in the media, Shapiro does not see the attempt to re-sign Sabathia as a lost cause.
''As far as C.C. goes, there's not anyone who is stronger in wanting to stay here, and that's after our best days and our worst days,'' Shapiro said. ''But with the magnitude of his success, the question is whether there's a business deal that can be struck with ownership. I think there's a chance.''
Shapiro has no plans to trade Sabathia who can be a free agent after next season even if no agreement is reached on a contract.
''It's my job to put the strongest possible team on the field,'' he said. ''It's hard to see how I could do that without C.C.''
No word on Byrd
As of yet, Shapiro does not know when Major League Baseball will talk to Byrd about his admitted use of human growth hormone.
''Since I talked to him on Friday, it's been completely in the hands of MLB,'' Shapiro said.
Will Shapiro consider the consequences of the HGH use when he determines whether to exercise the option in Byrd's contract?
''Right now, I'm prepared to make the decision just on baseball,'' he said.
The count
The Indians' push to sign up 2008 season-ticket holders by promising them seats for this year's playoffs paid off in 5,200 new customers.
It has yet to be determined how many full-season ticket equivalents will come out of the plan. Buyers purchased 20-game, 40-game or full-season ticket plans, and some have upgraded from one to another, a process that is ongoing.
First award
The Major League Players Association has selected Sabathia as Pitcher of the Year in the American League for his 19-7 record and 3.21 ERA.
Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres was the National League winner.
More kudos
Katie Dannemiller, former administrative assistant to Shapiro, has been named Woman of the Year in the Class A South Atlantic League.
For the past two years, Dannemiller, who has worked in professional baseball for 11 years, has been vice president of baseball operations for Greensboro, a Florida Marlins affiliate in North Carolina.
She graduated from St. Vincent-St. Mary High and the University of Akron.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
CLEVELAND: The wheels are only beginning to turn in the Indians' front office, but General Manager Mark Shapiro gave a hint of what moves he will make in the offseason.
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