The Indians need bullpen help, would like to add a mid-rotation starter and a third baseman. It wouldn't hurt to bring in a power-hitting corner outfielder, either.
As usual, don't expect Cleveland to spend great gobs of cash on the big-name free agents. It simply is not good business on the Indians' part to do so. But general manager Mark Shapiro, for the most part, has done a good job at finding good value in bargain shopping.
The lone exception this year should be CC Sabathia. Why not talk with him and see if both sides can give in just a little -- the Indians going above their budget and CC dropping his demands a bit. It wouldn't hurt to give it a try.
It's just my opinion, but here's how the Indians should look at this year's list of potential free agents:
OF Bobby Abreu NO Overpriced for Tribe; on downhill of career
RP Jeremy Affeldt NO Not really an upgrade anywhere
OF Moises Alou NO Too much money for an old, injury prone former star
OF Garret Anderson YES Experienced run producer, could help for right price
SP Tony Armas NO Too many injury issues to risk paying out for him
INF Rich Aurilia NO Not needed at age 37
C Brad Ausmus NO Not needed at age 39
RP Luis Ayala YES Worth a look for a cheap price only
C Paul Bako NO The answer? It’s not Bako
OF Rocco Baldelli NO As a healthy regular, sure; but will he ever be healthy?
RP Joe Beimel NO Not unless stocking AAA Columbus is an objective
3B/1B/OF Casey Blake YES Sure, but chances are Tribe gets outbid
1B-3B Hank Blalock YES Worth taking a chance, but likely to get more elsewhere
C Henry Blanco NO A Sal Fasano clone
UTL Willie Bloomquist NO No need for more mediocrity
1B-3B Aaron Boone NO No need to move backwards in time
OF Milton Bradley NO Injury prone, tempermental, and cab fare is pricey
3B-OF Russell Branyan NO On fourth thought, no need to revisit what might have been
OF Emil Brown NO Not as good as what is already here
OF Pat Burrell NO First thought is yes, but negatives outweigh big payday
SP Paul Byrd YES For a cheap deal, bring him back again
INF Orlando Cabrera NO There’s a reason he bounces from club to club; forget him
UTL Miguel Cairo NO Bad, good, bad, good … what’s next? No thanks
1B Sean Casey NO He’s an older, worn-down version of Michael Aubrey
INF Juan Castro NO No need for another good-field, no-play type
INF Alex Cintron NO Wouldn’t really add value to team
1B Tony Clark NO No one-dimensional pinch-hitters needed
SP Bartolo Colon NO Didn’t pay him when he was good, why pay for him now?
UTL Alex Cora NO Been there, done that, no need to be a two-time loser
3B Joe Crede YES Worth a short-term, reasonable cost look
RP Juan Cruz YES Possible filler help for bullpen, if cheap
SP Ryan Dempster YES Take a look, though likely will get more bucks elsewhere
SP Elmer Dessens NO Not dissing Dessens; not interested, either
RP Brendan Donnelly NO Has seen better days; rather take a risk on younger talent
OF Adam Dunn YES He’s a premier run producer with (strikeouts, glove) faults
2B Ray Durham NO Tempting, but he’s probably about out of gas
2B Damion Easley NO 10 years ago, sure, but not at age 39
SS David Eckstein YES For right price, a leadoff hitter, move Peralta to 3B
OF Jim Edmonds YES For right price, better than David Dellucci
RP Scott Elarton NO Great guy, hope somebody gives him a chance
SS Adam Everett NO Not unless Tribe can’t find another infielder
RP Scott Eyre NO Signing him would prove that to Eyre is human
RP Kyle Farnsworth YES One of these days, he’ll put talents to use … maybe
RP Josh Fogg NO Don’t have the foggiest idea why someone will sign him
RP Casey Fossum NO Too inconsistent; we’ve seen those types before
RP Keith Foulke NO Yeah, it worked really well the first time
RP Chad Fox NO No real upgrade
RP Brian Fuentes YES Go for it, just don’t spend a fortune
SS Rafael Furcal YES Sure, take a look -- but expect to be outbid
RP Eric Gagne NO Bob Feller was great once, too
SP Freddy Garcia YES Need a starter, go for him at reasonable price
INF Nomar Garciaparra YES Only at a reasonable contract for a year
SP Jon Garland YES Better value than Garcia, go for him at reasonable price
SP Tom Glavine NO There’s a temptation to say “yes”; fight the temptation
UTL Chris Gomez NO Not now, with Jamey Carroll here
OF Luis Gonzalez NO Great guy, but career is gonzo at his age
RP Tom Gordon NO “Flash” has fizzled
OF Ken Griffey Jr. NO Way pay medical costs and his salary, too?
2B Mark Grudzielanek YES Could play 2B, move Cabrera to SS, Peralta to 3B
RP Eddie Guardado NO No help at his age
UTL Jerry Hairston, Jr. NO Dime-a-dozen players not worth free agent bucks
C Toby Hall NO Not even Monty Hall could make a deal for him
SP Mike Hampton NO No room at the inn
RP LaTroy Hawkins NO LaNot exactly reliable out of the pen
RP Mark Hendrickson NO Played in Cleveland in 1999 – for the Cavaliers!
RP Matt Herges NO Ever notice how many washed-up relievers are “free”
SP Livan Hernandez NO Ever notice how many washed-up starting pitchers are “free”
SP Orlando Hernandez NO Ever notice how many washed-up brothers are “free”
UTL Eric Hinske YES Sure would prefer him to David Dellucci or Andy Marte
SP Trevor Hoffman NO Hoyt Wilhelm was a Hall of Famer reliever, too
SP Bob Howry YES Sure, he was a big help four years ago
2B Orlando Hudson YES Now you’re talking; just don’t talk HUGE money
OF Raul Ibanez YES Absolutely. A proven run-producer, but may cost too much
RP Jason Isringhausen YES Experienced closer; just don’t pay big bucks for him
SS Cesar Izturis NO Not worth moving Peralta, Cabrera, etc., for him
SP Jason Jennings YES For a cheap price, he’d be worth a look for rotation
SP Jason Johnson NO He already is Mark Shapiro’s worst-ever move
SP Randy Johnson NO Some greats impart wisdom on downhill; he ain’t one of them
RP Todd Jones NO Another Joe Borowski is not the answer
RP Jorge Julio NO Signing would set a record: 2 years in row signing same bum
OF Gabe Kapler NO A pinch-hitter is not what is needed
INF Jeff Kent NO An old and cranky pinch-hitter is not what is needed
OF Mark Kotsay NO There was a time it would have been a good move; not now
3B/1B Mike Lamb NO Repeat, a pinch-hitter is not what is needed
C Jason LaRue NO No need, no thanks
SP Jon Lieber NO A bad move, suitable with headline: “Ach, Der Lieber”
RP Mike Lincoln NO Lincoln would just be a caddy in the bullpen
C Paul Lo Duca NO No need, unless your aim is to match A.J. Pierzynski
SP Braden Looper YES Could be experienced right-hander for rotation
2B/SS/OF Felipe Lopez YES Musical infielders: Lopez, Cabrera, Peralta share 2b-ss-3b
2B Mark Loretta NO Ten years ago, sure, but not at his advanced age
SP Derek Lowe NO Another Jake Westbrook, but even more expensive
RP Brandon Lyon NO It wouldn’t be terrible if he got a camp invite, nothing more
SP Greg Maddux NO Hall of Famer, but he’ll be age 43 and want some dough
SP Pedro Martinez NO Ever notice former greats try to get one more big pay day
INF Ramon Martinez NO Ever notice nobodies try to get any kind of pay day
C Adam Melhuse NO Melhuse = no use
RP Kent Mercker NO Tribe traded Hall of Famer (Eddie Murray) for him in ’96!
OF Jason Michaels NO Let’s see … he could platoon with Dellucci … arrrrrgggghhhh
1B Doug Mientkiewicz NO No need for his act
1B Kevin Millar NO Too old, not needed
C Chad Moeller NO Good guy, not needed
RP Guillermo Mota NO If any lessons have been learned, this will never happen again
SP Jamie Moyer NO Already have two million young versions of him in system
SP Mark Mulder YES Have the medical staff check him out 1st, 2nd and 3rd, though
SP Mike Mussina NO Too pricey, too old
OF Trot Nixon NO Just the thought of signing him deserves a pie in the face
OF Greg Norton NO Repeat it again, no pinch-hitters needed
RP Will Ohman NO Not bad, but he’s no real upgrade, either
RP Darren Oliver NO A good move five years ago, not at age 38
3B Pablo Ozuna NO No mas bueno
SP Chan Ho Park NO Got a homer-friendly stadium? Name it Chan Ho Park
SP John Parrish NO A Parrish without a prayer
OF Corey Patterson NO Not unless Columbus pays the contract
OF Jay Payton NO Too old, too worn, too-da-loo
SP Odalis Perez YES Worth a cheap look, sometimes talent finally emerges
SP Oliver Perez YES Worth a mid-range deal, probably will get more somewhere
SP Andy Pettitte NO Hmmm … just say no, despite inclinations
OF Scott Podsednik NO Just not productive enough as a regular
SP Sidney Ponson NO Bad guy, definitely not needed
RP Mark Prior NO Not unless your medical staff needs to practice on somebody
SS Nick Punto NO Jamey Carroll is better as utility guy
RP Horacio Ramirez YES Worth a cheap look as bullpen filler
OF Manny Ramirez NO A Hall of Famer, but Tribe can’t afford him
SS Edgar Renteria NO There are plusses, just not enough of them anymore.
RP Dennys Reyes YES He could help bolster bullpen
RP Arthur Rhodes NO Been there before
RP Juan Rincon NO Didn’t show enough here last two months
RP Ricardo Rincon NO Not even if they can then trade him for Brian Giles
INF Luis Rivas NO Only to play in Triple-A as emergency help
OF Juan Rivera NO The tendency is to say sure, but he’d play in Columbus
RP Francisco Rodriguez NO He's tremendous -- as in tremendously expensive
C Ivan Rodriguez NO Way overpriced on downhill of great career
SP Kenny Rogers NO Too big of a risk at his age
C David Ross NO No need
SP Glendon Rusch NO GMs will not be rushing his door
SP CC Sabathia YES Pitcher worth breaking the bank to get
SP Curt Schilling NO Pitcher worth breaking the bank to get – 10 years ago
RP Rudy Seanez YES Lots of experience, can still throw, could help in spots
SP Ben Sheets NO Good pitcher who will break your bank and not worth risk
RP Brian Shouse NO Shouse has showed us he’s of no use
SP John Smoltz NO Hall of Famer likely at end of line
RP Russ Springer NO Not much spring left at age 39
1B Mark Sweeney NO Old pinch-hitters are not the way to go
RP Julian Tavarez NO Probably not reliable enough these days
1B Mark Teixeira NO Love to have him, but not for the money
DH Frank Thomas NO More problems than he’s worth
RP Mike Timlin NO Another “experienced” reliever with no stuff is not needed
3B Juan Uribe YES Explore the possibility, but don’t just throw money away
C Javier Valentin NO No need, no interest,
C Jason Varitek NO No need, but will probably help somebody for a year
3B Ramon Vazquez NO Been there, got nothing
RP Ron Villone NO Pitched in Cleveland a dozen years ago
OF Daryle Ward NO How many pinch-hitter types are available?
RP David Weathers NO Nearer to end of line than of help to end of bullpen
OF Brad Wilkerson NO One David Dellucci deal is one too many
C Vance Wilson NO Two years on DL … uh, no thanks
RP Matt Wise NO Wise move is to ignore him
SP Randy Wolf YES Proven starter, but isn’t worth a huge contract
RP Kerry Wood NO Sure, he’s good, but not worth the huge price
RP Jamey Wright NO He’s proven, too; proven he wouldn’t be of help
C Gregg Zaun NO Zaun = Yawn
Obviously, the Indians could not or should not sign all of the players indicated with a "YES" next to their name. But those are the guys the club should at least enter into talks.
The Indians' philosophy, given their financial structure, should always be to grow as many good players as possible, use some of them in trades to acquire needed pieces, then fetch a free agent or two to polish off the roster.
Oh, yeah. Then cross your fingers and hope for the best.