While he doesn’t believe it’s likely to happen, Paul Hoynes
of the Plain Dealers believe the Cleveland Indians are “well positioned” to
sign free agents Kyle Lohse or Michael Bourn.
Even after their busy offseason, the Indians have the money
to acquire Lohse or Bourn. Plus, the team’s first-round pick is protected and
it doesn’t have a second-round selection in this summer’s draft, as it was sent
to the New York Yankees during the signing of outfielder Nick Swisher. For that
reason, Cleveland would only have to surrender a third-round pick to sign Lohse
or Bourn.
So far this offseason, the Indians have added Swisher, Mark
Reynolds, Ryan Raburn, Jason Giambi, Brett Myers, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Matt
Capps, Scott Kazmir and Ben Francisco. Swisher is the only player that received
a multi-year contract.
Lohse would add another veteran presence to the Indians’
rotation, while Bourn would allow Swisher to shift to first base, Reynolds to
designated hitter and provide Cleveland with an outfield consisting of Bourn,
Michael Brantley and Drew Stubbs.
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