Home cooking will be big for Tribe
11/09/2005CLEVELAND -- Some people complained loudly about general manager Mark Shapiro when Shapiro embarked on a plan in 2002 to rebuild the Indians. But those complaints have turned to whispers as Shapiro's rebuilding has taken shape.
After winning 93 games last season, what is there for fans to complain about? What is next for them are heightened expectations, and Shapiro is committed to seeing those expectations fulfilled. He's not satisfied with a 93-win season that didn't land the Indians in the playoffs.
But he has a plan to get the Tribe there next season, and it's a plan he first articulated at last season's end. He's got some holes he's trying to fill.
"The needs have not changed from my end-of-season meeting," Shapiro said. "We need to sign back or replace our free agents."
Oh, those free agents. Shapiro has a handful of them -- six in total -- that he needs to re-sign, and the most significant of those free agents are pitchers Kevin Millwood, Bob Wickman, Scott Elarton and Bob Howry, now that Scott Sauerbeck has re-signed.
Millwood and Wickman are the most coveted of the five unsigned players. Each pitcher on the free agent list played a significant role in the team's 93-win season, and Shapiro said he'd welcome all or any one of them back.
He'd also welcome back Jose Hernandez, a useful veteran who gave the team flexibility. Hernandez's return will depend on what lessened role he might want to play. Same goes for right-fielder Juan Gonzalez, whose '05 season amounted to one at-bat.
Shapiro had hoped Gonzalez would provide some right-handed punch, but one at-bat isn't a season. Still, Gonzalez might be intriguing to consider.
"Tough to sign Juan when he would have to play most of his games at DH and we already have one," Shapiro said. "But I would not close the door."
At least Gonzalez will be an inexpensive free agent to re-sign. Millwood will be less so, because he's coming off a season that raised his stock in a free agent market that's thin on talent.
"Do I think he wants to sign back here?" Shapiro said shortly after the season ended. "Yes. Does he like it here? Yes. Do we have immense appreciation for what he can do on and off the field? Absolutely."
So does that mean Shapiro will be able to coax Millwood into returning? Shapiro has a lot less assurance on that front, particularly at the price tag Millwood might fetch. He's an expensive gamble for the organization, but he's a gamble that Shapiro has said he's willing to take.
Besides the pitching, Shapiro has other needs, though not nearly as pressing as trying to keep the pitching staff intact. All the talk about bringing in a big bat isn't as loud as it was at season's end.
"We do not need a bat as we return the position-player club intact," Shapiro said. "But it could be one way we could improve the club further."
That's Shapiro's aim, of course, to improve the club. He's got most of the offseason left to do so, and the list of free agents that could help isn't as long as it might have been in other offseasons.
One name that's come up is free agent outfielder Brian Giles, a former Indian. His agent has talked with the Indians. Another name on the rumor mill is Manny Ramirez, who's said he'd consider Cleveland as a place to play if the Red Sox want to trade him.
Getting Ramirez, however, would be like hitting the Ohio Lottery. Shapiro has more modest sights than a $20-million-a-year player like Manny.
But Shapiro will do something. He's got too many holes to fill to rely on his farm system to handle the load.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
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