A Progressive Team

Cleveland Indians 2007 Record: 96-66 (AL Central Division Winners)
2008 Prediction: 2nd in AL Central


In

• Masahide Kobayashi (Japan) - signed to a 2 year, $6.25 million contract with a $3.25 million club option for 2010 - 11/20/07
  
• Andy Gonzalez (CHW) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/21/07
  
• Aaron Fultz (CLE) - 2008 $1.5 million club option exercised - 11/6/07
  
• Paul Byrd (CLE) - 2008 $7.5 million club option exercised - 11/6/07
  
• Jamey Carroll (COL) - acquired for a player to be named later - 12/8/07
  
• Joe Borowski (CLE) - 2008 $4 million club option exercised - 11/6/07
  
• Jorge Julio (COL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/31/08
  

Out

• Jason Stanford (WAS) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/27/07
  
• Chris Gomez (PIT) - signed to 1 year, $1 million contract - 12/12/07
  

Remaining Free Agents

• Kenny Lofton
  
• Trot Nixon
  

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Victor Martinez
1B - Ryan Garko
2B - Asdrubal Cabrera/Josh Barfield
3B - Casey Blake
SS - Jhonny Peralta
LF - David Dellucci/Jason Michaels
CF - Grady Sizemore
RF - Jason Michaels/Franklin Gutierrez
DH - Travis Hafner

Projected Opening Day Rotation
C.C Sabathia
Fausto Carmona
Jake Westbrook
Paul Byrd
Cliff Lee/Aaron Laffey

Projected Opening Day Closer
Joe Borowski

Improvements: The Indians signed Japanese reliever Masahide Kobayashi, and it didn't cost them the world (a la the Red Sox and Dice-K) to do it. The right hander should provide the Tribe with more stability in the back end of the bullpen, as he saved at least 20 games over the last 7 seasons in Japan, according to MLB.com. The Indians already had the 4th best bullpen ERA in the league last season, also according to MLB.com, with the likes of the Rafaels...Betencourt and Perez, and closer Joe Borowski (who actually had an ERA over 5.00). But GM Mark Shapiro knows how the game works, and knows that a bullpen can implode at a moment's notice.
Lack of improvement: There wasn't much about the Indians that needed improvement - they WERE tied for the best record in the league (not to sound repetitive). Their rotation is set, their lineup is solid, and their bullpen is not too shabby either.
Keys to success: Joe Borowski had an ugly 5.07 ERA last season, but did manage to save 45 games for the Tribe. Borowski has never been the most reliable closer in the world - he's saved more than 30 games three times in his 11 year-career (including 2007). Borowski will have to show he is capable of being a big league closer, or Kobayashi might have to step in and assume the role - as long as he is able to adapt to American-style baseball. Lefty Cliff had a season to forget in 2007, missing the first month of the season with an abdominal injury, and eventually being sent down to Triple-A in July. The former 18-game winner will have to find his way back into the rotation (and the big league club) and show he can still pitch with the best of them. Travis Hafner will also need to find a way to go back to his .300/30+/100+ days and lead the Tribe to the promised land.