Indian Winter

Aaron Cunningham

If, like me, you have become so disgusted with the front office's reluctance to make a serious play for a mid level free agent (a right handed, power bat, maybe!), then you, as well, are a bit fuzzy on the gaggle of scrubs that the Tribe has added to the fold since the pain ended in late September.  Time to play catch-up.

Major League Locks

RHP Derek Lowe - Lowe is coming of the worst year of his career (9-17, 5.05) and has one foot in the grave (he turns 39 on June 1).  Still, he is a proven innings eater (averaging 33 GS, 203 IP since 2002) and was 16-12 just 2 years ago.  A solid add (especially since the team gave up bupkis to get him), I have Lowe penciled into the #4 slot in the rotation, ahead of Fausto Carmona and behind Josh Tomlin.

Major League Possibles

OF Aaron Cunningham - The Tribe effectively traded 2 good young arms (Cory Burns to SD for Cunningham and Josh Judy lost on waivers to the Reds to open a spot on the 40-man) for him, so they must think a good deal of Baseball America's #55 pre-2009 prospect.  Frankly, I just don't see it.  Assuming that everyone stays healthy, Aaron will be in competition with the likes of Shelley Duncan and the soon to be discussed Felix Pie for the utility outfield spot.  We know that we like Duncan's clubhouse presence, so the shortcoming must be statistical.  Let's take a look at the MLB careers of the two right handed bats (Duncan vs. Cunningham) - BA (.239 vs .231) wash; OPS (.754 vs .664) strong for Duncan; defensive total range per year (0 vs -4) again strong for Duncan especially since Shelley's numbers jumps to +1 when you discount his time at 1B; PA/K (3.94 vs 4.62) goes to Cunningham; but K/BB (2.83 vs 3.40) and K/HR (5.67 vs 14.2) both go solidly to Duncan.  Long story short (too late), the 26 year old is in the mix, but I know not why.

OF Felix Pie - Felix, whose last name is pronounced pee (like urine) - aye (like Fonzie), has had some limited success at the major league level (.249, .683 OPS) and has some speed (20 SB, 13 3B in 398 games), but his true upside comes in the field where he has a +14 rTot/yr (defensive runs saved per season) in the outfield.  Pie will bring a different dynamic to the utility outfield battle, which is why I consider the 27 year old (despite his left handed hitting handicap) the only real challenger to Duncan.

2B Jose Lopez - An All-Star with Seattle in 2006, Lopez averaged .277 and 82 RBI from '06 to '09, topping out with 25 HR and 96 RBI in that last season.  Jose has fallen on hard times since, splitting his 2011 campaign between the Marlins and Rockies and hitting just .216.  His defense has dipped as well as the plus defender at second and near gold glover at third lapsed into mediocrity last season.  The 28 year old seems to have hit the wall well early of expectation.  Still, his plus power and right handed bat will put him in the utility infield competition with Jason Donald and Cord Phelps.

AAA Depth

C Matt Pagnozzi - Quality catchers are always in high demand.  Pagnozzi comes from good blood as his uncle Tom (nyuk, nyuk) caught 12 years in the big leagues and won 3 gold gloves.  29 year old Matt sports a career .310 major league average, despite rapping just .220 over 9 minor league seasons.  He did bat .275 with a .758 OPS at AAA last season and is well known for his defense, throwing out 35% of runners for his career.  It would take at least one injury to put Pagnozzi into competition for a major league spot.

3B Andy LaRoche - I know what you're thinking, "Is this the LaRoche that can hit or the one that can't?"  Yeah, sorry, Andy owns a .226 career MLB average with a .642 OPS.  On the plus side, LaRoche can play all four infield spots and has dabbled in left field.  The 28 year old is well above average at third with a career rTot/yr of +7.  With the utility depth mentioned above and Jack Hannahan and Lonnie Chisenhall ahead of him at third, I doubt that we will see Andy on the lake this summer.

RHP Robinson Tejada - Taking pitching cast offs from Kansas City does not the path to a pennant pave.  That being said, Tejada is just one season removed from 127 Royals appearances that netted a 3.57 ERA and 9.2 K/9.  Even with his lively 95 mph fastball, Rob spent most of 2011 at AAA after missing about six weeks with right shoulder inflammation.  With all of the young right-handers in the system, I fail to see the wisdom in bringing the 30 year old on board, but expect him to be a phone call away at Columbus whenever the injury bug should hit the 'pen.

Oh, yes, in addition to losing Burns and Judy, RHP Adam Miller signed with the f'ing Yankees today.  Even still, best of luck to Adam, he's certainly paid his dues.