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2014 Record: 85-77
Runs Scored/Allowed: 669 / 653
Key Additions: Gavin Floyd (SP), Brandon Moss (1B/OF)
Key Departures: Asdrubal Cabrera (SS), Justin Masterson (SP)
Why They'll Be Better
It was a quiet offseason for general manager Chris Antonetti, but that's not such a bad thing as the Indians kept their solid young core intact. Almost everyone is returning from a pitching staff that ranked sixth in the AL with a 3.57 ERA. Masterson and his 5.51 ERA have been swapped out for Floyd, who looked excellent in limited action last year coming off Tommy John surgery. If he's fully recovered from an elbow fracture, Floyd could prove to be a very savvy pickup.
He joins a group of starters that includes Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Josh Tomlin, Danny Salazar and T.J. House, all of whom are under 30 and capable of missing bats. That's a very favorable combination, and with Cleveland bringing back an outstanding relief corps, this club should excel at preventing runs.
Run production is what can take the Indians to the next level. Brantley will be hard-pressed to repeat a spectacular 2014 campaign that landed him third in the AL MVP voting, but any regression there should be offset by contributions from prime-aged hitters like Jason Kipnis (who's due for a big rebound), Carlos Santana, Yan Gomes and Lonnie Chisenhall.
Much could ride on young Francisco Lindor, the team's top prospect who is expected to eventually become the long-term shortstop. That door is now open with Cabrera gone, and although the 21-year-old Lindor is expected to open the season in Triple-A, he could wind up being a difference-maker for a team that got a .683 OPS from the shortstop position last year.
Why They'll Be Worse
The Indians have enough pitching to contend, but the offense needs to get better after scoring only 669 runs in 2014. While that's certainly a possibility, given the aforementioned group of capable young hitters, it's hardly a guarantee.
Brantley's .890 OPS last year was the highest of his career by nearly 150 points, and if he comes crashing back to Earth while some other guys fail to progress, this team may not score enough to rise above mediocrity.
In the rotation, the Indians need a few starters outside of Kluber to prove themselves. There's plenty of talent in the mix, but outside of the ace, no incumbent has come close to logging 200 innings in an MLB season, and the newly acquired Floyd is coming off two straight injury-ruined campaigns.
What To Expect
The Indians are counting on their two best players, Kluber and Brantley, to back up career years that were -- to some extent -- out of nowhere. That's always a risky proposition, but there are plenty of quality pieces in place around that duo, giving Cleveland the potential for an upper-echelon pitching staff and a strong offense to support it.
Francona has had this team very competitive in both of his years at the helm, and I fully expect that to continue in 2015.
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