An Early Look (and Guess) on What the Indians Do with Their 2019 Free Agents

Following the Indians overwhelmingly disappointing loss to the Houston Astros in three games of the American League Divisional Series, the team and fans are in

Following the Indians overwhelmingly disappointing loss to the Houston Astros in three games of the American League Divisional Series, the team and fans are in wonder as to what's next for the now three-time AL Central Division Champs.

The disappointment of again not getting the job done in 2018 will linger, but today is all about looking ahead - already - to what the team will hopefully make into an even better 2019 season, despite a number of key free agents.

Just like every team out there, the Indians will have a lot of offseason decisions to make, and today we take a quick glance at the big ones with free agents, and what early direction the team may go in as they take the field in April of next season.

1. Josh Donaldson

Donaldson's short time with the Indians included just 16 games, as he hit a solid .280 with three homers and seven runs batted in, and in his time at third base played just fine at the position.

The former AL MVP made $23 million this past season with the Blue Jays, and while at 32 years old he won't get that type of deal like of the one he got from Toronto (a one-year deal worth $23 million), he showed enough in his short time with the Tribe where he should still be able to cash in this offseason.

It's going to be very tough unless the Indians open their pocketbooks to get Donaldson back, and you can expect to see a team out there that needs help at 3B to give him a 2-3 year deal worth somewhere between $7-10 million per season.

Early Guess - Donaldson was a player who was supposed to be a big asset in the series with the Astros, and he put up one hit over the three games. It was a nice one month relationship, but he'll be elsewhere in 2019.

2. Cody Allen

At the beginning of the season Indians fans were fretting with the fact that both Cody Allen and Andrew Miller were both free agents at the end of 2018, but now there's a question with the way each performed late in the season if the Indians want either one of them back.

Allen was a disaster in the second half of the season, and by the end of the year for the most part had taken a backseat to the player who is going to be the teams' closer in 2019, Brad Hand, who came over from the Padres in a masterful trade by the Tribe front office.

Being the stand up player that he's always been, Allen took a lot of the blame for the issues he had, as he just never was able to turn things around and ended the season with a career high 4.56 ERA.

He did break the Indians all-time saves mark in the 2018 season, but a lot of his success came before his collapse which seemed to happen after a solid April and May.

It will be interesting if the Indians offer him a deal to come back and work out of the pen, or if they want to wipe the awful pen slate clean for 2019.

Early Guess - Allen is still just 29 (will turn 30 when the 2019 season starts) so there's no doubt that he should have years left on his arm, but after what happened this year, a change of scenery might be needed. It's tough to think he'll be back in a Tribe uniform, and instead will take a 1-2 year deal elsewhere to try and get his issues turned back around.

3. Andrew Miller

Another player who started the year strong, but a string of injuries made Miller into a pitcher who simply was nowhere near as dominant as he was back in his first two years with the Tribe.

The Indians did everything they could to give time to get healthy, and during a two-week stretch in August he did appear to get some movement and velocity back, but then it went away again, and by the postseason it was over.

Miller ended the year 2-4 with a 4.24 ERA, consider last season he was 4-3 with a 1.44 ERA, and you can see that something it clearly not right.

It will be tough for him to cash in big this offseason, more so at age 33, but again like with Allen, it's hard to think the Indians are going to be in the running for his services.

Early Guess - Just like with Allen, look for Miller to take a 1-2 year deal at most with a team looking for some relief help with the thought of him trying to get right and trying to get back to the form that made him nearly unhittable the last couple of seasons. He won't be back with the Tribe.

4. Melky Cabrera

Cabera quietly had a very nice season playing in right field with the Indians, hitting .280 by the time it was all said and done, hitting 6 homers and driving in 39 runs.

He was rushed to the big league roster and then released, but the team was able to get him back and after a little more time in Columbus, he finally had his timing back on his swing and it showed in the second half with some big hits.

Cabrera came to the Tribe on the cheap, one-year at one million, trying to prove at 34 years old he could still be an asset to a team in their outfield.

He proved it with the Indians, and there's nothing to think the team won't try and work with him to try and give him say a two-year deal worth about $4 million with the outfield in such flux heading into 2019.

Early Guess - Here's one player the team can afford, and I think they will, getting him back with a two-year deal worth about $3-4 million.

5. Josh Tomlin

You could just feel with each September start that Tomlin got that the end was near, and it's fairly evident unless it's with an invite to spring training with no roster spot guaranteed that Tomlin has thrown his last pitch with the Indians.

Last season he entered the year as the fifth starter, but was a disaster from the word go, just unable to get batters out, and he was quickly pulled from the starter spot for the likes of young pitchers like Adam Plutko and then Shane Bieber.

He ended the season 2-5 with a 6.14 ERA, and the team did all they could to get him right, even putting him on the DL with a 'hamstring injury' to try and allow him time to get things in the right direction.

Tomlin's efforts over the years won't be soon forgotten, but again him returning seems like a long shot.

Early Guess - Terry Francona and the clubhouse has always been super fond of Tomlin, but in the end it's in the best interest to move on and allow him the chance to catch on elsewhere.

6. Rajai Davis

Davis again is a great guy to have in the clubhouse, and the team brought him back and he worked hard to make the roster out of the spring.

If he's to be on this team in 2019, it's probably a good bet he's going to have to do that again, as with the emergence of Greg Allen, there's just not a need to have a 38-year-old on the roster when you have his younger version already on the team and roster already.

This last season Davis hit .224 with 21 steals. He's a fan favorite for his heroics in game seven of the World Series two years ago, but really he didn't have a huge impact on the team this season.

Early Guess - Unless the team has offseason injury issues in the outfield, or simply can't get anyone to come to the team, it would tough to think he's going to get even a spring invite in 2019.

7. Lonnie Chisenhall

Chisenhall's big issues is his inability to stay healthy, as the last two seasons he's played in just 121 games, including just 29 games this last season.

When he's healthy, he can be a big asset, as in the 29 games he hit the ball rather well, hitting .321 with 1 homer and 9 RBI in 84 at-bats.

Again a lot of what this team does in the outfield is a huge question mark, so if Chisenhall is willing to come back on the cheap, the team might take a chance on him.

He's still just 30 years old, and with his injuries the last two seasons he's going to be anxious to try and prove himself. If he can, the Indians might get him at the right price.

Early Guess - The outfield is the biggest question mark, but look for the Indians to chat with Chisenhall, but not offer him much more than a one-year deal worth no more than $1 million as he's got to prove he can stay on the field.

8. Michael Brantley

Last season Indians fans went crazy when the team brought Brantley back on a team option, paying the 31-year-old $11.5 million.

Now they wish they had him for another year, as he stepped up playing 143 games (the most since 2014), hitting .309 with 17 homers and 76 runs batted in.

Terry Francona admitted there were tears in the exit interview with Brantley, which one could take as meaning he's history and is ready to cash in with another team.

Sadly, those feelings are probably right.

Brantley is likely to earn at least $12-15 million per year on the open market, and big market teams are able to throw around 3-4 year deals worth $48-$60 million a LOT more than the Indians are.

It's sad to see Brantley go, as not only will his play on the field and plate be missed, but his leadership in the clubhouse will as well.

Early Guess - Indians fans will still see Brantley, sadly it will be with another American League team as he inks a 3-4 year deal that is going to pay him quite a bit of money, between $45-$60 million, well out of the Indians range.