Five Options at First Base for the Indians Should They Lose Carlos Santana

The Indians enter free agency with a number of questions about where they will put their money, and who will get offers following October's massive letdown against the New York Yankees.

One player whose name has been bantered about since the middle of last season is that of impending free agent Carlos Santana, who to no surprise declined the teams' qualifying offer last week.

Santana has been with the Indians for the past eight seasons, and while at times he can drive you crazy with his inconsistency at the plate, this last season again he was solid with a .259 average with 23 homers and 79 runs batted in, and also drew 88 walks, striking out 94 times.

There's already rumblings about teams that have an interest in Santana, including one of the Indians biggest American League rivals, the Boston Red Sox.

If the team doesn't bring back Santana, the team will have to figure out who is going to help out with first base so the team does not have to play Edwin Encarnacion a lot more than he did in 2017, as he played 23 games at the position.

So here's a quick glance at five players who could be at first for the Tribe in 2018, both in house and free agents should the team lose Santana to another club this offseason.

1. Michael Brantley

Say what?

Yes, the Indians have already decided they want to bring Brantley back in 2018, picking up his team option for the upcoming season.

What they do with him from there is anyone's guess, as the injuries he's suffered the last few seasons has come as a result of him playing in the outfield.

The team has players that can play in the outfield already, as Bradley Zimmer is the center fielder of the future, then there's Lonnie Chisenhall and players like Abraham Almonte, and even the question of what the team does with Jason Kipnis who played center in the posteseason.

So moving Brantley to the infield might just be the answer, and if Santana is gone they will have an opening that might just fit Brantley and hopefully keep him healthy.

This isn't the first time having Brantley at first has been talked about. There was rumors of him having time at first back six years ago, and also it's been talked about already this offseason.

It's an option.

2. Mike Napoli

Two seasons ago Napoli was one of the most popular Indians on the roster as the team made a run into the World Series. He was a force at the plate as well as the locker room, and there was no doubt he was missed this last season.

Yes he's 36, and he's coming off a tough season in which he hit just .193, but he still powered out 26 homers and if he can do what he did two seasons ago (.239, 34 homers and 101 RBI) he would likely be welcomed back if Santana is gone at the right price.

He played 98 games at first two seasons ago for the Indians, and 95 last season, so he would fit right in as the answer to who could play the position, and play it a lot if the team does decide to take a chance on bringing him back in 2018.

He also would be a great addition to the locker room with his leadership, something that again the team didn't have this past season to the level they did in 2016.

3. Lucas Duda

The 31-year-old had a rough season at the plate in terms of average (.217 between the Mets and Rays), but he slammed 30 homers and drove in 64 runs with a .494 slugging percentage.

He played 93 games at first last season, and ESPN has him ranked as the 19th ranked free agent going into 2018.

What's he worth? He made $7.2 million last season, and Fangraphs projected Duda to get just a one-year deal for $10 million this winter, something the Indians could for sure afford for an everyday first basemen.

He's been in the National League his whole career minus his 52 games with the Rays in 2017, so he'd have to get more accustomed to playing in the AL, but if the Indians have interest, he could be an affordable option.

4. Mitch Moreland

The Indians had some interest in Moreland two seasons ago before he inked with the Rangers, and last season he played in Boston, where he hit .246 with 22 homers and 79 runs batted in playing first base in 138 games.

He won a gold glove in 2016 with Texas, and in eight seasons his yearly average is .252 with 23 homers and 76 RBI. He cots the Sox just $5.5 million last season, so he's likely another affordable option for the Indians should they be in the market if Santana leaves.

Moreland has played in the American League his entire career, and he's played in the postseason six times, so the pressure of the playoffs won't be an issue.

Again not a player who is going to sell a lot of season tickets, but a serviceable player who could fit in and do it without the Indians having to break the bank.

5. Yandy Diaz

Diaz hit .263 with no homers and 13 RBI for the Indians in 2017 in 49 games, and the team does want to see what he can do when playing first, as he's doing it this winter in the Venezuelan Winter League.

According to a Sunday news release by Nelson Medina Arnías on LVBP.com, the online home of the Venezuelan Winter League (Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional), Indians utility man Yandy Diaz will work at least one game a week at first base while playing for Leones del Caracas this fall and winter.

Now before anyone says anything, it's quite a reach to think that Diaz will do enough in the next five months to prove to Terry Francona and the staff that he can play first and do it well enough to prove to the team they don't have to find a player to be there if Santana leaves, but him playing first in the Winter League means they are keeping all options open.

The team is high on the 26-year-old, as he got the starting nod at third to start the 2017 season before he was sent back and forth to Columbus a couple of times.

It will be interesting to watch what the team does with Diaz throughout this winter.

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