Indian additions!

When you root for small market teams,you get used to less than scintillating free agent signings over the hot stove.
That's the one thing that has been fun about rooting for the Giants over the last few years-here and there,you can land a big money fish out of the pool...

I covered the Giants signing Johnny Cueto while I was away and now that I'm home (I'll have road stories-I promise) it's time to catch up on the less than inspiring signings in Cleveland.
I will try to get a look at the Pirate addition later today or soon

The biggest name went to Cleveland in well traveled Mike Napoli.
Napoli looked to be cooked midway through last season in Boston as he was a miserable .207,13 and 40 through 98 games before being basically given away to the Rangers,where he resurfaced with a improved .295,5 and 10 in 35 games to end the season.
At 34,Napoli's performance must have impressed the Indians a lot as the team signed him to a one year deal for seven million along with handing him the first base job.
Napoli is considered a good fielder,so shoving Carlos Santana and his mitt of steel to the DH slot is certainly an upgrade in the field.
The biggest question that I have is which Napoli are the Indians getting?
The Napoli that finished the season in a hitters park in Arlington or the Napoli that looked washed up to Nick Swisher level proportions in Boston?
If Cleveland got roughly what Napoli delivered in 2014 (.247,17 and 55),this isn't a bad deal-I question which Napoli they signed though and they may eat half a year of possible poor production to find out.....

Cleveland added an extra outfielder in yet another player that has bounced around the game in 35 year old Rajai Davis.
Davis completes the TRS triple crown by joining the Indians after spending time as a Pirate and Giant and other teams as well-last season as a Detroit Tiger,Davis hit .258 with 8 homers and 30 RBI and 18 steals.
Davis provides insurance in the outfield in case Michael Brantley's recovery from off season surgery takes longer than expected..
The one year deal is worth 5.25 million and with the Indians still lacking any type of impact outfielder other than Brantley,the addition of Davis actually looks good compared to the recent additions of guys that should be the last player on the bench types or organizational depth at AAA Columbus.
Sending some cash to the Angels for light hitting Collin Cowgill,signing more light hitters in former Pirate Robbie Grossman and former Cardinal Shane Robinson and claiming Joey Butler off waivers from Tampa Bay do not look like solutions to any problems to me-Unless you are trying to field a 4A teams with these guys with Abraham Almonte types.
Of those above names,only Butler even mildly intrigues as a possible bat off the bench with a little pop (8 homers in 257 at bats) and he is 29.
Now to be fair,these guys aren't designed to be solutions,but they still don't offer the type of hope that one would.well hope for...

I'm a little more pleased with the sign average guys in bulk plan when you sign pitchers.
Relievers can be so up and down from year to year and some times a team can stumble into a real gem.
Cleveland signed one time phenom Joba Chambelain and situational lefty Joe Thatcher to deals in that realm.
Thatcher had a fine season being used that way with Houston last season as a LOOGY and could help Cleveland in the same role.
Chamberlain may never be the fireballer that he once was as a Yankee and as his velocity drops,so has his strikeouts per nine innings ratio,but I'm fine with the low risk contract...

There's life in the small market-looking for a role player that can help from the massive sandpile-just need to sift through the box....

Maybe back later with Pirate talk...