Cleveland Indians: Best fits at first base in 2018

With the possibility of Carlos Santana hitting the open market, we take a look at possible first base options for the Cleveland Indians going forward.

There may be a serious hole to fill for the Cleveland Indians in 2018.

While it is possible, there is the risk Carlos Santana will decline his qualifying offer. That means there are currently no active first basemen on the 40-man roster.

The Indians may have to look at some of the many suitable free agents to fill that void. Here are some of the players that may fit the Indians first baseman role in 2018.

Mitch Moreland

Boston didn’t extend a qualifying offer to Mitch Moreland last week. After all, he only made $5.5 million in 2017. Moreland hit 22 homers for the second season in a row while he played through some injuries last year. Those injuries contributed to his drop-off towards the season’s end. The Indians may be able to get Moreland as a bridge player.

The 31 year-old may be a cheaper option than most and would be a great fit on a two-year deal. Signing Moreland would give the Tribe time to develop younger players like Jose Medina. His defensive speed would fit right in with the Indians’ flying infield.

Logan Morrison

Logan Morrison turned into a star hitter for the Rays in 2017. He is another mature player who didn’t make much in 2017. Morrison stuck out in 129 out of 512 at-bats last year and has been boom or bust in recent years. But he slugged .512 in 2017 while leading the Rays in home runs with 38.

Morrison may ask for a bit more after having a career year. If the Indians were to get him, his bat would fill the void of Santana. A chance at signing him depends on how much he is asking for and if it is anywhere near Santana’s market asking price.

Lucas Duda

Another Rays player set to hit the open market, Lucas Duda may be a relatively cheap option. Duda hit 30 homers last year but his stint in the AL with Tampa was awful.

That said, his hitting power against righties could aid the Tribe lineup. He could be another bridge piece for the Indians to utilize for a few years. Putting him in the lineup with slugger Edwin Encarnacion would give the team a strong power-hitting duo.

If the Indians are looking for a cheaper option so they can spend more elsewhere, Duda may be what they need.

Mike Napoli

A reunion with Mike Napoli is not out of the question for the Indians. He had a career low year in 2017 which means he may come as a cheaper option. If the Indians do not strike deals with Santana and Jay Bruce, he is not out of their budget.

The Indians know of Napoli’s capabilities after a great year with the Tribe in 2016. Napoli has not been one to sign long-term deals.

If he were to settle in Cleveland, pairing him with Encarnacion would be a pipe dream. The duo could rotate from DH to first base, allowing each other to rest for the long run.

Yonder Alonso

Yonder Alonso had a career year in 2017, that is, before he went to Seattle. Alonso was traded at the deadline in a desperate move by the Mariners to keep pace in the AL Wild Card race.

He slashed a respectable .266/.365/.501 last year and could fare better in Cleveland. Alonso played in two pitcher-friendly parks, and should his fly ball rate go up, his numbers could follow in Cleveland.

Alonso may be one of the more expensive options this offseason. He is a veteran who still knows how to carry a team at times. A long-term deal with him would likely mean keeping him around for 4-5 years.

Carlos Santana

There is still a chance Slamtana could stay in Cleveland. With Jay Bruce asking for $80-$90 Million, he seems to be out of the question. This means if they want to keep one of their big name free agents, Carlos is the one.

The $17.4 million qualifying offer may be more than Santana would make annually elsewhere. This is not to say he will unable to find a long-term deal, but he may be better off taking a chance on the qualifying offer and looking to play for a better long-term deal in 2018.

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Santana had a down year by his standards. He failed to reach his career high in home runs and batting average but was still consistent at the plate. There is a chance he could stay in Cleveland a little longer to boost his numbers and earn a long-term deal.