Cleveland Indians: A quiet offseason can sometimes be a good thing

(Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Indians are in the midst of a rather quiet offseason, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing for a team as talented as this one.

There is always something eerie about too much silence. But when it comes to this offseason for the Cleveland Indians, silence can be a good thing.

It hasn’t been total radio silence for the team. Yonder Alonso has been signed and Melvin Upton was brought in on a minor league deal, along with everyone’s favorite player Michael Martinez.

The biggest news has been the departures of Carlos Santana, Bryan Shaw, Joe Smith and likely Jay Bruce, whose name has disappeared from the airwaves after some rumors throughout the month of December. But at this point, it seems clear he isn’t coming back unless his value plummets behind closed doors.

The lack of any major moves to counter the losses has some fans angry, while some are even going as far as to awake from their hibernation and claim the Dolans are cheap owners, completing ignoring the rising payroll figures and the money to be handed out in arbitration. Some like narratives, I suppose.

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But those who are angry are ignoring the fact that the Indians have made so many moves, both major and minor, throughout the past decade to get to this point of having such a talented team.

There comes a time when offseasons will be quiet because the moves have been made. Now it’s time for the team to produce in the postseason, and yes, the Indians are still heavy favorites to return to October in 2018.

There also isn’t much room on the roster for any upgrades.

The pitching staff already has six people competing for five spots, and there isn’t one position that stands out as a glaring weakness, especially considering all the talent available in the farm system.

The Indians are never going to be a team that spends like the Yankees or the Red Sox, and all fans should know this by now. But as I said, narratives and all that.

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The front office has spent the past decade building a contender and we are seeing the results of all the hard work. Now it is on the players to go from favorites on paper to champions on the field.