Cleveland Indians: Plenty of competition to watch for in camp

The Cleveland Indians lost some talent this offseason, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of competitions all over the roster this spring.

With all the talk of departures this offseason, some Cleveland Indians fans may be thinking the team is still in need of an upgrade.

While that may be true, there is already plenty of competition all throughout the roster.

From the starting rotation to the utility role, players out in Goodyear are fighting for jobs as minor league options run dry and former starters are looking for another full-time role.

Even the addition of Rajai Davis to the roster shakes things up, as he is now competing with the likes of Brandon Guyer, Melvin Upton Jr., Tyler Naquin, Greg Allen and others for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Perhaps the most under-the-radar competition takes place in the infield, where Giovanny Urshela and Erik Gonzalez are competing for a backup role. Both are out of options, so this is it for one player.

This competition will not make major headlines, but the role is an important one. If any of the infielders go down with an injury, or the group is switched around in the postseason like last year, that utility man plays an important role.

I don’t expect the coaching staff to see anything they haven’t seen from either player in the coming weeks, so the decision comes down to potential. I would predict Gonzalez makes it due to his versatility and improvement on offense, but everyone knows about Urshela’s skills on defense.

These are good problems to have, as long as the team makes the right decision in the end.

ICYMI

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 Another team tanking

Just like the Marlins, the Rays have been shedding payroll this offseason in the name of a rebuild. That shouldn’t help with the attendance problem down in St. Pete.

A real live baseball game

The Arizona Diamondbacks are kicking off Spring Training today with a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils. It isn’t the Indians, but it is a reminder that baseball is finally back.

Next: Top 10 wins from 2017

The Indians will be back on TV on Friday. Until then, we wait impatiently.