Cleveland Indians: The biggest X-factor in 2018

The Cleveland Indians have a team full of talented players, but the status of Michael Brantley remains a focus heading into the 2018 season.

The Cleveland Indians are investing a lot of money in Michael Brantley for the 2018 season, and it remains to be seen if he will even be healthy enough to play a full year.

This has obviously caused some fans some frustration and anxiety, but everyone knows that a healthy Brantley is potentially an All-Star player. I know, potential doesn’t equal actual results.

Brantley’s ability when healthy is why the team took another chance on him in 2018 and is what makes him an X-factor this season.

Joshua Sadlock of FanSided recently wrote an article detailing an X-factor for each MLB team, and selected Brantley for the Indians. Here is what he had to say:

"For the second time in three years, Brantley is coming back from offseason surgery, but he will have the freedom to take his time this year. The Indians are the odds-on favorite to win the AL Central and can wait patiently for Brantley to reach 100 percent. At his best, Brantley is a 20-20 threat with two 45-double seasons. The Indians already have a deep lineup, but a healthy Brantley gives them the added firepower to keep up with the New York Yankees and Houston Astros."

Sadlock notes that Brantley is able to take his time this year, which is true. However, he may get passed up on the depth chart if he can’t prove that he can remain healthy all season. It would be a sunk cost for the team, but it’s not like that situation is new in professional sports. For an extreme example, look at the Boston Red Sox and Pablo Sandoval.

Brantley’s status is interesting because his absence could result in Francisco Mejia getting called up and placed in left field, which is a possibility many may have never considered until recently. The depth at the corner outfield positions is not all that great, and it is clear that the team wants to find a way to get Mejia’s bat in the lineup.

That makes Brantley the X-factor for so many reasons. If he is healthy, he is the starting left fielder and slots in as one of the best bats in the lineup. If he continues to deal with injuries, Terry Francona could get creative and allow Mejia to get some time out in left field.

Next: The state of the payroll now and in the future

It is getting to that point where it is no longer true to say that we don’t need to worry about Brantley’s status for Opening Day, so let’s hope we get some real news on the situation sooner than later.