The Tribe beat writer combined what the players did in the 2010 season and what they're expected to do next year to determine their value to the team.
Grady Sizemore's successful return from microfracture knee surgery will go a long way toward determining how much the Indians can improve in 2011.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In ranking the Indians' 40-man roster, I combined what the players did in the 2010 season and what they're expected to do next year.
I studied their stats and their positions in the Indians' pecking order. To try and gauge each players value, I went to baseball- reference.com and checked out the WAR (wins above replacement) statistical study on the Tribe. The stat, developed by Sean Smith of Baseballprojections.com, measures the number of wins a player adds to his team above what a replacement player would add.
OK, I threw a few darts as well. It's not like I watched Ezequiel Carrera for 162 games this year.
Grady Sizemore, Carlos Santana, Anthony Reyes and Hector Ambriz are not technically on the roster because they're on the 60-day disabled list, but they were rated as well. The roster must be adjusted and cut to 40 players by Nov. 19 in preparation for the Rule 5 draft.
1. OF Shin-Soo Choo: Top player on the roster, but he needs lots of help.
2. RHP Chris Perez: Went 2-0 with 16 saves in 17 chances and a 0.63 ERA after the All-Star break.
3. RHP Fausto Carmona: Showed he's capable of being a No.1 starter.
4. CF Grady Sizemore: Indians still consider him an elite player. For their sake, he better be.
5. C Carlos Santana: Manny Acta says Santana was born to hit in the middle of the lineup.
6. DH Travis Hafner: Hit .329 (51-for-155) after the break, but Tribe needs a 500 at-bat season from Pronk.
7. SS Asdrubal Cabrera: Production down because of broken left forearm. Hit .342 (27-for-79) with runners in scoring position.
Carlos Santana's star was quickly ascending with the Indians before a collision at the plate prematurely ended his rookie season.8. RHP Rafael Perez: Looks like a set-up man again in winning six games.
9. RHP Carlos Carrasco: September is a fooler, but six of his seven starts were rated quality starts.
10. RHP Justin Masterson: He should open 2011 in the rotation.
11. Shelley Duncan: Not sure what this says about Indians talent, but Duncan did everything asked of him this season.
12. RHP Mitch Talbot: Good first half, poor second half. Needs good health and a full season in 2011.
13. SS/2B Jason Donald: Of all the Tribe's young position players who came to the big leagues last season, with the exception of Carlos Santana, he was the most consistent hitter.
14. OF Michael Brantley: He's getting better, but a .296 on base percentage is a concern.
15. OF Trevor Crowe: He plays at 100 mph. If he hit .280 to .290, he'd play a lot more.
16. C Lou Marson: Great arm, bad bat. He can't possibly be that bad a hitter.
17. 2B/3B Jayson Nix: Out of the ashes of 11 errors at the hot corner, did the Indians find a third baseman or a utility infielder?
18. RHP Jeanmar Gomez: He'll help the Indians rotation at some point next year.
19. LHP Tony Sipp: Opposition hit only .218 against Sipp even though he gave up 12 homers, 30 runs and 39 walks.
20. RHP Joe Smith: Tough on righties (.160), weak on lefties (.342). It may cost him.
21. RHP Jensen Lewis: Pitched for his job in September (0.84 ERA, 1 run, 11 strikeouts, 3 walks). Did he do enough?
22. 1B Matt LaPorta: Manny Acta gave him a mulligan for 2010. What do you give him?
Josh Tomlin wasn't considered a prime prospect in the Indians' farm system, but produced quality starts throughout his rookie campaign.23. RHP Josh Tomlin: Started 12 games, won half of them. Good chance to make opening day rotation.
24. OF Nick Weglarz: He has the power the Indians crave, but thumb surgery stopped him at Class AAA Columbus last year.
25. RHP Justin Germano: Manny Acta likes relievers that can go two or three innings. Germano does that well.
26. LHP Aaron Laffey: Not sure if Laffey is out as a starter or not. If he's out, he's a left-handed Germano.
27. RHP Frank Herrmann: He throws the ball over the plate, a good thing for a guy who throws between 95 mph to 97 mph.
28. RHP Hector Ambriz: Rule 5 right-hander who was hurt all year. He'll be down for at least a year following Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
29. 1B/3B Andy Marte: Good guy, but if he's still here in 2011, it means the Indians have gone backward instead of forward.
30. C Luke Carlin: Did well in a short look.
31. INF Drew Sutton: Ditto for Sutton.
32. C Chris Gimenez: Improved as a catcher, but with Carlos Santana and Lou Marson in front of him, he has nowhere to go but down.
33. RHP Vinnie Pestano: If he proves he can get lefties and righties out, he could steal a spot in the pen.
34. INF Luis Valbuena: He got lost in spring training and never found his way home.
35. OF Jordan Brown: Finally got his big-league shot, but he still needs a change of scenery.
36. LHP David Huff: Went from 11 wins in 2009 to 11 losses in 2010, but don't count him out.
37. RHP Jess Todd: There are a lot of bullpen arms in front of him.
38. OF Ezequiel Carrera: Acquired from Seattle for Russell Branyan. He was a phone call away when Michael Brantley twisted his ankle in late September.
39. LHP Kelvin De La Cruz: Put in a healthy year at Class A and AA after missing most of the 2009 season with elbow problems.
40.1B Wes Hodges: Hard to figure out what Indians think of Hodges after they designated him and then re-signed him.
41. OF Chad Huffman: Claimed on waivers from the Yankees on Sept. 17.
42. SS Carlos Rivero: Homers went from seven to six, errors from 14 to 28 in second year at Class AA Akron.
43. RHP Anthony Reyes: Still trying to make it back from Tommy John surgery.
44. RHP Hector Rondon: He's recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.