The big-name free agents are starting to sign with teams as the winter meetings begin Monday. The Indians, however, are still waiting to make a move.
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View full sizeA versatile defensive player who can handle several infield positions, Nick Punto could be targeted by the Indians to help provide a short-term solution at third base.ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cliff Lee is still out there. So is Carl Crawford, Paul Konerko, Adrian Beltre and Carl Pavano. The free agents, however, are starting to come off the board as the winter meetings open Monday at the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin resort.
The White Sox signed slugger Adam Dunn. The Yankees have ended several weeks of false drama by reaching deals in principle with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. It wasn't like they were going anywhere in the first place, but arch-rival Boston tweaked the Yankees' nose by offering Rivera a two-year deal.
With Jeter and Rivera back in pinstripes, the Yankees can turn their attention to Lee and Crawford.
The Nationals on Sunday provided the first jolt of the meetings by signing outfielder Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126 million deal. Werth's agent is Scott Boras.
Boston, meanwhile, reportedly dipped into its farm system and sent three prospects to San Diego for first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. With David Ortiz fading, Gonzalez should help the Red Sox get back to the postseason, a party they missed last season.
But Sunday, the deal stalled because the Red Sox were unable to sign Gonzalez to an extension before the trade became official. It still might happen, but there is a lot of ground to cover.
While Boston talks megadeals, Indians GM Chris Antonetti arrives in Florida trying to improve his team. While other clubs use a fire hose to make that happen, Antonetti is armed with an eye-dropper.
The Indians have spent the off-season looking for a third baseman. There was a chance Kevin Kouzmanoff could have been the answer. Last week, however, Oakland non-tendered third baseman Edwin Encarnacion instead of Kouzmanoff. Still, there was hope because Oakland has been pursuing Beltre, Boston's free-agent third baseman.
If the A's landed Beltre, they may have been willing to trade Kouzmanoff to the Indians. But on Sunday, it appeared that the A's had grown weary of being rebuffed and were no longer pursuing him.
The Indians have talked to a number of free-agent infielders who could help them at third.
Nick Punto, a switch-hitter, has spent the last seven years playing a variety of infield positions with the Twins. He became a free agent when the Twins declined his $5 million option for 2011. The Indians and Punto's agent will talk at the meetings.
Punto, 33, is looking for everyday at-bats. He opened last season as the Twins' third baseman, but a left hamstring injury and a poor offensive performance cost him playing time.
If the Indians don't feel Punto is the everyday answer, they have enough infielders to match him with in a platoon. Punto does catch the ball and the Indians defense certainly needs improvement. The Indians ranked seventh in fielding percentage in the American League, a ranking that doesn't do justice to how poorly they played.
Encarnacion, who played third for Toronto last season and hit 21 homers, is a possibility. The Indians like Encarnacion's power, but he committed 18 errors in 95 games.
Kansas City non-tendered Josh Fields last week. The White Sox's former No.1 pick in 2004 played 12 games at third for the Royals and made five errors. He has been bothered by knee and hip injuries.
Starting pitching and an extra catcher are also among the Indians' needs.
They were in on right-handers Javier Vazquez, Jon Garland and Aaron Harang, but couldn't get a deal done. Vazquez signed a one-year deal with Florida worth $7 million. Garland signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers for $5 million with a vesting option for 2012 if he pitches 190 innings. Harang reportedly signed a one-year deal with San Diego.
Carlos Santana, if he recovers from left knee surgery, Lou Marson and recently-signed Luke Carlin give the Indians three catchers between the big leagues and Class AAA Columbus. They need a fourth and they'd like to bring someone in to push Marson if Santana is ready to start.
Chris Gimenez was a possibility, but he appears to be headed to another team.
This will be Mark Shapiro's first winter meetings as team president. He's been the club's general manager for the last nine years. While Shapiro is available for advice to Antonetti, he will be busy meeting with Commissioner Bud Selig and the rest of his on-field committee.
Adding another wild card team to each league has gained momentum. The chances of it going into effect next season would take a change in the basic agreement that expires in December of 2011.