The Indians talked to a prospective third baseman Tuesday. Their opening day second baseman will almost assuredly come from inside the organization, but who?
View full sizeImpressing the Indians organization with his batting skills and his willingness to move from the outfield to second base, Cord Phelps could be in the mix for the second-base job when spring training arrives.ORLANDO, Fla. -- The agent for infielder Nick Punto met with GM Chris Antonetti on Tuesday to see if the Indians were interested in hiring him as their next third baseman.
Punto, 33, was the Twins' opening day third baseman last season, but played only 48 games there because of injuries and a .238 batting average. The switch-hitter has made a career out of playing different infield positions, but the Indians talked to his agent Tuesday about giving him everyday at-bats at third.
No numbers were exchanged, but agent Jeff Caulfield said it looks like the Indians and Punto could be a good fit. He added that they could talk again before the meetings end Thursday.
Manager Manny Acta said Monday that the Indians have spent the off-season talking to several free agent third basemen trying to find Jhonny Peralta's replacement.
Punto, a lifetime .247 hitter, isn't going to remind anyone of Adrian Beltre from an offensive standpoint. What he does is play solid defense. He also played 31 games at short last season, so he could give Asdrubal Cabrera a break.
Jayson Nix, who ended 2010 at third after moving from second, is playing in Puerto Rico to get more experience. It's possible he could share third base with Punto.
If a deal gets done, it will probably be a short-term affair. The Indians have prospects who could surface sometime during the 2011 season.
While a mystery swirls around third, another is gathering strength over second. Jason Donald, Luis Valbuena and Nix, depending on what happens at third, will go to spring training as the front runners.
Donald played 41 games at second last season, batting .277 with a .396 on-base average and .423 slugging. Valbuena, who won the job in 2009 only to lose it last year, played 71 games at second (.193/.273/.258). He's playing winter ball in Venezuela.
Nix played 28 games at second, but it's his natural position. He's made six errors in 100 games at second in parts of three big-league seasons. He's made 17 errors in 68 games at third.
View full sizeWhile the Indians continue to look for a veteran addition to the infield, Jayson Nix is currently their most likely choice from the 2010 season to get playing time at either third or second base.Nix's offensive numbers were .234/.281/.391. He hit 13 homers in 78 games for the Tribe and 14 in 102 overall.
Prospects Jason Kipnis and Cord Phelps are behind them. Kipnis is a converted centerfielder. Phelps is a second baseman who tore up the Arizona Fall League at third base, so Kipnis could play second. They'll be in big-league camp along with Lonnie Chisenhall, the supposed third baseman in waiting.
"We have an idea on who is going to start at second base," said Antonetti, who didn't elaborate.
If the Indians don't find a third baseman, it's possible Phelps and Nix could play there. The switch-hitting Phelps hit .298 (59-for-199) in 53 games at Class AA Akron, .317 (77-for-243) at Class AAA Columbus and .367 (29-for-79) in the AFL.
"He's certainly not a finished product, but it was his first extended exposure at third base," said Antonetti, referring to Phelps' time in Arizona. "Talking to [Columbus manager] Mike Sarbaugh, he made some meaningful strides. Whether or not that will be enough for us to consider him as a major-league option at the start of the year I'm not quite sure."
Antonetti said Phelps' chances of opening the season with the Indians are better than Kipnis because he had more time at Class AAA. Kipnis' only exposure to Columbus came during the Clippers' late-season run to the International League championship.
Kipnis hit .300 (61-for-203) at Class A Kinston, .311 (98-for-315) at Akron and .295 (23-for-78) in Arizona. He started working with instructor Anthony Medrano in January to make the switch from center to second and exceeded expectations.
"When a guy is so talented offensively, at times they are reluctant to put the work in defensively to change positions because they feel the bat will carry them to a big-league spot," said manager Manny Acta. "To this kid's credit, he really took it to heart and worked very hard to a point where he was playing very competitive baseball a year from playing in the outfield."
Antonetti, while acknowledging the people in front of Kipnis, said the Indians were not in the position to say he couldn't open the regular season at second base.