by Michael Cutting

Created on: August 11, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Being the general manager of the Cleveland Indians is a dream job for many of us sports fans. Given the opportunity, I would make the Indians relevant again. Cleveland is a mid-market team, so I have a payroll in the 80 million-dollar range to work with. That is plenty of money for me to put together a winning team for the 2009 season, since in 2008 the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays competed for division titles with payrolls in the 30-35 million-dollar range. The New York Yankees had a 2008 payroll around 200 million dollars, and they are going to miss the playoffs. Therefore, it is proven that a big payroll is not necessary to win. The important thing is getting the right people to fill the right roles, along with an infusion of cost-controlled players from the minor league system.

My first thing to do as General Manager would be to evaluate the current roster, to see where I have room to make changes. The positions that need significant upgrade are second base, third base, left field, and right field. The starting rotation is thin after Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona, so some depth will be needed there. The bullpen has some good parts, but needs a good lefty specialist to go along with Rafael Perez. Quite frankly, Kobayashi is not cutting it as closer, so I would look to upgrade there.
The positions are in good shape are catcher, first base, shortstop, and center field. Here is the status of those players' contracts.

Victor Martinez-C- signed through 2009, 09 salary $5.7 million with $7 million club option for 2010.
Grady Sizemore-CF- signed through 2011 with club option for 2012, 09 salary $4.6 million.
Jhonny Peralta-SS- signed through 2010 with club option for 2011, 09 salary $3.4 million.
Ryan Garko-1B- signed through 2008, arbitration eligible after 2009 season. 09 salary approx. $0.6 million.

Therefore, I would have $14.3 million tied up on the infield, still needing second basemen and a third basemen. No other infielders are under contract for 2009, but I do have some players to re-sign, so I will designate an additional $8 million to fill out my infield. Wes Hodges will not be ready for 3B until 2010, so I would need short-term filler for third. Corey Koskie might be a good fill here, since there are no other available top tier third base free agents available. At second I would look at Orlando Hudson, trying to get him for about 3 years and 26 million. Koskie would cost about 3 million, so I could round out my infield for about $26 million.

Next step would be to analyze the contracts of the pitching staff signed through 2009.

Jake Westbrook-$10 million
Cliff Lee-$5.75 million
Masahide Kobayashi-$3 million
Rafael Betancourt-$3.35 million
Fausto Carmona-$2.75 million

This is about $25 million in pitching, so for 10 players so far I would be looking at $51 million. I could get Rocco Baldelli for cheap, about 3 years for $12 million and Raul Ibanez would be a nice fit in right for about 3 years and $30 million. At this point I have my infield and outfield covered, needing only 7 pitchers to fill out my roster, with a payroll at this point of $65 million. Minor leaguers and token free agent bullpen help would fill out my roster allowing me to put a team out on the field for about $70 million, or $10 million less than last year. I imagine that this team would be a drastic improvement the 2008 team, ridding the team of older players in place of younger talent. Free agent filler would be replaced by players from the Indians farm system when they were ready. Now I all I need is the opportunity to put my plan into action. If anyone wants to put the Dolan's in touch with me, feel free.

Learn more about this author, Michael Cutting.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.