His report indicated that Guerrero worked out at Cleveland’s complex in Bocachica, and the ball club has some interest in adding the veteran to their team. One source from Rojas also stated that Vlad looked very good in the workout and Ramon Pena, the Indians director of Operations, was interested and was impressed with Guerrero.
Recently though, Fernando Cuza, Guerrero’s agent, said that his client would be willing to try his luck in Japan if he couldn’t find a spot with a Major League team before the season starts.The now 37-year-old Guerrero has a history with Indians manager Manny Acta, from their days in the Montreal Expos organization. Vlad hit .290 with 13 home runs and 65 RBIs with the Orioles last season. He has hit .318 with 449 home runs in his 16 MLB seasons.
So that brings up the question: How would Vlad help the Indians? Now, I do not see the Cleveland Indians making a playoff run of any sort this season, but I do feel that Vlad would give the clubhouse some veteran leadership that they currently lack. The Indians are in the American League, so Vlad wouldn’t necessarily have to play him in the field. He could be a DH-only kind of guy in Cleveland, not an everyday player. That would be only if he is willing to accept that kind of role. Since he is getting up there in age, it would probably not only be smart but the best idea to only have Vlad DH at this stage of his career. Thus a great fit for a potential AL club.
Based on the Indians current roster, the Indians could use an outfielder, but it’s not their biggest need. As for needing a designated hitter, their current DH is Travis Hafner, who is really inconsistent and not very durable. In his 10 year career, Travis Hafner has only play over 100+ games in 5 seasons. Last season, Hafner played in 94 games and hit .280 with only 13 home runs and 57 RBIs, which is not what you are looking for if you want a great designated hitter.
It has been known though that the Indians have been looking for a right-handed hitter for months to improve a lineup that struggled to score runs last season. It isn’t exactly known how interested the Indians are in Vlad, who is a former MVP and nine-time all-star . If Vlad can prove to them that he can still play the outfield, then they would be more than happy to pursue him seriously. Ramon Pena denied the fact that Vlad worked out for them and Guerrero’s agent could not be reached to comment on this situation, according to Beacon Journal Sports Writer Sheldon Ocker.
Don’t be surprised if you see Vlad sign with Cleveland, just based on the fact that the Indians feel they can make some sort of playoff run. If they indeed feel that way, it’s a perfect fit. The Indians get their need outfielder/DH/right-handed hitter, and Vlad gets a contract. Other teams that have also been reported to show interest in signing Vlad are the Baltimore Orioles, Anaheim Angels, and the Tampa Bay Rays. We may not have seen the last of the future hall-of-famer, but he clock is definitely winding down. Hopefully he gets one more shot at a ring.
Dedrick
Hendrix is a Baseball Intern with MLB reports. He is currently a
college student at Ivy Tech Community College majoring in
communications. Dedrick is a long time Mariners fan and major Ichiro Suzuki fan.
He began getting into baseball his junior year in high school when he
made the varsity team and played DH/RF. Dedrick loves writing about
baseball and hopes to become a great and successful writer. You can
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