http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/210688794/no-urgency-for-indians-as-winter-meetings-wrap/
Ugh. It's hard to be negative after such a magical season, but it's starting to creep in. One thing I've always worries about with the Tribe front office, is that they are too inbred. By that I mean, the organization is staffed with people from within and they all think alike or have been taught/groomed to think a long the same lines....no other input from a different perspective.
John Hart...to Mark Shapiro....To Chris Antonetti...to Mike Chernoff. Not that it is all bad mind you. But this offseason is starting to smell a lot like 2008, where the Indians basically stood pat after a near miss at the World Series....content with their work, and their team. Of course, we know how that turned out.
Sure the team looks like it has a bright future, but the complacency bothers me. The Cubs don't seem to be resting on their laurels, neither do the Red Sox, and other teams are getting better (the Yankees). If the Indians want to be better and take the next step and actually WIN the WS, or just to increase their chances TO GET THEIR AGAIN...then they should identify the player that gives them the best chance to do that and
go after them, rather than letting gravity dictate which 1Bman/DH "falls" to them.
Encarnacion would be a huge pickup....and he would solidify the position for years to come, considering that Carlos Santana will be a free agent next year.
OR get one of the lesser priced guys out there (Carter)...and use the money to extend Santana if possible.
In any case, have a plan and go after it. I'm hoping they do, that they learned something from 2008, even if I don't see it yet.