The Indians looked at some free agent 2B lately but they signed with other teams basically handing the starting job in 2010 to 24-year old lefty swinging Luis Valbuena. Valbuena played in 103 games for the Indians last season and he was 92 for 368 (.250 avg, .714 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 10 homers, 31 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Valbuena never really showed much power in the minors in his career so I wonder if he’s capable of cracking 15 homers in 2010 or not. But he should hit enough to carry his weight in 2010. He made 6 errors in 77 games at 2B for the Indians last season but he showed outstanding range. Look for him to win the starting job in 2010 for the Indians at 2B.

The Indians signed 39-year old righty swinging veteran 2B Mark Grudzielanek to a minor league deal. He played in 11 games in Rookie + AA-ball last season and he was 11 for 39 (.282 avg, .657 OPS) with 7 runs scored and 1 RBI. Grudzielanek made 2 errors in only 8 games in the minors last season and that is why the Twins released him instead of calling him up to the show. He last played in the majors in 2008 with the Royals. He played in 86 games in 2008 for the Royals and he was 99 for 331 (.299 avg, .743 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 3 homers, 24 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Grudzielanek could work his way into a platoon with Valbuena if he has a good spring.

29-year old switch-hitting Luis Rodriguez played in 93 games for the Padres last season and he was 42 for 208 (.202 avg, .579 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 2 homers and 16 RBIs. Rodriguez will battle Grudzielanek for a spot on the Indians’ bench in 2010 and he might have an edge because he can also play SS and 3B. Rodriguez made 3 errors in 30 games at 2B for the Padres last season while showing average range.

27-year old righty swinging Brian Bixler will also try to win a spot on the Indians’ bench. He played in 5 games for the Pirates at 2B last season while making 1 error and showing average range. He is a natural shortstop but he’s not much of a hitter.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2010: C-

Righty reliever Doug Jones didn’t come to the Indians until he was 30 years old and he didn’t have great stuff. His fastball could barely dent a couch but he had a great changeup. Jones was also a bulldog who came right after hitters with his below par stuff and he not only made it work….but he turned into a great relief pitcher. Jones pitched in 295 games (4 starts) in his career with the Indians and he was 27-34 with 129 saves, 3.06 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. From 1988-1990 he was one of the best closers in all of baseball as he made the All-Star team three straight years and he wasn’t picked because the team had to have a Indian….it was because he deserved the honor. In those three years, Jones pitched in 176 games (0 starts) in which he was 15-19 with 112 saves, a 2.39 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Despite only being on the Tribe for a short time, Jones is #2 all-time in saves in team history with 129.

Ryan Garko is no longer manning 1B for the Indians. That will fall to 25-year old righty swinging Matt LaPorta and he will be under the microscope because he was the key player in the C.C. Sabathia trade a year and a half ago. LaPorta played in 52 games for the Indians last season and he was 46 for 181 (.254 avg, .750 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 7 homers, 21 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He also played in 93 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 101 for 338 (.299 avg, .918 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 17 homers and 60 RBIs. LaPorta only played 10 games at 1B for the Indians and he made 2 errors so the Indians’ staff will have to coach him up this spring on D.

26-year old righty swinging Andy Marte is still a Indian for some reason. He played in 47 games for the Tribe last season and he was 36 for 155 (.232 avg, .693 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 6 homers and 25 RBIs. His numbers last season were a actual improvement on his career numbers as he has a .216 career batting average with a .624 OPS in 221 career games in the show. I don’t think he has much of a upside if he has one at all. Marte made 5 errors in only 45 games at 1B and that is way too many especially for a player who can’t hit.

28-year old lefty swinging Brian Buscher will battle Andy Marte for the back-up first base job on the Indians in 2010. He played in 61 games for the Twins last season and he was 32 for 136 (.235 avg, .676 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 2 homers and 12 RBIs. Buscher has a career batting average of .266 with a .699 OPS in 164 games in the majors. Buscher didn’t make any errors in 13 games at 1B for the Twins last season.

30-year old righty swinging Shelley Duncan will also likely be taking grounders at 1B this spring even though he is more of a outfielder. Duncan played in 11 games for the Yankees last season and he was 3 for 15 (.200 avg, .400 OPS) with 1 run scored and 1 RBI. He also played in 123 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 125 for 452 (.277 avg, .916 OPS) with 85 runs scored, 30 homers and 99 RBIs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR 1B IN 2010: D

The Indians have acquired 27-year old righty swinging shortstop Brian Bixler from the Pirates for 22-year old righty swinging 3B/OF Jesus Brito. Bixler played in 18 games for the Pirates last season and he was 10 for 44 (.227 avg, .602 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 0 homers, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He also played in 108 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 111 for 403 (.275 avg, .782 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 9 homers, 43 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. The Indians are hoping that Bixler can improve as a hitter because he is a solid defensive player. He has now played in 68 games in his major league career and he is 27 for 152 (.178 avg, .475 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 0 homers, 5 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Jesus Brito was outstanding in Rookie+A-ball for the Indians last season as he played in 60 games in which he was 79 for 224 (.353 avg, .998 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 3 homers, 43 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He played four years in the Indians’ system appearing in 258 games in which he was 229 for 893 (.256 avg, .739 OPS) with 153 runs scored, 7 homers, 120 RBIs and 28 stolen bases.

23-year old righty swinging Lou Marson will be the starting catcher for the Indians in 2010. He played in 21 games for the Phillies & Indians last season and he was 15 for 61 (.246 avg, .708 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 0 homers and 4 RBIs. Marson could develop into a decent hitter for average in the majors but don’t expect much power out of him. The Indians will give him a extended look this season as he was one of the players they got from the Phillies for Cliff Lee last July. Marson played in 21 games behind the plate for the Phillies and Indians and he made 1 error but didn’t have any passed balls. He threw out 42.1% of the runners trying to steal against him last season and pitchers had a 5.40 ERA pitching to him. The Indians need Marson to play solid defense behind the plate and signs are that he will.

38-year old righty swinging Mike Redmond will be the back-up catcher for the Tribe in 2010. He played in 45 games for the Twins last season and he was 32 for 135 (.237 avg, .588 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 0 homers and 7 RBIs. The Indians are hoping that Redmond will hit more like his career norms of a .289 batting average with a .706 OPS in 2010. Redmond didn’t make any errors in 44 games behind the plate last season but he had 2 passed balls. But, Redmond only threw out 5% of the runners trying to steal on him and Twins’ pitchers had a 5.31 ERA with him behind the plate. Redmond is still a decent veteran to have around to help out the young catchers and pitchers on the Tribe.

27-year old right swinging Wyatt Toregas might get a call to the Indians if something were to happen to Redmond. He played in 19 games for the Indians last season and he was 9 for 51 (.176 avg, .463 OPS) with 1 run scored, 0 homers and 6 RBIs. Toregas didn’t make any errors in 19 games behind the plate for the Indians last season but he did have 1 passed ball. Toregas threw out 17% of the runners trying to steal against him and Indians’ pitchers had a 5.00 ERA with him behind the plate. Toregas’ upside is that of a back-up catcher so don’t expect much out of him if the Indians give him a call in 2010.

27-year old righty swinging catcher Chris Gimenez is more of a utility player but he can handle catcher. He played in 45 games for the Indians last season and he was 16 for 111 (.144 avg, .499 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 3 homers and 7 RBIs. He played in 8 games behind the plate for the Indians and he didn’t make any errors or have any passed balls. He threw out 1 of 5 (20%) of the runners trying to steal on him and pitchers had a 4.18 ERA with him behind the plate.

If Marson can’t cut it as a starter or he gets injured look for the Indians to call up 23-year old switch-hitting Carlos Santana to serve as the starting catcher. The Indians would love to have him play this season in AAA but they might not be able to keep him there if something happens to Marson. Santana played in 130 games in AA-ball last season and he was 124 for 428 (.290 avg, .943 OPS) with 91 runs scored, 23 homers and 97 RBIs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2010: D