The Cleveland Indians have an overcrowded outfield after signing free agent David Murphy on Monday, but general manager Chris Antonetti won't necessarily break up that depth by trading anyone, according to Paul Hoynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group.
Antonetti: Murphy, Raburn, Stubbs could all make roster
The Indians’ GM sees room for all three outfielders on the 2014 roster.
Jason Miller
The Indians have Michael Bourn entrenched in center field, which leaves the two corner spots for a host of other players. Michael Brantley started 144 games in left field last year, while Drew Stubbs started 124 games, mostly in right field. Ryan Raburn started 70 of his 87 games in the outfield, and first baseman Nick Swisher started another 26 games in right.
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The addition of the left-handed hitting Murphy could lead to a platoon between him and right-handed batter Ryan Raburn in right field, with Brantley in left, Bourn in center, and Swisher filling in for any gaps. Such a scenario doesn’t leave any room for Stubbs, who possesses a career OPS of 691. However, Stubbs is the only one besides Bourn who can play a competent center field.
In reference to the trio of Murphy, Raburn, and Stubbs, Antonetti said (via Hoynes):
“Absolutely we could carry all three of those outfielders,” said Antonetti. “We feel we have a very good complement of outfielders. We have the ability to mix and match and we’re also going to have some at-bats at DHs.”
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