INDIANS' OWNER/GM/ROSTER
(Updated for Opening Day 1978)
(Acquired in off-season trades.)
OWNER
Ted Bonda
GENERAL MANAGER
Phil Seghi
ROSTER
INFIELDERS
Mike Ivie 1B
Duane Kuiper 2B
Frank Duffy SS
Ted Martinez 2B/3B
Lenny Randle IF/OF
OUTFIELDERS
Otto Velez
Chet Lemon
Barry Bonnell
John Lowenstein
Steve Brye
Rick Manning
DESIGNATED HITTER
Rico Carty
CATCHERS
Duffy Dyer
Ron Pruitt (U)
Buck Martinez
STARTING PITCHERS
Nino Espinosa
Ken Kravec
Jim Bibby
Wayne Twitchell*
Don Hood
RELIEF PITCHERS
Jim Kern
Dave Tomlin
Doug Bair
Wilbur Wood
Bob McClure
OFF-SEASON TRADES
w/ New York Mets
Indians get: IF/OF Lenny Randle and SP Nino Espinosa
Mets get: 3B Buddy Bell and SP Wayne Garland
Randle, a .300 hitter who bats from both sides of the plate and has excellent speed and an average glove, will take over at third for Buddy Bell.
Espinosa, the number four starter in a quality Mets' starting rotation, will move into the number three or four spot for the Indians. Quality, if unspectacular, starter who can give you innings.
Bell takes over at third for the Mets. Solid hitter with decent power, Bell is an upgrade at third for the Mets defensively over Randle.
Garland, the Indians' number one starter last season, looks to shore up an already staunch Mets' rotation and will most likely be the ace of the staff. Was inconsistent at times last year for the Tribe.
TRADE WINNER: Push
w/ Pittsburgh Pirates
Indians get: C Duffy Dyer
Pirates get: C Larry Cox
Cox turned out to be a pleasant surprise offensively for the Indians as he belted 16 homers and drove in over 60 runs. Defensively below-par, he committed double-digit errors. Cox will back up Pirates' starting catcher Ed Ott in Pittsburgh.
Dyer doesn't have the power of Cox, but he is superior defensively and that's why the trade was made.
TRADE WINNER: Indians
w/ Milwaukee Brewers
Indians get: RP Bob McClure and OF Steve Brye
Brewers get: RP Randy Moffitt and OF Johnny Grubb
McClure comes to Cleveland with solid numbers for the Brew Crew and will be a key figure out of the bullpen for Cleveland. Will likely be the man to set up Jim Kern and Dave Tomlin coming in in late-inning situations.
Brye is a solid, if unspectacular, player. Will most likely be the Indians' center fielder on opening day. Average hitter but can hit with some power. Good in the field.
Moffitt, acquired in a trade with the Giants last season, was a disappointment coming out of the 'pen for the Indians. He was often hit and hit hard. A change of scenery may be what he needs because he was pretty solid coming out of the bullpen in the Bay Area.
Grubb is expected to take over in left for the Brewers and definitely is a big plus for the Milwaukee's offense. Cleveland arguably gave up their best hitter in Grubb, who is also a solid fielder, and was the major player in this deal. The question about Grubb is can he stay off the Disabled List?
TRADE WINNER: Brewers