Eddie Rosario Indian Deal | MLB.com

CLEVELAND – When the tribe decided to sell Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to the Mets, Indian baseball operations president Chris Antonetti said the focus would be on putting some of the savings back into the 2021 list. Now he is on the verge of making that happen. Sources told

CLEVELAND – When the tribe decided to sell Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to the Mets, Indian baseball operations president Chris Antonetti said the focus would be on putting some of the savings back into the 2021 list. Now he is on the verge of making that happen.

Sources told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand Friday night that the Indians and free-agent outfielder Eddie Rosario had agreed to a one-year contract for $ 8 million until a physical contract was signed. The news came just hours after the tribe officially signed Cesar Hernandez, the free agent’s second baseman, to a one-year contract. The Indians have not confirmed any talks with Rosario.

After a year where the tribe’s outfield crew had the lowest shot percentage in the majors, it was clear the team could use a different club, and Rosario was possibly the best pick in the free agent market.

Cleveland has seen a lot of Rosario in his six years with the Twins, and the team will surely appreciate the idea of ​​having their bat in the lineup rather than finding a way to throw it around. In 45 games at Progressive Field, Rosario has an OPS of 1.031 (his highest OPS in a street stadium he has visited at least seven times) a value of 0.353. Rosario’s 11 homers, 12 doubles, and three triples in Cleveland are the most he’s had in a street stadium, while his 25 RBIs are only tracking his 26 at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Rosario has cut .277 / .310 / .478 in six seasons with Minnesota, while taking over 100 OPS + in five of those six. Though the Indians have Jordan Luplow, Bradley Zimmer, Josh Naylor, Jake Bauers and finally Nolan Jones to choose from in the left panel, Rosario would be the best pick the team could find.