The Indians were the most active team in the American League Central during the offseason, making selective additions to their roster that addressed some of their most pressing needs.
Chief among those were two key additions to a bullpen that ranked last in the league year. Club officials hope signing free agent closer Kerry Wood and the acquisition through trade of middle reliever Joe Smith will bring added production and depth to the bullpen to make it more of a strength in 2009.
The club's biggest strength going into spring training should be its lineup, where the return of designated hitter Travis Hafner and catcher Victor Martinez should be a big boost to an offense that still finished seventh in the majors in runs scored a year ago.
In addition, center fielder Grady Sizemore and shortstop Jhonny Peralta are among the best offensive players at their positions in the majors.
Two question marks going into camp will be settling on the No. 5 starter in the rotation, that choice expected to come from a group that includes left-handers Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers, Scott Lewis, Zach Jackson and David Huff.
Another question mark is left field, where Ben Francisco is expected to get the bulk of the playing time, although he has yet to spend a full season at the major league level.
Veteran David Dellucci, a major disappointment the last two years, would be the fallback option in left and a potential platoon partner with Francisco.
Veteran Mark DeRosa, acquired from the Cubs in a trade for three minor league pitchers, will take over at third base, a position of need for the Indians since the trade of Casey Blake in the middle last season. DeRosa also will fill a hole at the No. 2 spot in the batting order.
At first base, Ryan Garko returns but figures to lose some playing time as the Indians try to find more at-bats for backup catcher Kelly Shoppach, who led all American League catchers in home runs while filling in the injured Martinez.
Shoppach is expected to get more than a backup catcher's normal allotment of playing time in 2009. The way to do that will be to move Martinez to first base at times, in place of Garko.
Meanwhile, rookie Adam Miller, a pitcher of unlimited potential whose minor league career has been plagued by a series of nagging injuries, will attempt to prove he's healthy, in which case he could fill the one opening in the Indians' bullpen.
WHERE, WHEN: Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, Ariz. First exhibition game is Feb. 25 against San Francisco.
TOP CANDIDATE TO SURPRISE: RHP Carl Pavano's reputation took a beating in his four years as a member of the Yankees. After he signed a four-year, $39.5 million contract as a free agent, a series of injuries limited him to an average of fewer than seven starts per season, he went a cumulative 9-8 in those four seasons in New York. Pavano signed a one-year deal with the Indians and hopes to rebuild his reputation and re-establish his market value. Nobody on the Indians roster has more of an incentive to have a big year in 2009.
TOP CANDIDATE TO DISAPPOINT: DH Travis Hafner hasn't hit over .300 or reached 25 home runs in three years. He missed most of last year because of a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. He will turn 32 in June. There is no shortage of reasons why it seems possible that Hafner's best years are behind him.
AUTHORITY FIGURES: Manager Eric Wedge is 496-476 in his six years with the Indians. He ranks fifth on the club's all-time list for wins by a manager. The only change on Wedge's coaching staff this year is Chuck Hernandez, replacing Luis Isaac as the bullpen coach.
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