Bolstering offense a priority for Indians

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion fits precisely what the Indians need. The problem is the cost, which exceeds the range in which Cleveland typically operates. 

This is no ordinary offseason for the Tribe, though. Cleveland arrived to the Winter Meetings at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center as the reigning American League champions, and improving its offense is the top priority. The Indians already shocked baseball by giving up a pile of prospects for reliever Andrew Miller last summer. Perhaps it should not be surprising Encarnacion’s name popped up Monday as a possibility, too.

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Chris Antonetti, the Indians’ president of baseball operations, declined to delve into any specifics in his daily meeting with media.

“Let me say it this way,” Antonetti said. “We are being exhaustive in exploring options to improve our position-player club. That is where we are spending most of our energy.”

That is because Cleveland could be losing slugger Mike Napoli, who is a free agent after splitting his time between first base and designated hitter in 2016. Napoli enjoyed a career year at age 34, belting 34 home runs and leading the Indians with 101 RBIs. The Indians did not extend a one-year qualifying offer ($17.2 million) to Napoli, but they have maintained an interest in re-signing him to a short-team deal.

Napoli, however, is seeking a multiyear contract, putting the Indians in a situation where they need to look at potential alternatives. Cleveland has been linked to free agents Chris Carter, Mitch Moreland and Adam Lind. Reports swirled on Monday that the Indians were also involved in talks with Matt Holliday, who ended up agreeing to a one-year, $13 million deal with the Yankees, and Carlos Beltran (one-year, $16 million contract with Houston).

Those are the types of deals Cleveland typically makes. Last winter, for example, the Indians netted Napoli on a one-year, $7 million contract, which eventually earned the slugger $10 million total given the incentives. The Indians would prefer to find a fit in that price range once again.

All of that said, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reported on Monday that Cleveland had also “checked in” on Encarnacion, whose options appear to be dwindling. Encarnacion reportedly turned down a four-year, $80 million offer from the Blue Jays (his former team) in order to continue to explore the open market. In the meantime, Kendrys Morales (Toronto), Steve Pearce …

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