No urgency for Tribe as Winter Meetings wrap

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Indians are not the kind of team that can overreact on the open market and throw huge contract offers around. Cleveland’s approach involves being patient and finding the kind of cost-effective deals that can complement what is already a strong roster.

Indians general manager Mike Chernoff still feels the temptation to strike fast to get something done.

“Every minute of my life,” Chernoff said with a laugh.

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At these Winter Meetings, the American League-champion Indians held their ground, with the team’s lone addition coming via the Rule 5 Draft selection of left-hander Hoby Milner. Cleveland’s contingent departed the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on Thursday with any headline-grabbing deals reserved for a later date.

The biggest rumor to come out of the Meetings for the Indians was that they are a surprising potential suitor for free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion. Cleveland has been in contact with the representatives of Encarnacion, Mike Napoli, Mark Trumbo, Chris Carter and others as it looks to add power to the lineup. The Indians are confident that they can get a good deal if they remain patient and let the first-base market continue to develop.

The Indians also know that — given the strength of a roster that will return mostly intact for 2017 — they can afford to wait until the right fit arises.

“We have a really good team in place,” Chernoff said. “So, you don’t have to have some extreme …

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