Plain Dealer: Strong behind the plate, can Tribe catch a big off-season deal?
DANA POINT, Calif. — Mark Shapiro and Chris Antonetti have been thinking about it for a while.
Are the Indians a better team with Kelly Shoppach catching and Victor Martinez playing first base or are they better if they trade Shoppach to fill a need and keep Martinez behind the plate?
The Indians feel they have enough depth if they have to trade a catcher for an infielder or closer. They have Chris Giminez, Wyatt Toregas and Carlos Santana, the man who has done nothing but hit since being acquired from the Dodgers for Casey Blake, behind Martinez and Shoppach.
On some days, the Tribe’s general manager feels his best lineup would be Shoppach catching and the versatile Martinez playing first. Then Shapiro thinks about a bullpen without an established closer and an infield one player short.
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Matt has covered Major League Baseball and the "other two" Pro teams in Cleveland since 1994. He has been on the beat of the Indians in full-time mode since 1996, working for various raido and print networks around the country.
