Making sense of the Nixon signing
To say the Indians' signing of Trot Nixon caught me by surprise is an understatement.
It's not that I don't think Nixon has anything to offer. He's a playoff-tested veteran who could be an asset to a young club.
The problem is in the numbers.
The Indians have Jason Michaels, Casey Blake, Shin Soo Choo, David Dellucci, and now Trot Nixon. Grady Sizemore is penciled into center for the next six years. So that's five guys for two spots. You could argue Blake can play first or third (since we know Eric Wedge has to find a way to get his boy in the lineup), but all that will do is take at-bats away from Ryan Garko or Andy Marte.
So someone has to be traded. Nixon and Delucci, being new signings, seem safe. Blake is safe because the Indians already spent money making a video about how great he is to air on Sports Time Ohio.
So who goes? Choo? Garko? They are the young guys with the best upside.
The Indians offseason had been very successful to this point. The signings of relievers, and the trade for Josh Barfield ought to make the team better.
So we'll see. But I can't see the Indians carrying so many outfielders come April.