Indians, Mark Shapiro Need to Commit to Rebuilding

| Written by: scottmiles17 @ Cleveland Sports Witness

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Out of all the dumb things I read on the internet, this might have taken the cake.

The Indians have an interest in acquiring Jermaine Dye, according to Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer.

This, on the heels of offering Orlando Hudson a $10 million, two-year contract, has me absolutely scratching my head and wondering what the heck Mark Shapiro is doing.

The Tribe has committed to rebuilding around young players. The trades of CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez has ensured that. Now, Shapiro wants to toss around money at past-their-prime veterans to take away at bats and playing time from these young players? Huh?

At this point, who cares if the Indians have a “veteran right handed bat” or another “utility player” off the bench? Heck, I want to see if Luis Valbuena can hit a lefty. I want to see how Michael Brantley fares in pressure situations. I want to see Andy Marte or Matt LaPorta get 500 at bats this year and get adjusted to the big leagues.

(Well…maybe not Marte…but you get the point.)

Yeah, maybe adding a guy like Dye or Hudson results in three or four more wins this year. Congratulations, that bumps the Tribe up from a 68-94 team to 72-90. Whoop de doo.

Invest that money in the farm system. Invest that money in scouting in Latin America. Invest that money in the high first round draft pick the team has this summer.

But do not, under any circumstance, invest it in 36-year old Jermaine Dye.

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