Casey Kotchman’s signing was not good news for Matt LaPorta.
Kotchman — yes, the Tribe added yet another left-handed bat to the lineup (making it seven lefties and two switch hitters) — signed a one-year contract worth $3 million this week to become the Cleveland Indians’ starting first baseman.
That means the inconsistent LaPorta will be spending much less time at first base for the Indians this season. With a minor league option left, he likely will man first for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers to start the season.
Kotchman is a great defensive first baseman — he has made just 11 errors in 6,076 total chances in his eight seasons in the Majors — and he is coming off a season in which he hit a career-high .306 with Tampa Bay. Although he doesn’t have a lot of pop (10 home runs and 48 RBIs in 500 at-bats last season), Kotchman makes up for it with his ability to get on base (career .336 on-base percentage).
I’m not a big fan of adding another lefty with little power to the mix, but the Indians are getting a player who can get on base and get hits with runners on.
As far as LaPorta is concerned, the career .238 hitter is the odd-man out. I’m sure Manny Acta would like to see him become a key reserve this season and, maybe, eventual starter. The fact that infiedler-outfielder Shelley Duncan is out of minor league options — plus, he proved much more valuable than LaPorta at the end of the 2011 season — also does not help LaPorta’s cause.
Also this week, the Indians added versatile Russ Canzler, the International League MVP last season, in a cash deal with the Rays.
Canzler, 25, played right field, left field, third base and first base last season for Triple-A Durham, where he hit .314 with 18 homers and 83 RBIs. The best thing about Canzler: He’s a right-handed hitter with power potential. Canzler likely will be a top option off the bench as a corner outfielder and Kotchman’s backup.
