The Indians remain fiscally responsible this off-season as the club non-tendered contracts for 2021 to outfielders Tyler Naquin and Delino Deshields Jr. along with righty Jefry Rodriguez as all three now free agents.
Naquin, the Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2016, hit .218 with four homers and 20 RBI this past season. In parts of five seasons with the Indians, he hit .274 with 31 homers and 121 RBI. The Tribe's former 1st round pick would have made between $1.8 million and $2.4 million this season.
DeShields, meantime, was part of the Indians' prize for trading Corey Kluber to the Rangers this past off-season along with Emmanuel Clase and hit .252 with seven RBI in his lone season in Cleveland. The 6 year vet was due between $2.1 million and $2.4 million this season.
Rodriguez was dealing with shoulder and back injuries and spent this past season on the Injured List but The Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com Indians Reporter Paul Hoynes says the Indians are interested in bringing him back at a cheaper deal.
Francisco Lindor, relievers Nick Wittgren and Phil Maton and catcher Austin Hedges were tendered contracts for 2021.
