The Indians need about 5,000 more season ticket holders, which can increase revenues by $40 million. if they get rid of Travis Hafner’s salary ($18 million) and don’t take the option on Grady Sizemore ($8 million), and they add a player who can fill the seats, they will have $66 million in revenues available in 2012 to invest in one or more premiere players.

Prince Fielder will be a $20 million man. he could certainly add 5,000 season tickets. From a profit point of view, the Cleveland Indians could sign him at $20 million, cut $26 million and increase revenues by $40 million for a net profit of $46 million.

Of course, unless the Yankees want a left-handed DH or an $18 million pinch hitter, no one will want Hafner’s salary, so if the Indian’s trade him, they will get no one of value in return, plus they will have to pay someone $10 million at least. So, let’s forget about Hafner, and rely on something we know – the Indians won’t pick up Grady Sizemore’s contract and will save $8 million in 2012.

Under this scenario, assuming they bring a star who can sell 5,000 seats, then the Indians will have $48 million more to spend on the team. Perhaps they go to $22 million or even more for Prince Fielder? the risk is not high, as the young man has been a class person and a consistent performer. plus, the Indians only infield weakness is 1st base. the fit would be perfect from the Indian’s point of view.

Unfortunately, the Indian’s probably aren’t close enough to winning it all to be on Prince’s list. But, with the Yankee’s and Red Sox only having DH spots open for him, if the Prince doesn’t want to be a DH, the Indians might be his best option. But don’t bet on it. the Los Angeles Dodgers will have a new owner soon, and they may need to make a big splash to get the fans back.

But, there is someone else who is a free agent who could help sell 5,000 season tickets per year, and that’s Jose Bautista. Cleveland is in the same league as the Toronto Blue Jays, so they will being facing the same pitchers that Bautista has been teeing off on in the last few years. plus, the Indians are very weak in home runs. An outfielder who can hit 40 to 50 home runs could mean 15 to 20 more wins for the Indians, who lost far too many one run games this year. plus, Bautista could put enough people in the seats to more than cover his salary.

Interestingly, if Hafner can be moved with less than an $8 million payment to the other team, the addition of both Fielder at 1st and Bautista in the outfield would cure two of the Indian’s biggest weaknesses, plus they could certainly bring in at least $40 million in revenue to cover their salaries and make an incremental profit to boot. plus, with that kind of firepower, the Indians pitchers, who did a decent job this year, would give the Tribe a chance to be in the 100 win category.

So, look for the Tribe to seriously go after both Fielder and Bautista, but look for them to only be successful with Bautista.

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