The Indians shifted their focus to 2009 as soon as they agreed to send CC Sabathia to the Land of Suds in July.

Now the hot stove is lit. The heat is on general manager Mark Shapiro to add the proper pieces to a team capable of rebounding from an unfulfilling 2008.

As difficult as it is to forecast an Indian winter, let’s try. Here’s a look ahead to 2009, where the returning players fit and who might be added this offseason.



Rotation

n DEFINITES — Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona.

Barring natural disaster, Lee will be on the mound April 6 in Arlington, Texas, when the Indians open the 2009 season. The Tribe needs Carmona to rebound from a poor 2008.

n CANDIDATES — Anthony Reyes, Aaron Laffey, Zach Jackson, Scott Lewis, Jeremy Sowers, David Huff.

Reyes is the most likely to get a spot, but all these guys have a case. Two spots should be available since Shapiro stressed that the Indians need another top-of-the-rotation veteran.

n FREE AGENTS — Sabathia, Derek Lowe, A.J. Burnett, Ben Sheets, Jon Garland, Kyle Lohse, Braden Looper, Pedro Martinez, Jamie Moyer, Mike Mussina, Brad Penny, Andy Pettitte, Kenny Rogers, Randy Wolf.

Shapiro wants to add another “top-of-the-rotation” veteran who is capable of starting a playoff game. Pitchers fitting that description cost a lot. Burnett can opt out of his contract with the Blue Jays. Lowe should be considered seriously.



Bullpen

n DEFINITES — Rafael Perez, Jensen Lewis, Rafael Betancourt, Masa Kobayashi.

With the thin free-agent closer market, Lewis has a chance to hold down the role. The mentality and toughness is there. Is the command and stuff? I think he’s worth a try. Perez is a good setup man who should not be mistaken as a potential closer. Betancourt seemed to right his ship in the second half of 2008. The powers-that-be laud Kobayashi’s work in his first season in America. We’re not buying it yet.

n CANDIDATES — John Meloan, Adam Miller, Brendan Donnelly, Juan Rincon, Edward Mujica, Bryan Bullington, Rich Rundles, Tom Mastny, Brian Slocum.

If healthy, Miller has the stuff to be a closer some day, but plenty of questions need to be answered about him. Meloan is an interesting candidate who the Indians handled carefully because of his high innings pitched after getting him in the Casey Blake deal. Trying to figure out the rest of these guys is like trying to put together a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle while wearing beer goggles. Just be ready for plenty of open competitions in spring training. Zach Jackson has the ability to move to the bullpen.

n FREE AGENTS — Francisco Rodriguez, Bryan Fuentes, Brandon Lyon, Jason Isringhausen, Eric Gagne, Bobby Howry.

The closer list is K-Rod, Fuentes and a bunch of clearance bargain bin guys. It sounds as if manager Eric Wedge would like the Indians to get another reliever capable of closing to give the team some options. A closer competition between Lewis and Reliever X sounds reasonable.



Infield

n DEFINITES — Jhonny Peralta, Asdrubal Cabrera.

Peralta and Cabrera will be in the infield next year. At what positions is the mystery. If the Indians find a second baseman in free agency, then Cabrera will move to short and Peralta to third. If they get a third baseman, then Cabrera and Peralta will stay at second and short, respectively. However, keeping Peralta at short just seems like delaying the inevitable. Even Wedge indicated that Peralta’s future is at third. Peralta is a mediocre defensive shortstop. He’ll likely be a mediocre defensive third baseman. Moving the slick-fielding Cabrera to short can do nothing but improve the Indians’ defense.

n PROBABLES — Ryan Garko, Jamey Carroll.

The thinking here is Garko did enough in the second half to save his job at first base. Victor Martinez likely will spell him occasionally. Don’t forget prospect Matt LaPorta can play first. It would be foolish to not pick up the 2009 option on Carroll. All good teams have talented utility players, and Carroll is suited perfectly for the role.

n FREE AGENTS — Orlando Hudson, Rafael Furcal, Hank Blalock, Nomar Garciaparra, David Eckstein, Mark Grudzielanek, Orlando Cabrera, Blake, Joe Crede.

Hudson, a Gold Glove second baseman, would look great turning double plays with Cabrera. The Rangers have a club option on Blalock, who would seem to be on his way out with the pitching-needy Rangers. He averaged 26 homers and 95 RBI the four seasons prior to an injury-plagued 2008. Blake returning to Cleveland is very much a possibility. Crede’s achy back makes him a risk.



Outfield

n DEFINITE — Grady Sizemore.

Center field is solely the property of Mr. Sizemore.

n THE CANDIDATES — Shin-Soo Choo, Ben Francisco, Franklin Gutierrez.

Choo is close to being a definite. It would take a trade or him completely falling on his face in spring training for him to not being in the Opening Day lineup next year. Francisco has a good shot of starting as well. Gutierrez likely will be on the club as an extra outfielder for his defense and his speed, but he will be nothing more than that unless he gains consistency at the plate. David Dellucci seems like a bright guy and a decent teammate, but he has no business being on the 2009 team. Just eat the final year of that bad contract, please.

n FREE AGENTS — Manny Ramirez, Raul Ibanez, Adam Dunn, Mark Kotsay, Brian Giles, Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu.

Don’t hold your breath here. The front office likes its young outfield. It also is keeping in mind next year’s Triple-A outfield of LaPorta, Michael Brantley and Trevor Crowe. “When you put together the priorities, outfield will probably fall lower down the priority list,” Shapiro said about the offseason. As for LaPorta, the centerpiece of the Sabathia trade, Shapiro said, “When a talent like that is at Triple-A, he’s a guy that can put himself in your plans at some point during the season. I’m going to leave the timing on Matt LaPorta up to him.” Translation: LaPorta will be in Cleveland as soon as his bat says so.



Catcher

n PROBABLES — Martinez, Kelly Shoppach.

Wedge likes having both of these guys, especially with the wear and tear catchers endure. With the DH spot and Martinez’s ability to play some first base, getting enough at-bats for both shouldn’t be a problem. But this is a position of surplus, and teams make trades from positions of surplus. Remember, prospect Carlos Santana likely will start next year in Double-A Akron. The short trip up Interstate 77 to Progressive Field seems even shorter with his considerable talents.



Designated hitter

n THE QUESTION — Travis Hafner and his right shoulder.

A couple of days after the season ended, Wedge stated, “I’m confident we’re going to have a championship, middle-of-the-order bat from Travis (in 2009). Now does that mean ’06? Not necessarily. Does it mean ’07? I think it’s going to be better than that. Somewhere between ’06 and ’07, that’s where I think Travis is going to end up.” A week later, Shapiro revealed that Hafner’s end-of-the-year physical was disappointing and that his shoulder strength was not where the organization had hoped. On Monday, Head Athletic Trainer Lonnie Soloff will explain if surgery is needed. This doesn’t evoke feelings of confidence about Pronk. The Indians maintain a confident front, but it’s hard to imagine Hafner being the cornerstone power source for which they paid $57 million.



Weir is the Indians beat writer for the Canton Repository. Reach him at josh.weir@cantonrep.com.