Modest Proposal

The Indians are, at best, the second-worst team in the AL Central, and they have nothing close to a talent core that can push for a division title. This season is about figuring out whether Grady Sizemore can bounce back, whether Carlos Santana is going to be a star post--knee injury and whether Matt LaPorta, Asdrubal Cabrera and Michael Brantley will ever reach their potential. In that context, it's not clear whether Jason Donald, 26, or Luis Valbuena, 25, should play second base, but it is certain that a 36-year-old converted shortstop in decline should not. Orlando Cabrera brings nothing to the table: His defensive range has slipped, his OBP (.303 last year) hurts the team, he has very little speed left and he hasn't played second base in this century. There's no reason to move Donald to third base—where he has no experience and where his bat may not be up to par—to make room for an older, inferior player at Donald's best position. (Valbuena, Jayson Nix or Jack Hannahan are options at third if Donald shifts across the infield.) The Indians don't need leadership or experience; they need to let their best players play.