CLEVELAND _ The infield is set. From first to third, the Indians have known for months who would be manning each spot, with the only question remaining the lineup configuration, though that, too, seems to be trending toward one straightforward answer.
To get to the answers of the outfield construction and how the designated hitter spot will be used early on in 2020, the Indians are having to take the scenic route.
Some new injuries, a few old injuries no longer being an issue and the oddness and suddenness of summer camp have again jumbled how the Indians might put together their roster for Opening Day when it comes to the many available candidates in the outfield.
The Indians will open the season with a 30-man active roster, which adds some flexibility, though that number will drop to 28 after two weeks and two weeks later, it'll fall to 26 for the remainder of the season.
Oscar Mercado has his spot, and Framil Reyes' bat will be in the lineup every day. Perhaps the No. 1 question with the outfield group remains how much Reyes can play the outfield. The shortened summer camp, combined with Reyes missing time twice, once due to caution with COVID-19 and another following an awkward slide into second base, hasn't offered many answers in that regard.
Manager Terry Francona would like to have Reyes in the outfield defensively, but the frequency with which that can happen depends on the value it adds elsewhere in how the Indians can configure their lineup. With less than a week to Opening Day, it remains a question mark.
"It's been harder, just because he missed three days getting tested, he missed another day and a half when he slid hard," Francona said via Zoom. "He has played the outfield a few times. My hope is that that trend can continue a little bit. I think it gives us a stronger lineup we're able to run him out to either left or right at least some of the time."
That leads to Domingo Santana, another offense-first, right-handed hitter. To get both in the lineup, one below-average defensive outfielder, at least based on previous work, will man a spot in the outfield, which in turn means someone else is on the bench. If both sluggers are swinging the bat well, giving a little on the defensive end is an easier choice.
"I mean [Santana] is a guy with a track record that if he gets hot, he gets real hot," Francona said. "We're trying to figure out where he fits. We're trying to figure out where everybody fits."
The picture gets only murkier from there. Delino DeShields would normally have a spot on the roster, but he's on the injured list after being delayed by a positive COVID-19 test and might not be ready by Friday. Jordan Luplow has been dealing with a sore back and has missed some time during summer camp. Tyler Naquin and Bradley Zimmer, meanwhile, are healthy following the shutdown and have both swung the bat well, especially Zimmer.
Daniel Johnson, too, has had a positive camp, but the health of the other lefties lessens any need for the Indians to rush. Naquin had a strong 2019 before tearing his ACL and Zimmer has looked much improved and healthy for the first time in multiple seasons. Greg Allen remains a candidate as a switch-hitter. Jake Bauers, meanwhile, has more of an undefined fit.
"Jake's in a little bit of a peculiar spot," Francona said. "His best position's probably first base. We've got a guy that we think is an All-Star there. So we're trying to make that bat fit, possibly in left field, Where does it fit? Those are all questions that we're going to have to figure out. Regardless, we all feel like there's an everyday player in there and at some point, it's going to show."
