Indians manager Terry Francona has much to contemplate as the Indians enter the 2017 season as the defending AL champion.

Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press

Predicting the Indians 25-man roster for 2017

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Predicting the 25-man roster for the defending American League champion Indians shouldn’t be that hard. Sure, they lost a couple of key players in Mike Napoli and Rajai Davis to free agency, but that’s the natural flow of baseball attrition.

The starting rotation is a gimme: Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin. Then again maybe it's not so easy.

Carrasco’s right elbow started barking in mid-March. That could be a problem for making the opening day roster, but the early schedule would allow the Indians to go with four starters for a while should Carrasco have to stay in Goodyear, Arizona to build arm strength or open the season on the 10-day disabled list.

Picking the bullpen isn’t too taxing either. There’s closer Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Andrew Miller, Zach McAllister, Dan Otero and Boone Logan in the first six spots. Shawn Armstrong should win the seventh spot and if Carrasco opens on the DL, how about Carlos Frias filling the eighth?

The catchers are another no-brainer. Yan Gomes will start and Roberto Perez will back up.

In the infield, the right shoulder injury of Jason Kipnis has caused some upheaval. The keepers are DH-first basemen Edwin Encarnacion and Carlos Santana, shortstop Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez. It appears Ramirez will move from third to second to open the season in place of Kipnis.

If Ramirez goes to second, who plays third? Michael Martinez, Erik Gonzalez, Yandy Diaz or Giovanny Urshela? My pick is Urshela with Martinez making the club as the utility infielder.

The outfield has moving parts as well. They are predicated on whether Michael Brantley will be ready to open the season and how right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall's right shoulder is feeling after a recent collision with an outfield wall. If Brantley is deemed fit, he'll play left field. If Chisenhall recovers from a strained AC joint, he'll platoon in right with Brandon Guyer.

If one, or both, open on the disabled list, Abraham Almonte's chances of making the club improve greatly. On Sunday, the Indians told veteran center fielder Austin Jackson that he'd made the team. That did not help Almonte's chances.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

Don't Edit

Right-hander Corey Kluber works his way through a bullpen session this spring in Goodyear, Ariz.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Starting rotation: Corey Kluber

Corey Kluber won 18 games in the regular season and four more in the postseason last year. He threw nearly 250 innings and started three games in the World Series. He's on schedule to pitch the season opener April 3 against the Rangers.

Don't Edit

Right-hander Carlos Santana dealt with some right elbow problems in spring training this year, but was making progress at the end of camp.

Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press

Carlos Carrasco

Right-hander Carlos Carrasco missed the Indians' postseason run last year after suffering a broken right hand on Sept. 17. He missed time this spring with a sore right elbow, so it's unclear where and when he'll make his first start in the regular season.

Don't Edit

Right-hander Danny Salazar warms up prior to a spring training baseball start against the Royals on March 11, 2017.

Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press

Danny Salazar

Right-hander Danny Salazar, like rotation-mate Carlos Carrasco, missed most of the Tribe's postseason run last year with a strained right forearm. Salazar's results this spring have been mixed, but he's pitched a lot of innings and appears healthy.

Don't Edit

Right-hander Trevor Bauer warms up during the first inning of a spring training game against the San Diego Padres on March 5, 2017, in Goodyear, Ariz.

Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press

Trevor Bauer

Trevor Bauer, drone accidents aside, last year won 12 games and threw 190 innings, second most to Corey Kluber. Bauer has had a solid spring and could be ready to improve his standing in the rotation this year.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Right-hander Josh Tomlin gets loose early in spring training by doing some stretching exercises with a football.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Josh Tomlin

Last year Josh Tomlin helped carry the Tribe's battered rotation to the World Series. He won 13 games and two more in the postseason. In the last two years, he's won 20 of his 39 starts in the regular season.

Don't Edit

Closer Cody Allen throws a bullpen session at spring training in Goodyear, Arizona on Feb. 21, 2017.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

The bullpen: Closer Cody Allen

Cody Allen established himself as one of the American League's top closers last season when he went 32-for-35 in save situations during the regular season and six-for-six in the postseason. He did not allow a run the entire postseason.

Don't Edit

Right-hander Bryan Shaw warms up by throwing a football during spring training in Goodyear, Ariz.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Bryan Shaw

Durable Bryan Shaw has led the American League in relief appearance in two of the last three years. He is the first Indians reliever to make 70 or more appearances in four seasons.

Don't Edit

Left-hander Andrew Miller (right) jokes with catcher Yan Gomes (left) and bullpen coach Jason Bere during a spring training workout in Goodyear, Ariz.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Andrew Miller

When the Indians acquired Andrew Miller from the Yankees on July 31, it helped propel them not only to the AL Central title, but to the World Series. Miller struck out 123 batters in 74 1/3 innings in the regular season. He struck out 30 in 19 1/3 innings in the postseason.

Don't Edit

Right-hander Zach McAllister gets his work in during a spring-training bullpen session in Goodyear, Ariz.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Zach McAllister

Zach McAllister has become a valuable member of the bullpen since making the move from the rotation after the 2014 season. He made 53 appearances last year, striking out 54 in 52 1/3 innings.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Right-hander Dan Otero, shown facing the Twins last year on Aug. 31, went 5-1 with a 1.53 ERA for the Indians.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Dan Otero

The Indians acquired Dan Otero from the Phillies before the 2016 season and the move paid off. Otero led the team in relief innings with 70 2/3. In nine appearances this spring, he's allowed one run.

Don't Edit

Left-hander Boone Logan goes through a spring-training fielding drill for Indians' pitchers in Goodyear, Ariz.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Boone Logan

The Indians signed left-hander Boone Logan to a one-year, $5.5 million deal in February because they needed a left-on-left reliever. He made 66 appearances for Colorado last year and did not allow a homer in Coors Field.

Don't Edit

Right-hander Shawn Armstrong, shown facing the Royals in 2015, struck out 72 batters in 49 innings last year at Class AAA Columbus.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Shawn Armstrong

The Indians went to spring training with one realistic opening in the bullpen. My choice to fill it is Shawn Armstrong. He's had great spring to this point and has shown he can pitch more than one inning.

Don't Edit

Manager Terry Francona, early in spring training, named Yan Gomes as his starting catcher.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Catchers: Yan Gomes

Yan Gomes has swung the bat well this spring. More importantly he's stayed healthy. Gomes has been hit by knee, shoulder and hand injuries the last two seasons and could use a sustained dose of good health.

Don't Edit

Catcher Roberto Perez, shown throwing to second base against the Cubs on Feb. 26, is expected to back up Yan Gomes this year for the Tribe.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Roberto Perez

Roberto Perez opened a lot of people's eyes with the way he performed in the postseason last year in place of injured Yan Gomes. The question is can he build on that performance?

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

DH-first baseman Edwin Encarnacion chats with teammates in the dugout prior to a spring training game against Kansas City at Goodyear Ballpark.

Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press

Infielders: First base-DH Edwin Encarnacion

The Indians shocked baseball when they signed free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion in December to a three-year, $60 million deal. He has averaged 39 homers and 110 RBI over the last five years.

Don't Edit

First baseman-DH Carlos Santana gets ready for batting practice this spring in Goodyear, Ariz.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

First base-DH Carlos Santana

First baseman-DH Carlos Santana will start his eighth year with the Indians on April 3 after setting career highs in homers and RBI last year. He can be a free agent after the season.

Don't Edit

Shortstop Francisco Lindor runs onto the field with a Puerto Rican flag before Puerto Rico played the Dominican Republic on March 14, 2017 in the World Baseball Classic.

Gregory Bull, Associated Press

Shortstop Francisco Lindor

Switch-hitting Francisco Lindor, like several other Indians, missed a part of spring training while playing in the World Baseball Classic. It didn't seem to slow him down as he hit .370 for Puerto Rico after hitting .301 for the Indians last year.

Don't Edit

Jose Ramirez drives in the winning run in the 10th inning to beat the Detroit Tigers 1-0 at Progressive Field on September 17, 2016.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Infielder Jose Ramirez

In spring training third baseman Jose Ramirez said he was willing to play anywhere and it looks like he'll get the chance. Ramirez could open the season at second base in place of injured Jason Kipnis. Ramirez just agreed to a five-year, $26 million extension.

Don't Edit

Switch-hitter Michael Martinez gets ready to take batting practice in spring training in Goodyear, Ariz.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Utility man, Michael Martinez

Some fans are still upset at Michael Martinez because he made the last out in the World Series. I still don't understand that, but that's beside the point. The versatile Martinez made my 25-man roster because he's just that -- versatile.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Indians third baseman Giovanny Urshela signs autographs before the game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona on Feb. 26, 2017.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Third baseman Giovanny Urshela

Third baseman Giovanny Urshela didn't make an appearance with the Indians last year, but two years ago he proved he could play defense. That's why I think he'll open the season at third with Jose Ramirez moving to second to compensate for the injury to Jason Kipnis.

Don't Edit

Center fielder Tyler Naquin goes through a spring-training outfield drill in Goodyear, Ariz.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Outfielders: Center fielder Tyler Naquin

Tyler Naquin hit well this spring, but was slowed by sore knees and a bruised right foot. He is expected to open the season as part of a platoon with Austin Jackson in center field.

Don't Edit

Outfielder Brandon Guyer gets ready for batting practice in spring training with the Indians.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Right fielder Brandon Guyer

Brandon Guyer, who signed a two-year extension in January, will platoon in right field with Lonnie Chisenhall. Guyer, after being acquired from Tampa Bay on Aug. 1, hit .333 (27-for-81) with the Indians.

Don't Edit

Outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall grabs fly ball as Tyler Naquin backs up, at spring training in Goodyear, Arizona on Feb. 22, 2017.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall

Lonnie Chisenhall was having a steady spring before he hit the right field wall at Sloan Park March 24 while playing the Cubs. He's going to be sidelined for a few days with an injured AC joint in his right shoulder. This late in camp there's a chance he might not be ready for the season opener on April 3.

Don't Edit

Left fielder Michael Brantley gets ready for batting practice this spring in Goodyear, Ariz.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Left fielder Michael Brantley

No one knew what to expect from Michael Brantley this spring after right shoulder problems limited him to 11 games last year. Brantley, to date, has passed every test when it comes to swinging the bat and is expected to be in left field on opening day.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Austin Jackson, shown getting ready to take batting practice in spring training, came to camp on a minor league deal with the Indians.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Center fielder Austin Jackson

The Indians didn't make a decision until they absolutely had to on veteran center fielder Austin Jackson. The day he could opt out of his contract, Sunday (March 26), the Indians told Jackson he was on the club. Jackson missed the early part of the Cactus League season while he rehabbed his left knee.

Don't Edit

Versatile Abraham Almonte, a switch-hitter who can play all three outfield positions, hits a fly ball during a spring training game against the Cubs on Feb. 26, 2017.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Almost made it: OF Abraham Almonte

This was a hard call, but I based it on the fact that Lonnie Chisenhalll's right shoulder injury wouldn't keep him off the roster and that Michael Brantley showed the Indians enough to be ready for opening day. The Indians won't lose Almonte, because he has an option left.

Don't Edit

Yandy Diaz works on his fielding early in spring training with the Indians in Goodyear, Ariz.

Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press

Third baseman Yandy Diaz

Yandy Diaz has had a great spring offensively, but when he moved from the outfield to third base late in camp because of an injury to Jason Kipnis -- which caused Jose Ramirez to move from third to second -- he received a crash course on how to play the hot corner. It could pay dividends sometime in the near future, but not in time for him to make the opening day roster.

Don't Edit

The Indians acquired right-hander Carlos Frias from the Dodgers for cash on Jan. 30.

Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press

Carlos Frias

Carlos Frias didn't pitch much this spring, but when he did, he made an impression. There's still a a chance he could make the opening day roster if Carlos Carrasco opens the season on the disabled list. Frias, who has an option remaining, can start and relieve.

Don't Edit

Right-hander Nick Goody throws a bullpen session during spring training in Goodyear, Ariz.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Nick Goody

The Indians acquired Nick Goody in a deal with the Yankees in December. The right-hander put together a strong spring, allowing one run in his first nine appearances. He has an option left so there's a chance he could help during the regular season.

Don't Edit