A move to third ?

CLEVELAND: The early and disappointing end to the Indians’ 2017 post­season run left them with several weeks before they have to make some crucial decisions about the major-league roster.
But some top prospects are already getting some additional work in the Arizona Fall League. That includes top prospect catcher Francisco Mejia.
The Indians liked the defensive advancements Mejia made in 2017, though he’s still considered an offense-first catcher. Although he continues to progress behind the plate, the Indians are using the Fall League to see how Mejia takes to some exposure at third base.
“We’ll see how that goes, and that can help shape our plans in spring training,” president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said in an end-of-the-season news conference last week. “It’s important not to lose sight of the developmental year Francisco had as a catcher. He did an extraordinary job at continuing his development, both offensively but more specifically defensively, the way he led the staff, some of the nuances of catching.”
Mejia is off to a hot start offensively in the Fall League, hitting .375 in his first four games. He also hit .297 with an .835 OPS in 92 games with the RubberDucks after impressing coaches last spring.
Mejia is still considered one of the better catching prospects in baseball. But with the Indians having both Roberto Perez and Yan Gomes signed to long-term deals, Mejia taking to third base could accelerate the timing of his arrival as a major leaguer.
“We talk about it all the time: The more versatility guys can have, the better,” Antonetti said. “If he can be an option for us not only behind the plate, but at another position, that’s a huge asset.”
Always be consistent
The saga of Danny Salazar’s unfulfilled potential due to injuries continued in 2017. Salazar didn’t look like his normal self to begin the year and then dealt with shoulder and elbow issues. During stretches, he looked as dominant as ever, which included his final start of the season.
But it was difficult for the Indians to utilize Salazar in anything more than a bullpen role in the American League Division Series. Concerns about his health led to him throwing only 1⅔ innings.
When healthy, Salazar has been an All-Star, a strikeout machine capable of holding his own even on a staff with Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco. But the Indians haven’t seen that side often enough as he’s struggled to stay on the mound. That consistency is something the club wants to see.
“We have to find a way, and Danny included, to get him more consistent,” manager Terry Francona said. “That’s such a big word in our game. And he’s had times, you look he made the All-Star team … And again, he’s still very young and with young players, young pitchers especially, we’ve seen it with Carrasco or look at Kluber, you can’t give up on good, young pitching or they’ll be pitching good for somebody else.”

Moving up?
Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway is one of the more sought-after managerial candidates around the league.
According to multiple reports, Callaway has garnered heavy interest from both the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets and could interview with both this week.
Callaway is one of the more well-respected pitching coaches in the game, lauded for his work with Ubaldo Jimenez and others.
This time of year can be bittersweet for teams, proud to see coaches getting promotions but sad to see valuable members leaving the organization.
“The pride always wins out,” Francona said. “It never fails, guys deserve a chance because of the work they do, and then it’s on us to find the next best person. And, yeah, it hurts when you lose guys, but believe me, the pride wins out, because they deserve that.”