The Indians are likely one of the top 10 teams in baseball this year. They’re certainly still one of the favorites to win the AL Central, even if the field is getting more crowded. Even with the subtraction of Corey Kluber, there is a good ball club under contract in Cleveland.
But everything feels icky right now.
Besides the salary dump, there are major issues with the roster. As TJ Zuppe noted, only one team, the Tigers, has a lower projected WAR from second base in 2020 than the Indians. Likewise, despite having approximately 45 outfielders, the Tribe has just one (Franmil Reyes, whose outfield credentials are, uh, questionable) projected for more than 1.