CLEVELAND -- The 2016 Cleveland Indians were good enough to win the franchises first American League pennant in 19 years and come agonizingly close to bringing the city its first World Series victory since 1948.Given all the injuries the Indians endured and obstacles they had to overcome, its not outlandish to think theyll return as an even better, more formidable team in 2017.Clevelands front office has some significant decisions to make this offseason, for sure. First baseman Mike Napoli, who led the team with 34 homers and 101 RBIs and was so beloved that Party at Napolis T-shirts were a de rigeur fashion statement at Progressive Field, is eligible for free agency this winter. So is outfielder Rajai Davis, who led the American League with 43 stolen bases and hit a home run so momentous it made the stadium shake late Wednesday night.But the nucleus of the team is intact, and the Indians track record should inspire faith that president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti, general manager Mike Chernoff and Clevelands front office group will make a lot of smart calls.Recent history substantiates that the Indians are adept at squeezing every dollar out of a payroll that annually ranks in MLBs bottom third. Since the start of 2013, the Indians have recorded an American League-leading 352 regular-season victories. Thats one more game than the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals have won in the same span, and more victories than the Detroit Tigers (343), New York Yankees (340), Boston Red Sox (339) and Toronto Blue Jays (339) have amassed with greater star power and more ample resources.We feel like our organization is really healthy right now, Chernoff said. We dont feel like this is a one-year wonder in that way. Its not a team where were losing six or seven of our starting players at the end of the year. Its a team where were potentially losing a couple of key free agents, but a big part of the core is here for the long run.Several rival executives surveyed by ESPN.com point out that the Indians lack the star-studded array of young talent of their World Series rivals, the Cubs. It would be a challenge for any organization to assemble a young position player nucleus to match Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras.But a spin through Clevelands 25-man roster reveals that most of the pieces are in place for the Indians to remain relevant for the next several years:? A young, cornerstone franchise player. Check.Francisco Lindor is a multi-talented, switch-hitting shortstop with the potential to be a perennial MVP candidate. Hell begin next season at age 23, and the Indians have seen enough to know that a taste of success on the big stage wont blunt his desire to be great. There were few more exciting moments in World Series Game 7 than the sight of Lindor ranging behind second base to take a hit from Dexter Fowler, then raising his arms and exhorting fans to get on their feet.Lindor is a stud, an American League front-office man said. Hes completely changed that franchise.? Controllable young position players behind him. Check.Jose Ramirez, 24, logged an impressive .312/.363/.462 slash line while splitting his time between left field and third base this season. All he does is rake. And former first-round pick Tyler Naquin is a good bet to finish third in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting behind Detroits Michael Fulmer and the Yankees Gary Sanchez (in whichever order they appear). Naquin will just need to get past the disappointment of a memorably bad night in World Series Game 6.? Controllable veteran players who double as team leaders. Check.Outfielder Michael Brantley, in the prime of his career at age 29, appeared in a mere 11 games before going down for the year with a shoulder injury in May. The man known as Dr. Smooth is signed for $7.5 million in 2017, and the Indians have an $11 million club option in 2018.Jason Kipnis is in the middle of a six-year, $52.5 million contract that runs three more years and could extend through 2020 if the Indians exercise a final option year. Since Kipnis became a regular in 2012, he ranks seventh among MLB second basemen in hits (771), home runs (69) and doubles (167) and and is sixth in RBIs (335). Hes 29 years old and coming off one of his best seasons.? A bona fide ace. Check.Corey Kluber went through a lot to establish himself as one of MLBs elite starters. Because of that, the Indians were able to sign him to a relatively club-friendly deal that pays him annual salaries of $7.5 million, $10.5 million and $13 million over the next three seasons. The Indians also have club options of $13.5 million and $14 million in 2020 and 2021. If Kluber stays with the team for the duration, hell be 35 in the final year of his deal.? Depth behind the ace. Check.Since the start of the 2014 season, Danny Salazar ranks sixth among MLB starters (minimum 400 innings pitched) with a ratio of 9.91 strikeouts per nine innings. Carlos Carrasco is seventh in that span at 9.81.The five pitchers ahead of them: Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Chris Sale and Kluber.Carrasco has two years left on a four-year, $22 million contract, and Indians have club options for 2019 and 2020. Salazar and Trevor Bauer, who went 12-8 with a 4.26 ERA in 190 innings, are both eligible for free agency after the 2020 season.? An established closer. Check.Cody Allen, who has been solid since taking over as Indians closer in 2014, took his game to another level in October -- with a 24-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 13? scoreless innings. He has two years of arbitration left before he hits the open market.? A monster trade chip. Check.Indians fans might storm the Progressive Field gates if the team trades postseason icon Andrew Miller, but its a possibility that Antonetti and Chernoff might at least have to entertain in the offseason. Miller was amazing in October, but a $9 million per year setup man is a luxury for a small-to-mid-market team, and Miller wouldnt be able to survive physically if manager Terry Francona tried to use him this way over a 162-game regular season.Chernoff declined to address the teams specific thought process with Miller. But its worth noting that the Indians acquired Kluber, Carlos Santana, Brantley and Carrasco in trades when they were selling off veterans Jake Westbrook, Casey Blake, CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee, respectively.In years when were not competitive, we have to make some of those painful trades, Chernoff said. We have to be opportunistic when we can.If the Indians decide to make Miller available, hes certain to generate plenty of interest.There are so many teams looking for closers, his trade value is through the roof, a baseball insider said. You have the Dodgers, Nationals, Giants, Rangers and, ironically, the Cubs. I think those teams will all be calling about Mr. Miller.? A great manager. Check.Along with burnishing his Hall of Fame credentials, Francona has enhanced his reputation as a manager beloved by his players. That never hurts when Antonetti and Chernoff are trying to sell Cleveland as a potential destination to free agents.? Two ancillary factors also contribute to the bright outlook in Cleveland.The Indians farm system is in good shape even though they sent former No. 1 draft picks Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield to New York in the Miller deal. The Indians have enough legit bats (Bradley Zimmer, Francisco Mejia, Bobby Bradley, Will Benson, Nolan Jones) and arms (Brady Aiken, Triston McKenzie) in the pipeline that they rank on the cusp of the top 10 systems in baseball -- if not higher.The AL Central is also in a state of flux at the moment. Minnesota is coming off a 59-win season and in rebuild mode behind a new leadership regime headed by former Indians executive Derek Falvey. The Chicago White Sox have been a disappointment and recently replaced manager Robin Ventura with Rick Renteria. The Detroit Tigers have an aging nucleus, the fourth-highest payroll in baseball at $172 million and a weak farm system. And while the Kansas City Royals deserve lots of respect for winning back-to-back pennants in 2014 and 2015, the Glass family appears to be in retrenchment mode and another rebuild could be on the way.Its a division thats winnable, and they have pieces in place that can help them win, a National League front-office man said of the Indians. They have some elements that should enable them to be good. Best-team-in-baseball good? I think thats to be determined. Ichiro Suzuki Jersey .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. Ken Griffey Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. http://www.cheapmarinersjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-kyle-seager-jersey . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste. Dee Gordon Jersey . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Jay Buhner Jersey . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. After throwing 50 championship points into the kitty litter across five grands prix, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have been called to the naughty step at Mercedes, where the pair were told to think about what theyve done and not to do it again or face the consequences.This morning at the headquarters of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team in Brackley, UK, positive meetings were held between Toto Wolff, Paddy Lowe, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, Mercedes said in an official statement. Our drivers were informed that they remain free to race for the World Championship. We believe this is the essence of Formula One, including between team-mates. As passionate racers, we want to see them racing, and so do the fans of Formula One.However, this freedom comes with a duty for our drivers to respect the values of the team. In the past five races, there have been three incidents which have cost us over 50 points in the constructors championship. We have therefore strengthened our Rules of Engagement to include much greater deterrents to contact between our cars.Their destiny is in their own hands, the statement concluded, triggering off much muttering in the press room as we tried to interpret what the Mercedes comms team probably thought was a perfectly clear and succinct statement. Which it was, but none of us would work in the media if we werent keen on reading between the lines whether or not there are any lines to read between.So does it mean that the drivers are free to race, but will be penalised for coming together on track yet again, throwing away valuable championship points in the process?In theory, not so much. Both men can be fined, although their earning capacity means that fines are going to have to be a minimum of six figures before either driver would feel much financial pain. The other possible penalty -- although an unlikely one given the teams championship ambitions and their drivers current championship positions -- is to bench one or both drivers for a race or two, depending on the severity of any clash and the apportioning of blame.When asked what deterrents the drivers were being threatened with in the event of another collision, Mercedes representatives declined to provide details, saying that the precise nature of the deterrents on the table would remain private.Whatever deterrents Mercedes decide on, there is currently an imbalance within the team that is not possible to rectify: Lewis Hamilton currently has a multi-year contract with the Silver Arrows, while Nico Rosberg iis in the process of negotiating a new deal.dddddddddddd Those scare quotes are deliberate and sarcastic -- there is absolutely nothing for Rosberg to negotiate, as he is currently driving for the dominant team with the strongest car. If he doesnt like the terms offered, Mercedes can tell him to seek employment elsewhere for 2017 and beyond.And that is probably going to be Nicos biggest deterrent up until the point at which he has his own signed and sealed guarantee of a Mercedes future. Because where else would he go? The past three seasons spent keeping Lewis on his toes have shown that Rosberg is a far better racer than was assumed during his rather lacklustre years at Williams, that beneath the polished private school exterior presented by the Germano-Finn beats the heart of an occasionally devious competitive beast. These are not unpopular attributes in this sport.While the 2017 regulatory changes mean that Mercedes is not guaranteed to maintain its current period of dominance, behind the scenes the Silver Arrows bigwigs readily admit that theyre looking forward to the new rules, as the stability from 2014 onwards was allowing their rivals to close the gap. The new regs present Mercedes with a chance to re-extend it.Red Bull has got Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo keeping their cockpits occupied next season, Ferrari may have a Kimi Raikkonen-sized hole in one car next year although confirmation is still being awaited, Williams are competitive but unlikely to fight for the title, and Rosberg has already been there and worn that team kit. If any driver is likely to swap their current seat for Grove next year it is more likely that Jenson Button will retrace old footsteps than Rosberg.As for the other options on the grid? Theyre all either full or uncompetitive, and having been in the title fight for the past three years Nico is unlikely to want to take his eyes off that particular prize.Given that whatever punishment Hamilton can suffer after an on-track incident with his teammate cannot compare with Rosberg being moved over to make way for Pascal Wehrlein, Mercedes have -- probably unwittingly -- left their longest-serving F1 driver in something of a double bind. Does he exercise caution on track to save his seat while reducing his chance of the 2016 championship, or does he go aggressively for the title and let his long term future resolve itself?Que sera, sera... ' ' '