If they had been in any other division in baseball, they would not have made the playoff this year, wild-card included. They were like the 1997 Indians who were a mediocre team that got hot at the right time. They will be overhauling big parts of the roster. No Paul O'Neill, no Tino Martinez, no David Cone. Possibly no Scott Brosius or Chuck Knoblauch.
Cone is gone.
Clemens can't be a good pitcher forever. He had some good post-season games, but he is on the downward slope. Orlando Hernandez was not consistent this season. Their two best pitchers, Clemens and Hernandez have seen their best days. After one good season in Cleveland, the Indians were thrilled to get rid of him.