Vizquel's status for 2005 unclear

The shortstop is in the final year of his guaranteed contract.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
CLEVELAND -- Omar Vizquel is the last remaining symbol of the Indians' glory years, an era that included two World Series appearances and ended with a playoff loss to the Mariners in 2001.
Now 37, Vizquel is in the final guaranteed season of his contract, and it's no secret that his inclusion on the 2005 roster would be a surprise.
"It's going to be hard, but not because I don't want to come back," Vizquel said Sunday.
"I see the business part, the things that have been going on the last three or four years. But I also don't lose hope that we will still talk and see if they're interested in keeping me on the team."
Vizquel is a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. He is surrounded by 20-somethings who have little in common with him on the field or off.
Milestones
On Saturday, he became the 15th major-leaguer in history to play in 2,000 or more games at shortstop, and April 22, he slapped a single to left field to become the 230th player to reach 2,000 hits.
While many of his teammates are trying to establish themselves as big-leaguers, Vizquel has nine Gold Gloves in his trophy room, and the subject of debate on whether he is worthy of a bust in the Hall of Fame.
The Indians' priorities lie in building a team that will contend in the future.
Can Vizquel be a part of that, at least for another season or two?
"It's really way too early to know that," manager Eric Wedge said. "It depends in part on whether he's looking to stay, and whether there will be circumstances that would allow him to stay.
"Remaining healthy will be a big part of it, and the business side has to make sense for both sides. It also depends on how things play out with our young guys."
Coming up
The young guys are Brandon Phillips and Jhonny Peralta, now at Buffalo.
Both players are potential successors to Vizquel at shortstop, though it's also possible that Peralta is destined for third and Phillips could land at second.
"I still feel like I can play every day," Vizquel said. "But it depends on the kind of year I have and on the guys behind me."
Vizquel is batting .286 with one home run and 14 RBIs. He has scored 12 runs and has two steals.
Vizquel remains adept at hitting in the clutch. From the seventh inning on he is batting .379 with two doubles, five runs, four RBIs and four walks in 29 at-bats.
At various times in recent years, Vizquel said he would be willing to switch to second base, if the situation required.
"I still would do that, but I don't think that now the time is right," he said.
If Vizquel continues to produce at his current level, general manager Mark Shapiro undoubtedly will field offers for him in July. As a 10-5 player (10 years in the majors, five with the same team), Vizquel can veto a trade.
Whereas he flatly stated last season he would not leave the Tribe, Vizquel has softened his position, depending on which team might want him and what that club would expect of him.
Playing for a team that remains an unfinished product doesn't seem to bother Vizquel, who believes the Indians are making progress.
"I think we're getting there," he said. "I think this year is a key for us to make a run at the division title. Even this year, the way the division looks, we could have a chance."