CLEVELAND -- Perhaps it's time for the Indians to invest in some thicker padding for the outfield walls at Jacobs Field.

The assemblage of players hired to man the Tribe's outfield spots this season is a gritty bunch, prone to slamming into walls and diving for balls.

Therefore, the Ben-Gay for the bruises and the bleach for the grass stains will be kept handy at all times.

The newest additions to an outfield mix that already included Grady Sizemore in center field, Jason Michaels in left and Casey Blake in right are free-agent signees David Dellucci and Trot Nixon, who will be the new starters in the corner spots against right-handed pitching.

Like Sizemore, Michaels and Blake, Dellucci and Nixon are high on hustle, which general manager Mark Shapiro viewed as an attractive quality when he looked to sign them.

"These are guys we deem to be Cleveland Indians players," Shapiro said. "Grady, Jake Westbrook, C.C. Sabathia... these guys carry those attributes enough. You look to add guys that embody those characteristics and attributes."

The purest example of what Shapiro is looking for is the 24-year-old Sizemore, who has quickly established himself as perhaps the most complete player in the American League Central.

Sizemore's 2006 season was impressive not only because of what he did between the lines, but also because of the simple fact he didn't miss any opportunity to get between them. He became the first Indians player since Joe Carter in 1989 to see action in all 162 games, and is in the midst of a consecutive-game streak of 196, which is the fourth-longest active mark in the Majors.

The durability and stability provided by a player like Sizemore is a welcome benefit to a club.

"[Sizemore] arrives at the ballpark each day of the 162-game season prepared to play and to play with 100 percent effort and energy," Shapiro said. "He never cheats a moment of any nine-inning game. Whether it be at the plate, on the bases or in the field, Grady is busting his tail to help his team win. He is the true definition of a franchise player."

And he's coming off something of a historic season.

Sizemore not only earned his first invite to the All-Star Game in 2006, but he also became just the second Major Leaguer in history to record 50 doubles, 10 triples, 20 homers and 20 steals in a season. He led the AL with 92 extra-base hits, which is the third-highest mark in club history.

Sizemore's production might not be typical of a leadoff hitter, but the Indians certainly aren't complaining. His ability to consistently get himself into scoring position at the onset of games and innings was instrumental in the team finishing second in baseball with 870 runs in '06.

"The dynamic he brings to the leadoff spot fuels our offense and puts us in position to score runs and win games," Shapiro said. "I cannot think of a hitter I would rather have hit leadoff for us."

The addition of Nixon gives the Tribe a bat to slot after Sizemore in manager Eric Wedge's lineup. Though his power numbers have shot down in recent years as he has endured a spate of injuries, Nixon's eye at the plate (only 115 strikeouts over the last two seasons) has made him a consistent threat to get on base. He brings a career on-base percentage of .366 to Cleveland.

Shapiro believes Sizemore and Nixon will set up dangerous No. 3 hitter Travis Hafner nicely. And one of the main reasons for acquiring Nixon so late in the free-agent season was to take Dellucci's bat (originally slotted for the No. 2 spot) and move it down to the heart of the order.

Dellucci, signed to a three-year, $11.5 million contract, has some pop in his bat, as evidenced by his 59 homers over the last three seasons.

But Dellucci and Nixon are similar in that they are tough on right-handers while struggling against lefties. Thus, the Tribe will employ a pseudo-platoon at both corner spots.

Cleveland Indians • Catchers: Martinez remains main guy • Corner IF: Defense a priority for Tribe • Middle IF: Youth shall serve • Outfielders: Nixon, Dellucci join in • Starters: Hoping five is enough • Bullpen: Improvement is necessary • DH/Bench: Lots of moving pieces

In left field, Dellucci will be paired with Michaels, a right-handed hitter who batted .291 in 189 at-bats against left-handers in his first season with the Indians, who signed him to a two-year, $4.25 million deal this winter.

Shapiro compared the Dellucci/Michaels platoon to the Ben Broussard/Eduardo Perez setup that worked so efficiently at first base in the first half of '06. It's a combination of two players with clear strengths in one area and clear deficiencies in another, and the thinking is that the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts.

"It brings," Shapiro said, "at least average to above-average production at one spot for what today is probably below-average dollars."

In right field, the situation is a little more muddied. Nixon will get the starts against right-handers, but the initial starts against left-handers will go to either Michaels or Blake, who, otherwise, will be playing mainly at first base.

The Tribe's outfield is not lacking for depth even beyond the big-league platoons. Shin-Soo Choo, the penciled-in Opening Day starter in right before Nixon was signed, will likely begin the year at Triple-A Buffalo.

Acquired last summer in the trade that sent Broussard to the Mariners, Choo hit .280 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 157 at-bats over the last two months of the season. But his troubles against left-handed pitching limited his development.

"He's a guy that has a track record of hitting right-handed pitching extremely well, and that's something we still expect," Shapiro said. "He has to show ability to hit lefties. He has good speed, a good arm, and he plays a solid outfield."

The Indians have some other intriguing outfield prospects in Franklin Gutierrez, Ben Francisco and Trevor Crowe, all of whom can play all three positions. Gutierrez saw significant time with the Tribe last year and drew raves about his defense.

Crowe, the Tribe's No. 1 draft pick in 2005, will probably begin the year at Double-A Akron, but he appears to be on the fast track to the bigs after hitting a combined .290 with 22 doubles, five homers, 44 RBIs and 45 stolen bases between Class A Kinston and Akron last year.

And though they saw his performance significantly decline last year at Akron, the Indians still have high hopes for Brad Snyder, a first-round pick in the '03 First-Year Player Draft. Snyder is a power hitter who needs to drastically cut down on his strikeouts.

Shapiro looked at all these options, combined with the big-league acquisitions, and felt comfortable with his outfield outlook.

"That's championship-caliber depth," he said.

And with the unrelenting way the Indians' outfielders play the game, that depth might very well come in handy.