Cleveland Sports Forum

Ubaldo Jimenez declined his $8 million mutual option for 2014.

The Indians picked up their portion of the option, but Jimenez predictably declined his side. The club is expected to extend him a $14.1 million qualifying offer, which the right-hander is also likely to decline. Jimenez will be on the lookout for a multi-year contract after posting a 3.30 ERA with over a strikeout per inning this season.

Nov 1 - 8:45 AM

Indians sign Ramirez, Rohlinger to minor league deals

By Staff Report

November 1, 2013

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The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed free agent right-handed pitcher J.C. Ramirez and infielder Ryan Rohlinger to minor league contracts with a non-roster invitation to major league spring training camp.

Ramirez, 25, split the 2013 season between Double-A Reading, Triple-A Lehigh Valley and the Philadelphia Phillies, going a combined 5-2 with a 4.04 ERA in 34 combined minor league relief outings (49.0 IP, 44 H, 22 ER, 25 BB, 44 K, .232 AVG). Over his two stints with the Phillies he was 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA in 18 relief appearances (24.0 IP, 30 H, 20 ER, 15 BB, 16 K), his first career action at the major league level. He elected free agency after being outrighted off the Phillies’ 40-man roster on October 16.

Rohlinger, 30, spent the 2013 season with Triple-A Columbus where he hit .266 (85-for-319) with 17 doubles, 5 home runs and 25 RBI in 92 games (36 BB, 69 K, .353 OB%). He appeared in 57 games at third base, 26 games at shortstop and 9 games at second base for the Clippers, his second season in the Indians organization. Rohlinger is an eight-year professional who began his playing career in 2006 in the San Francisco organizationand later appeared in 46 major league games with the Giants from 2008-2011.

This is NOT the poll by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

John Farrell Named Sporting News’ 2013 American League Manager of the Year

by Ricky Doyle on Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 3:39PM

John Farrell‘s eyes are on the prize. But when he finally has an opportunity to reflect on the Red Sox’ remarkable 2013 season, he’ll have at least one individual accolade to hang his hat on. Farrell was named the Sporting News’ 2013 American League Manager of the Year, while Pirates skipper Clint Hurdle was named the National League Manager of the Year.

Farrell and Hurdle were selected by a panel of 19 major league managers. Farrell was hired in the offseason after the Red Sox went 69-93 under Bobby Valentine in 2012. Hurdle, meanwhile, guided the Pirates to their first winning season since 1992 and a trip to the NLDS, where they fell to the eventual NL champion Cardinals. Farrell is looking to follow in Terry Francona‘s footsteps and lead the Red Sox to a World Series title in his first year as Boston’s manager. Francona finished second in this season’s Sporting News Manager of the Year vote for the success he enjoyed in his first season as Indians manager.

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/10/john-farrell-na ... -the-year/

Terry Pluto

About the Tribe's closer situation ...


1. It's very early and a lot can happen between now and opening day, but I sense the Tribe will give Cody Allen the first shot at being a closer. I sincerely doubt they will acquire a veteran closer. The two current candidates are Bryan Shaw and Allen. And the Tribe seems to think Allen might be the most ready.

2. The Indians like the fact that lefties (.230) and righties (.236) hit about the same off Allen. While it's not a requirement, if the closer is a decent athlete who can field his position, that's a plus. Allen can do that, which helps when teams sacrifice bunt as often happens in the ninth inning of a close game. Allen's 77 appearances were second in the American League. He was 6-1 with a 2.43 ERA and averaged 11.3 strikeouts and 3.3 walks per nine innings.

3. Allen's average fastball was 95.4 mph last season, and he threw it 77 percent of the time. His other pitch was an 86-mph curve with a sharp downward drop that is effective against lefties. He's 25 and has a career 2.81 ERA in 104 games for the Tribe -- the team seems to think it's his time to close.

4. Shaw was 7-3 with a 3.24 ERA. He was especially strong after the All-Star break (1.89 ERA). He throws a "cutter," a fastball that has a quick, short break away from right-handed hitters. He held righties to a .178 average, lefties were at .250. It's realistic to project him as an eighth-inning set-up man.

5. The Indians know they need to rebuild their bullpen. Heading into 2013, they had Joe Smith, Vinnie Pestano, Chris Perez for the 7th, 8th, 9th innings. Smith is a free agent and probably will receive a 3-4 year contract offer from another team. He is not likely to be back. Perez is gone. Pestano is a huge question mark after last season when he had arm problems and ended up in the minors.

6. In addition to Shaw and Allen, the Indians are planning on Marc Rzepczynski as the lefty reliever. Matt Albers is a free agent. Not sure if he will be back. The Tribe likes C.C. Lee -- and believes he can earn a spot on the opening-day roster. Blake Wood throws in the high 90s, and has a 4.25 ERA for his career in 108 games with the Royals from 2010-12. He's coming off elbow surgery, and had a 2.16 ERA at Class AAA Columbus.

7. The Indians are excited about Austin Adams, who was 3-2 with a 2.62 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 55 innings at Class AA Akron. He throws in the middle 90s. Adams had shoulder surgery and missed all of 2012, but has come back as a prime relief prospect for some point in 2014. Preston Guilmet doesn't throw very hard, but they like the righty reliever who was 5-4 with a 1.68 ERA at Class AAA last season, fanning 72 in 64 innings.

8. Finally, the Tribe plans to add some relievers via trade, free agency and minor league contracts. Matt Capps (coming off shoulder surgery) has signed a minor-league deal, and the Tribe is intrigued by him. Capps is 30 with a 29-33 career record (3.52 ERA) and 138 big league saves.

The Tribe's message ...


If Jason Giambi doesn't make the team in 2014, the Tribe will have a front office job for him.
Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer

The team intentionally announced the release of Chris Perez and the signing of Jason Giambi on the same day.

They viewed Perez as a poor teammate, while Giambi was considered the type of leader that they want in the clubhouse.

The Indians really don't know if Giambi's health issues (He has neck problems and some other things) will allow him to play again in 2014. But he wants to try -- and signed a minor-league contract for 2014. So he costs the Indians nothing if they cut him -- the same deal he had last season.

Giambi batted .183 (.653 OPS) with nine homers and 31 RBI in 186 at bats. He's a part-time DH and pinch hitter. He had three game-winning homers. He will be 43 in January. If he can't play any longer, the Tribe wants him in the front office -- perhaps as a special advisor.

That was the same position that Terry Francona had the with the Tribe in 2001 after he was fired as manager by the Phillies.

Giambi is being prepared to eventually be a manager. Before signing with the Tribe, he interviewed for the Colorado managerial job in 2013.

As for Perez, there is no need to dig through his self-made mess of 2013. Tribe fans know the story, and the key was he lost his confidence and stuff when it meant the most. At the end of the season, he even told Francona that he no longer believed he could handle the closer job.

I checked, and the Tribe had a couple of offers for Perez at the end of 2012 -- but the teams wanted the Indians to pay part of his $7.3 million salary. They also were willing to trade only some so-so prospects for Perez.

The feeling was Perez would soon flame out, and his salary was too high.

After this season and with arbitration likely taking his contract to $9 million, there was zero market for him.

I would expect Allen to get first crack at it, unless they sign someone. Smith, if signed, still seems like an 8th inning guy since Allen is the one with the zippier fast ball and a better out pitch against lefties, although I know has been very effective against LH too.

Chris Antonetti wants to keep Ubaldo Jimenez

By Paul Hoynes, Northeast Ohio Media Group
on November 04, 2013 at 7:34 PM, updated November 05, 2013 at 7:33 AM



CLEVELAND, Ohio – General Manager Chris Antonetti says the Indians want to keep free agent right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez.

It’s one of the reasons they offered him a $14.1 million qualifying offer before Monday’s deadline. The other, of course, was to get a 2014 draft pick at the end of the first round if Jimenez signs with another team.

“We’ve been consistent since the season ended,” said Antonetti. “We’d like to have Ubaldo back. He played a huge part in our success last year, especially in the second half.

“We’ll do what we can to try and retain him.”

Jimenez, 29, has until Nov. 11 to accept or reject the offer. If he accepts, he’ll return to the Indians for at least one year. If he rejects it, he can sign with another team and the Indians will be compensated with a pick between the first and second rounds of the upcoming draft.

Under the current basic agreement, the 2012 off-season was the first where teams could make qualifying offers to their own free agents. If what happened last year holds true, the odds are against the Indians re-signing Jimenez.

Nine players received qualifying offers last year. Only one, David Ortiz, returned to his old club. Ortiz did so on a renegotiated two-year $26 million deal with the Red Sox.

Antonetti said the Indians did not have a lot of time to talk about a multiyear deal with Jimenez because of his old contract. In question was the $8 million club option for 2014 that the Indians inherited when they acquired Jimenez from Colorado on July 31, 2011.

Jimenez had the right to decline the option if he was traded. The Indians felt the language was vague and gave thoughts of challenging it, but in the end did not.

The Indians exercised the club option Thursday night and Jimenez declined it to become a free agent.

“With the option and Ubaldo’s ability to decline it, we haven’t fully explored a multiyear fit, but we’re open to it,” said Antonetti.

Jimenez is one of eight Indians to declare free agency after the end of the World Series. He was the only one to receive a qualifying offer. Scott Kazmir, Joe Smith, Rich Hill, Matt Albers, Jason Kubel and Kelly Shoppach are the others. After midnight Monday, they are free to sign with other teams.

Jason Giambi filed for free agency last week, but re-signed a minor-league deal with the Tribe.

Until midnight Monday, free agents could only sign with their old teams. Other teams could talk to them, and recruit them, but they could not talk money.

MLB.com reported that Tribe manager Terry Francona had a long conversation with Atlanta free agent right-hander Tim Hudson, currently recovering from a badly broken right ankle that required surgery.

Francona was Oakland’s bench coach in 2003 when Hudson went 16-7 for the A’s. Hudson, 38, broke his ankle covering first base on July 27 of last season. The Braves reportedly have already made him a one-year offer.

If Jimenez and Kazmir leave through free agency, the Indians are going to have some holes to fill in the rotation.

Jimenez was one of several players to receive qualifying offers before Monday’s deadline. Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson and Hiroki Kuroda of the Yankees, Atlanta’s Brian McCann, Mike Napoli, Stephen Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox, St. Louis’ Carlos Beltran, Cincinnati’s Shin-Soo Choo and Seattle’s Kendrys Morales were some of the others.

A team that signs a free agent who has received and declined a qualifying offer will forfeit a high round draft pick based on its record from 2013. A team that finishes with one of the 10 worst records in the big leagues cannot lose its first pick even if it signs such a free agent. Last year the Indians signed Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, who had each received qualifying offers, and lost a second- and third-round pick. They kept their first-round picks because they lost 94 games in 2012.

The compensation tied to qualifying offers hurt some free agents last winter. Bourn and Kyle Lohse didn’t sign until spring training at much less money than the expected to get when they first turned free agents. Part of the reason given was that teams didn’t want to give up draft picks.

Jimenez (13-9, 3.30) went 4-0 in six starts in September when the Indians clinched the top spot in the AL Central wild-card race.

If Jimenez signs elsewhere, the Indians will have three of the top 34 to 36 picks in 2014. That includes a pick from last year’s competitive balance lottery.

Anyone for a "Bonus At Bat," and maybe a boost in baseball excitement? - Bill Livingston

on November 06, 2013 at 9:00 AM, updated November 07, 2013 at 7:28 AM


CLEVELAND, Ohio – Change in baseball?

Perish the thought.

Let’s keep it the way it’s always been, even though the emery ball and the spitball were outlawed and the ball itself was enlivened, while the “in-shoot” and “out-shoot” became part of the game’s dusty, by-gone language, and the advent of relief pitchers and closers changed the game from nine innings, tactically, to eight or even, according to the Quality Start theory, six.

There are times when I think some baseball fans are not in favor of night ball, lights in Wrigley Field, World Series games or the electric light itself. Miller Lite might be different.

When I posted on my Facebook page the other day the radical notion of the “Bonus at Bat” (BAB) of Sports Illustrated author Tom Verducci, an “insider” on the MLB Network, the reaction was immediate and the key of discourse was in outrage, modulated by scorn. Verducci was trying to be proactive and find a counter to the playoff dominance of power pitchers, who are quickly identified and promoted.

The Designated Hitter was received with the same cries that it was the end of civilization as we know it. Same with the wild-card, the second wild-card, interleague play, expansion and everything else since 16 teams in 10 cities and two leagues traveled between Boston and St. Louis on the choo-choo train.

Not all of the innovations were unalloyed triumphs. But they were worth doing.

The BAB is not a tower of BAB-el. It simply allows a manager, say Boston’s John Farrell, to select one hitter per game, say red-hot World Series-dominating David Ortiz, to bat one time per game out of the sequence in the batting order.

Much as the three-point shot added strategy to basketball, Verducci argues, the BAB adds a layer of maneuvering to baseball. Does Farrell use Ortiz in the BAB role early, with the bases loaded and the chance to blow the game wide open, or does he save him until the ninth, when the chance might have been lost?

Without flexibility, any sport becomes frozen, unable to adjust to new trends. St. Louis' bullpen carousel of hard-throwers was the future, with strikeout-induced air-conditioning available in ballparks everywhere.

The motivation for the BAB is to give baseball the same possibility of heightened suspense and dramatic resolution that football enjoys when Peyton Manning is barking audibles in the shotgun or basketball possesses when LeBron James is certain to get the ball in the final second. Those games come down to the player you paid your money to see against the wiles and will of the opposition.

In baseball, the high hurdle of batting-order obstruction has to be cleared before a Reggie Jackson gets to stand in against a Bob Welch. That match-up of fastball hitter against fastballer in the 1978 World Series was a moment that should have been bronzed.

It’s true that the BAB is an artificial construct, intruding on the natural order of things. But so were amphetamines, which allowed players to play at a high level when they were dead tired. Steroids were a form of pharmaceutical eternal youth for a generation of sluggers. Drug proliferation turned the writers who had glorified those sluggers into a band of Puritans, refusing Hall of Fame admission to anyone suspected of being a user. And the majority of players, in the long years without testing, were users.

Furthermore, baseball rose from the ashes of the Black Sox Scandal on the drives Babe Ruth launched with a ball that had the genetic code, compared to the deadball era, of Peter Cottontail. More recently, baseball recovered from the 1994 World Series cancellation with better slugging through chemistry.

Verducci’s idea might have been a trial balloon because of his MLB Network ties. More likely, it was intended to be a discussion starter.

In its wake came comments on my Facebook page and elsewhere that ranged from the sarcastic proposal to replace extra innings with a home run derby to a wacky, outlier idea to allow the home team to choose how its final six outs are used – maybe requiring only two of them to retire the side in the eighth, when the bottom or the order is up, in exchange for four in the ninth when the heart of the order is due to bat.

To this, I say: Why not do it for both teams?

I’m not wholeheartedly endorsing the BAB. But it is an interesting idea.

Why should the only thinking “out of the box” in baseball be by a dim-witted slugger who steps out and peers at the third-base coach to make sure of the sign?

What a dumbass idea.

Cheerleaders! That's what baseball needs. Oh, and "Dunlop" and "Uniroyal" patches on the sleeves.

Ubaldo Jimenez expected to reject Cleveland Indians' $14 million qualifying offer at GM meetings



CLEVELAND, Ohio – Baseball’s general managers meetings begin Monday in Orlando, Fla. They will dovetail into the owners’ meetings Thursday in the same city.

This much is clear from the Indians’ point of view even before the meetings begin.

No. 1: Reborn right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez is expected to turn down his $14.1 million qualifying offer before Monday’s deadline. The Indians can still negotiate with him if he does reject it.

No. 2: Reborn left-hander Scott Kazmir and his agents have given no indication that he will return to the Indians. He’s looking for a multiyear deal, while they prefer another one-year arrangement.

No. 3: Right-hander Joe Smith, who gave the Indians five quality seasons out of the pen, is probably gone as well. Smith is looking for a three-year deal, but the Indians don’t want to go beyond two.

No. 4: Right-hander Matt Albers, who absorbed a lot of bad relief innings, could be headed down the trail as well.

Jimenez, Kazmir, Smith and Albers are free agents. So are Jason Kubel, Chris Perez and Kelly Shoppach, but the first four were contributors to last season’s AL wild card team. So was Perez in his role as closer, but since the Indians released him a couple of hours after the final out of the World Series, it was clear his stay in Cleveland was over.

The Indians would like to keep Jimenez, Kazmir, Smith and Albers, but it appears they’ll find more lucrative opportunities elsewhere. Negotiations have taken place with little progress reported. The Yankees have already been linked to Jimenez, while Colorado has expressed interest in Smith.

Improvement seen

At least the Indians know what holes they need to fill. Right now, they’ve lost two starting pitchers and three relievers, including their closer.

“I feel we’re in a better position at the end of this season than we were at the end of the 2012 season,” said Antonetti. “We have the ability to bring back our whole position club, a club that tied for fourth in the American League in runs scored and finished (tied) for fifth overall.

“We have seven quality major league alternatives in the starting rotation with Justin Masterson, Danny Salazar, Corey Kluber, Zach McAllister, Carlos Carrasco, Josh Tomlin and Trevor Bauer. And we have some talented pitchers in the back end of the bullpen.”

Antonetti and his staff have been concentrating on a couple of things since the end of the season. They’d like to add a veteran starter and fill some holes in the bullpen. Then they’ll take a look at improving the offense.

Veteran starter needed

They’ve already talked to Tim Hudson, whose season with Atlanta ended prematurely because of a broken right ankle. A.J. Burnett, Jake Westbrook, Bronson Arroyo, Bartolo Colon, Bruce Chen, Aaron Harang, Roy Halladay and Barry Zito are among the other veteran arms available.

Last winter the Indians thought Brett Myers, who signed a one-year $7 million deal with a vesting option, could fill that role, but a sore right elbow scuttled those plans in April.

It sounds as if Antonetti will try to fill the closer’s job from within. Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw are the leading candidates. If not, there are plenty of veteran closers on the market with Grant Balfour, Brian Wilson, Fernando Rodney, Edward Mujica, Joe Nathan and Joaquin Benoit looking for work.

If they stick with Allen or Shaw at closer, the Indians will still try to add relievers to bridge the gap from the starters to the late innings.

Big spenders no more?

The Indians were the surprise big spenders of last year’s offseason, paying Nick Swisher $56 million and Michael Bourn $48 million along with $7 million for Myers and $6 million for Mark Reynolds. Antonetti had money to work with because owner Paul Dolan sold his regional TV network, SportsTime Ohio, to Fox.

There’s TV money coming in this winter as well, about $25 million, from the new national broadcasting contracts. But since each team is getting the same amount, the Indians won’t have the advantage they did last year.

The Indians payroll is expected to stay around $80 million. It’s estimated that they already have $69,400,000 committed. That includes anticipated raises to nine players who are eligible for arbitration: Masterson, Drew Stubbs, Michael Brantley, Marc Rzepczynski, Vinnie Pestano, Tomlin, Lou Marson, Blake Wood and Frank Herrmann. Some of those players could be non-tendered or not offered contracts on Dec. 2.

Long-term deal for Masterson?

Sometime this offseason the Indians are expected to take another run at Masterson regarding a multiyear deal. Mlbtraderumors.com speculates that Masterson is in line for a five-year deal worth between the $65 million John Danks received with the White Sox and the $85 million Jered Weaver received from the Angels.

Masterson, the Indians’ No.1 starter, is currently on a relief mission in Africa. He can be a free agent after 2014.

The Indians have already made offers to free agents and proposed trades. Those negotiations will continue when the meetings begin Monday. Antonetti will co-chair the meetings with San Diego’s Josh Byrnes, which will make three busy days even busier than anticipated.

JOE: Please keep these articles in the Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian/World Ball folder.

Ranking Cleveland Indians 40-man big league roster from top to bottom

By Paul Hoynes, Northeast Ohio Media Group
on November 08, 2013 at 6:00 AM, updated November 08, 2013 at 4:08 PM


CLEVELAND, Ohio –- The Indians’ 40-man roster won’t look the same today as when spring training opens in February in Goodyear, Ariz. Free agency has already brought changes with seven players who ended last season with the Tribe now in the free agent pool.

There will be more changes in the next several weeks as players are dropped and added in preparation for the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 12. The Indians will also be working to improve the roster through trades and free-agent signings.

The General Managers meetings begin Monday in Orlando, Fla. In December, the winter meetings will take place in the same city. This is the time when rosters are reshaped and millions of dollars change hands.

So before the whirlwind begins, here’s a look at the Indians' current 40-man roster with the players ranked from first to last. Right now, the roster is at 36 players.

1. Jason Kipnis, 2B: .284, 17 HR, 84 RBI, .818 OPS: Kipnis is still streaky offensively, but he’s the Indians best all-around player.

2. Justin Masterson, RHP: 14-10, 3.45 ERA, 193 innings, .222 BAA: Masterson set career highs in wins and strikeouts despite missing most of September with an injury.

3. Carlos Santana, C-1B: .268, 20 HR, 74 RBI, .832 OPS: The versatile Santana stabilized the lineup by moving into the cleanup spot in August.

4. Nick Swisher, 1B-RF: .246, 22 HR, 63 RBI, .763 OPS: He didn’t have a typical Swisher year because of a left shoulder injury.

5. Michael Brantley, LF: 284, 10 HR, 73 RBI, .728 OPS: Brantley hit .375 with runners in scoring position, third highest average in the AL. He played an excellent left field even though the Gold Glove voters didn't notice.

6. Michael Bourn, CF: .263, 6 HR, 50 RBI, .676 OPS: Bourn dealt with injuries and had trouble adjusting to the AL in terms of stealing bases.

7. Cody Allen, RHP: 6-1, 2.43 ERA, 70 1/3 innings, .233 BAA: Allen finished second in the AL with 77 appearances. Is he the future closer for the Tribe?

8. Corey Kluber, RHP: 11-5, 3.85 ERA, 147 1/3 innings, .271 BAA: Kluber’s breakout season could have been better if not for a finger injury that cost him a month on the DL.

9. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS: .242, 14 HR, 64 RBI, .700 OPS: The consensus is that Cabrera’s game is in decline, but he hit well in the September stretch run.

10. Yan Gomes, C: .294, 11 HR, 38 RBI, .826 OPS: Gomes played only 88 games, but became the starting catcher in August.

11. Ryan Raburn, Utility: .272, 16 HR, 55 RBI, .901 OPS: In only 86 games, Raburn gave the Indians plenty of bang for being a spring-training invitee. It earned him a contract extension during the season.

12. Zach McAllister, RHP: 9-9, 3.75 ERA, 134 1/3 innings, .257 BAA: McAllister did a nice job in the rotation despite missing seven weeks with a finger injury.

13. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B: .225, 11 HR, 36 RBI, .668 OPS: Chisenhall showed power, but once again struggled to establish himself in the big leagues.

14. Mike Aviles, Utility: .252, 9 HR, 46 RBI, .650: Aviles played well for the Tribe in a variety of roles. He was one of the keys to their productive bench.

15. Danny Salazar, RHP: 2-3, 3.12ERA, 52 innings, .226 BAA: Salazar is an exciting, strong-armed pitcher who should take a regular turn in the rotation in 2014.

16. Bryan Shaw, RHP: 7-3, 3.24 ERA, 75 innings, .216 BAA: Shaw did a great job in a variety of relief roles. He’s a candidate to close next year.

17. Marc Rzepczynski, LHP: 0-0, 3.28 ERA, 30 2/3 innings, .239 BAA: After struggling with St. Louis, Rzepczynski pitched well for the Tribe after an August trade.

18. Drew Stubbs, RF: .233, 10 HR, 45 RBI, .665 OPS: Stubbs is a good defender with excellent speed, but he has a big contact problem.

19. Vinnie Pestano, RHP: 1-2, 4.08 ERA, 35 1/3 innings, .274 BAA: Pestano had a 2013 to forget, but he could still be the Tribe’s closer in 2014 if he’s healthy.

20. Nick Hagadone, LHP: 0-1, 5.46 ERA, 31 1/3 innings, .220 BAA: Hagadone’s inability to throw strikes has kept him from winning a spot in the bullpen.

21. Josh Tomlin, RHP: 0-0, 0.00, 2 innings, .250 BAA: If Tomlin is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery; he has a chance to win a spot in the rotation in 2014.

22. Carlos Carrasco, RHP: 1-4, 6.75 ERA, 46.2 innings, .330 BAA: Carrasco has a great arm, but so far he’s bee a disappointment as a starter.

23. Trevor Bauer, RHP: 1-2, 5.29, 17 innings, .238 BAA: If Bauer finds a delivery this winter that he can live with, he could to help the Tribe in 2014.

24. Chen-Chang (CC) Lee, RHP: 0-0, 4.15 ERA, 4 1/3 innings, .250 BAA: The side-arming Lee could be the next Joe Smith in the bullpen.

25. Scott Barnes, LHP: 0-1, 7.27 ERA, 8.2 innings, .242 BAA: Struggled in three different tours with the Tribe last season. He ended the year on the disabled list.

26. Matt Carson, OF: .636, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1.601 OPS: Carson, who did a good job as a late-season call up, could compete for a bench job.

27. Lou Marson, C: .000, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .400 OPS: Marson played only three games this year because of injuries. He could return as a back up catcher depending on how Santana is used.

28. Cord Phelps, INF: .000, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .000 OPS: Neck and wrist problems ended Phelps’ season on July 2. He’s out of options.

29. Jose Ramirez, INF: .333, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .929: Ramirez played 15 games with the Tribe at end of Double-A season in Akron. He made the wild-card roster.

30. Blake Wood, RHP: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.1 innings, .200 BAA: Blake, rebounding from Tommy John surgery, hit 99 mph in two appearances for Tribe. He’s a bullpen candidate.

31. Frank Herrmann, RHP: Did not pitch in 2013: Herrmann was a semi-regular in the Tribe bullpen before undergoing Tommy John surgery in spring training,

32. Preston Guilmet, RHP: 0-0, 10.13 ERA, 5.1 innings, .320 BAA: Guilmet has saved 90 games in the minors for the Tribe.

33. T.J. House, LHP: Did not pitch for the Indians: He made 28 starts this year between Class AAA Columbus and Class AA Akron.

34. Trey Haley, RHP: Did not pitch for the Indians: Haley made 39 relief appearances with seven saves at Class AA Akron.

35. Colt Hynes, LHP: 0-0, 9.00, 17 innings, .338 BAA for San Diego: The Indians acquired him in a trade last week. Lefties hit .156 (5-for-32) against him.

36. Tyler Cloyd, RHP: 2-7, 6.56, 60 1/3 innings, .328 BAA for the Phillies: The Indians claimed Cloyd on waivers in October.

*Indians free agents not included on the 40-man roster: Matt Albers, Ubaldo Jimenez, Scott Kazmir, Chris Perez, Joe Smith, Kelly Shoppach, Jason Kubel.

No problem, JOE! Thanks for moving them.

From Jayson Stark:

AL Manager of the Year: Terry Francona, Indians


You thought he was crazy, right? Leaving the (ahem) cushy world of ESPN to go manage a team that just lost 94 games, with a minus-178 run differential. What two-time World Series-winning, curse-busting managerial genius would ever do that? Well, Terry Francona. That's who. In a season in which an incredible number of his AL managerial peers (John Farrell, Joe Girardi, Bob Melvin, Joe Maddon, etc.) have worked some remarkable magic of their own, it's still the guy who went to Cleveland who has managed his way to the top of this mountain.

Terry Francona runs a game, and gets his team prepared to play, as well as anyone in baseball. But beyond that, there may not be a manager in the sport who can match his off-the-chart people skills. He "cares so deeply," said his GM, Chris Antonetti, "about each player, and works tirelessly to put them in a position to be successful." And the standings tell you everything you need to know about how well that's worked. The Indians have more talent than people seem to give them credit for. But none of this would have been possible without the manager's never-ending flow of positive energy.


My AL Manager ballot
1. Terry Francona
2. John Farrell
3. Bob Melvin

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/97273 ... best-worst

Here is a goofy trade idea:

You would probably be better served to place this in the “Very Long Shot But Stranger Things Have Happened” file, but for what it’s worth, former GM-turned-analyst Jim Bowden believes that there is at least a chance that the Indians may try to pull the trigger on a mega-deal for the former Cy Young winner.

This would also make our own Adam Hintz somewhat of a baseball prophet.

In Bowden’s latest ESPN Insider-only column, he lays out this suggestion in all of its unlikely plausibility:

Consider the Indians a sleeper in the Price sweepstakes. While most people doubt they can become real players for Price, manager Terry Francona might be able to convince the front office with Price and Justin Masterson at the top of the rotation they have a legitimate shot of getting back to the postseason and perhaps the World Series.

Francisco Lindor would provide the Rays a long-term answer at shortstop. Yunel Escobar could serve as a good stopgap, giving Lindor plenty of time to develop properly in the minors. Danny Salazar has a chance to be an impact top-of-the-rotation starter if they can’t get Lindor. Salazar would be under Rays’ control.

Rays’ trade targets
Primary: Danny Salazar, Francisco Lindor, Dorssys Paulino
Secondary: Joseph Wendle, Cody Anderson,
Throw-ins: Yan Gomes, Jose Ramirez

So, yeah, there’s a lot of apprehension being created here unless the Indians are looking to push their chips to the middle of the table to to not only overtake the Tigers, but to go all out for a shot at the World Series. If the Indians as an organization are convinced that Price is worth the risk to take, then they have to pull the trigger. But is the short-term gain worth the long-range view? If the Indians strip their farm system bare for one shot at a title, then they better get it done this year. Price’s price to sign long-term would make Swisher’s and Bourn’s “Big Money Deals” collectively look like the spare change we keep in piggy banks. It seems inconceivable that the Indians would even be able to meet Price’s price even at the halfway point due to all the factors involved.

The Rays wouldn’t put a guy like this on the block if they were able to afford him. They have the similar constraints that the Indians have dealt with. And wherever Price goes, the Rays are going to make out like fortuitous bandits with an unbelievable treasure trove in return. Personally, I’m just not sure that the Indians are in a safe enough position to take that kind of a risk yet.

Granted, the Indians are more of a darkhorse candidate in Bowden’s mind rather than the fruntrunners. He has the Dodgers and Rangers ahead of the Indians with the Cardinals, Braves and Royals (ugh…) on the lower end of destinations. The chances of Price even being thought of as a possibility seems unlikely. But if Bowden has an ear to the ground, it could mean the Indians are headed in a franchise-altering direction, for better or for worse.

But the bottom line is this: If the Tribe splurges for a new ace they must make it count. Because Price’s stay will likely be short.

Everyone here want to trade Lindor for one year of David Price?

No? I didn't think so.