Cleveland Sports Forum

CLEVELAND --

The Indians maintained a layer of depth on Tuesday, when left-hander Nick Maronde cleared waivers. Cleveland subsequently sent the pitcher outright to Triple-A Columbus and extended an invitation to attend Spring Training with the Major League club.

Maronde has major league experience, is still quite young, but has incredible problems with his command. He's the kind of guy who could re-surface in the majors in a big way some day, but may never be of any value. Worth keeping around just in case he gets it together again someday.

Indians and Manship Reportedly Agree to a Deal

The Cleveland Indians have signed right-hander Jeff Manship to a Minor League contract, according to MLB Trade Rumors and Baseball America.

The 29-year old began the 2014 season with the Phillies, but was designated for assignment in July after posting a 6.65 ERA with 14 walks in 23 innings.

In addition to the Phillies, Manship has also spent time with the Rockies and Twins. In 139 1/3 career innings, Manship has a 6.46 ERA.

- William Boor




(At least we're trying)

Need to get a full clubhouse for the Clippers.

The versatile infielder Audy Ciriaco, who signed a minor league contract with Cleveland in November, was invited to spring training of the Indians.

He hung around Columbus last summer and was versatile in a classic AAA manner. The kind of guy who in an emergency get a bit of major league playing time.

INDIANS SIGN ROTH, RELEASE CLOYD

Tony Lastoria

Editor-in-Chief

The Indians add a versatile pitcher in Michael Roth, lose a 2014 Triple-A Columbus mainstay in Tyler Cloyd.

The Cleveland Indians today announced they have signed free agent left-handed pitcher Michael Roth to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to Major League camp.
Roth, 24, is entering just his fourth professional season. He was a Texas League postseason and midseason All-Star selection for Double-A Arkansas in 2014, going 11-7 with a 2.62 ERA in 22 starts (140.2 IP, 121 H, 53 BB, 79 K). He made seven relief appearances over three stints for the Los Angeles Angels last season (8.76 ERA, 12.1 IP, 16 H, 9 BB, 9 K) and made 15 appearances with them in 2013 (7.20 ERA, 20.0 IP, 24 H, 6 BB, 17 K). He was designated for assignment this offseason by the Angels and after clearing waivers for a second time was outrighted to the minors and chose to declare himself a free agent on November 20.

Roth was a member of the University of South Carolina baseball team that made three straight trips to the College World Series finals from 2010-12, winning titles in 2010 and 2011. He was selected by the Indians in the 31st round of the 2011 Draft, but did not sign. He was drafted by the Angels in the 9th round of the 2012 Draft the following year and signed with them.
With the signing of Roth, the Indians no longer had a rotation spot available at Triple-A Columbus that they could ensure for Tyler Cloyd. As courtesy the Indians released Cloyd so that he could find an opportunity with another team rather than string him along all spring with no real chance to stick in the organization. The Indians resigned Cloyd to a minor league deal on November 3 after his strong season at Columbus in 2014 (10-8, 3.89 ERA, 166.2 IP, 181 H, 31 BB, 116 K).

At the moment, with Danny Salazar as the favorite for the fifth starter spot in Cleveland, the Columbus rotation is deep with options. T.J. House and Josh Tomlin are set to be in it if Salazar is in Cleveland. Roth along with Shuan Marcum, Nick Maronde and Charles Brewer are strong candidates to fill the other three spots. Also, prospects Will Roberts and Joe Colon are in consideration for a rotation spot as well.

Major league stats suggest he's not quite ready for prime time

7 games last season (8.76 ERA, 12.1 IP, 16 H, 9 BB, 9 K)
15 games in 2013 (7.20 ERA, 20.0 IP, 24 H, 6 BB, 17 K)

Not quite ready but, hey, it appears we are at least making an effort

Just read two articles..

One says Roth was signed and Cloyd was the odd man out so they released him so he could find another job and not get strung along at ST.

The other article says Cloyd had an offer in Korea so they granted him his release and signed Roth to take his place.

Which came first .

Which came first .

.. the egg

Having a good winter.

CLE PRL Soto, Giovanni 6 2 0 0 3 7 0.82 W (1 - 0)

Top 10 List from Baseball Reference

1. Lindor, of course
2. Frazier, despite a not totally successful first full season
3. Zimmer. He and Frazier will be sharing CF and RF at our new Carolina League team.
4. Mejia. my favorite. Hope I don't curse him like I have a habit of doing
5. Sheffield. only pitcher in the top 10.
6. Naquin. a couple steps ahead of Frazier and Zimmer but a couple spots behind them in projection
7. Papi. He should join the crowd in Carolina at 1st base [with Nellie Rodriguez], LF and RF, too
8. Bradley. no one had a better offensive season for us in 2014
9. Gonzalez. SS, 2B, 3B, a supersub?
10. Urshela. If/when he's back from winter injury he could challenge Chisenhall.

"Close calls": Ramsey, another CF/RF who should be in Columbus with Naquin; Aguillar; and Cody Anderson who is said to still have good stuff despite his failure to fool or overpower anyone with it last summer.

They break down all of the top 10 on the five criteria that scouts judge players: Hitting, Power, Running, Arm and Fielding. The scale is 20-80. Not sure why the scale is 20-80 but it is. We rate a lot of strong arms. A rather "athletic" group with plenty of good runners. I can probably look around in my BA books and find what the rating levels mean in terms of projected major league levels of success.

Here's the rankings for the different tools:

Power: Frazier 65. Bradley 60. Mejia 55. Zimmer, Papi and Urshela 50. Lindor 45. Naquin 40. Gonzalez 30
Hitting: Lindor and Papi 60. Frazier, Zimmer and Naquin 55. Mejia, Bradley and Urshela 50. Gonzalez trails again 45.
Running: Naquin and Gonzalez 60. Lindor, Frazier, Zimmer 55. Papi and Urshela 40. Bradley and Mejia 30.
Fielding: Lindor 70, Urshela and Gonzalez 60, Zimmer and Naquin 55, Mejia, Frazier and Papi 50, Bradley 40
Arm: Mejia 70, Naquin and Gonzalez 65, Lindor, Zimmer and Urshela 60, Frazier and Papi 55, Bradley 50.

Of course to make a top 10 an IF has to a good fielder; a catcher have a strong arm. Naquin looks like the only real CF of the group.

Looks pretty weak. Lots of average players. Where's the beef?