Official Cleveland Indians Thread

Update.............

The Cleveland Indians didn’t seem as likely to make a deal as the Reds. The team’s brass has said it would like to add a bat, but they weren’t willing or able to go after go after one of the big boppers (Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder) or even one of the medium boppers (Carlos Pena or Derrek Lee).

For that reason, general manager Chris Antonetti raised a few eyebrows when he said he had been offered a trade proposal that would be surprising if it happened.

“I’m pretty sure I could give you 50 guesses, and you probably wouldn’t get it,” Antonetti said.

But he also said he thought he would get something done before heading back to Cleveland, “ whether it’s a minor-league free agent or something else.” That doesn’t make it sound like a big deal is imminent.

espn.com

Indians bolster outfield depth................

Ok, wake up kids, spring training is in 2 weeks, pitchers and catchers report on Monday. The Tribe re-signed Cabrera for at least one year, and added a new 1st baseman with a .306 average last year. If this team stays healthy, we could see a run at the AL Central this year.

Just out of curiosity... Is the player formerly known as Fausto Carmona still on the team? Will he be playing this year?

As far as I know, no he will not. He's still in custody in the Dominican Republic.

There's no way he gets his issues cleared up, gets a new visa, and returns in time for camp. He's a wash for this season as he likely faces issues with the potential for fraudulent identity criminal charges from the US government that would need resolved before they'd even allow him back in country.

In fact, I've heard some rumors floated that the Indians may release him. FWIW, as I said, they are rumors, but if they ultimately decide to do so it won't be surprising. I think they should've already done this and shouldn't waste time putzing about with waiting to see what becomes of him. Drop him like a bad habit, clear the cap space and start looking for a couple good free agent pitchers.

Eh, considering that they signed Slowy to be part of the rotation or a long releiver, and theyve got a couple guys in Columbus that could make the majors, I doubt we see Carmona back.

Originally Posted by rubbercity87

Eh, considering that they signed Slowy to be part of the rotation or a long releiver, and theyve got a couple guys in Columbus that could make the majors, I doubt we see Carmona back.

Thank God. He did great in 2007, and every year since he's been bad. He'd have made a great long reliever, but he can't hold it together for the min 5+ innings you want out of a starter.

Originally Posted by Killer Nut91

Laporta is so disappointing, especially since we traded CC for him.

You have to remember CC basically forced our hand on that one... he definitely tanked the first half of that season just to get traded, then "miraculously fixed the ills in his game" and went 13-1 the rest of that year... so eff him. If he wanted to express his discontent because we weren't going to pay him a max-out deal, there's a more mature and professional way to deal with it then intentionally shucking away games until you get traded. That's just bs.

Indians have been busy in the farm system this offseason as well as above...

October 2011
10-18-11 Assigned OF Jerad Head and RHP Mitch Talbot outright from the 40-man roster, making them free agents.
10-31-11 Exercised 2012 contract option on RHP Fausto Carmona. Declined 2012 contract option on OF Grady Sizemore. Traded LHP Chris Jones to Atlanta for RHP Derek Lowe and cash.

Novermber 2011
11-02-11 Assigned OF Trevor Crowe outright to Columbus (IL). Reinstated OF Michael Brantley, RHP Carlos Carrasco, OF Shin-Soo Choo and RHP Josh Tomlin from the 60-day DL.
11-10-11 Agreed to terms with C Michel Hernandez on a minor league contract.
11-18-11 Selected the contracts of LHP Scott Barnes and INF Juan Diaz from Columbus (IL) and RHP Danny Salazar from Lake County (SAL).
11-23-11 Agreed to terms with OF Grady Sizemore on a one-year contract.

December 2011
12-05-11 Signed C Matt Pagnozzi to a minor league contract.
12-06-11 Designated RHP Hector Rondon for assignment. Added OF Grady Sizemore to the 40-man roster.
12-17-11 Traded RHP Cory Burns to San Diego for OF Aaron Cunningham. Agreed to terms with INF Jose Lopez and OF Felix Pie on minor league contracts. Designated RHP Josh Judy for assignment.
12-22-11 Agreed to terms with INF Andy LaRoche on a minor league contract.

January 2012
01-03-12 Agreed to terms with RHP Robinson Tejeda on a minor league contract.
01-10-12 Agreed to terms with LHP Chris Seddon on a minor league contract.
01-11-12 Extended their player development contract with Carolina (Carolina) for two years through the 2014 season.
01-12-12 Agreed to terms with RHP Chris Ray on a minor league contract.
01-13-12 Agreed to terms with INF Chin-lung Hu, INF Argenis Reyes and RHP Willy Lebron on minor league contracts.
01-17-12 Agreed to terms with 3B Jack Hannahan, RHP Justin Masterson, RHP Chris Perez, RHP Joe Smith and OF Shin-Soo Choo on one-year contracts.
01-19-12 Agreed to terms with RHP Jeremy Accardo and OF Fred Lewis on minor league contracts.
01-20-12 Agreed to terms with OF Ryan Spilborghs and INF Gregorio Petit on minor league contracts.
01-26-12 Placed RHP Fausto Carmona on the restricted list. Agreed to terms with RHP Dan Wheeler, RHP Jose De La Torre and INF Ryan Rohlinger on minor league contracts.
01-31-12 Acquired INF-OF Russ Canzler from Tampa Bay for cash considerations.

February 2012
02-02-12 Agreed to terms with LHP Rafael Perez on a one-year contract.
02-03-12 Agreed to terms with 1B Casey Kotchman on a one-year contract.
02-10-12 Agreed to terms with INF Asdrubal Cabrera on a one-year contract.
02-13-12 Agreed to terms with RHP Jon Garland on a minor league contract.
02-14-12 Designated LHP Kelvin De La Cruz for assignment.