Indians Tidbits (2009 season)

[aurorabuckeye13]

Originally Posted by Unleded

i'm pretty happy with the deal too. better the indians get wood than overspend for k-rod (not that the indians would ever spend that kind of money anyway). something had to be done for the closer position, and this seems like one of the better options.

Ideally, I'm sure the Indians would like a healthy Wood for 2 years, and then they would like to have a healthy Adam Miller step in and be the closer for a long time to come. I think Miller is being groomed for that job because he doesn't seem to be able to stay healthy enough to be a starter (ala Wood).

[LitlBuck]

Merry Christmas Indians fans. Now we are ready to go!

Cleveland.com

Indians invite two infielders to spring training
by Paul Hoynes/Plain Dealer Reporter
Tuesday December 23, 2008, 4:20 PM

CLEVELAND --- The Indians have signed infielders Jesus Merchan and Wilson Valdez to minor-league contracts and invited them to spring training.

Merchan, 27, hit .339 (148-for-436) with 23 doubles, five triples, four homers, 72 RBI and 50 runs for Class AAA Tucson last year. Tucson is Arizona's top farm club. Merchan, who played mostly shorstop last season, has spent nine years in the minors playing for Minnesota, Philadelphia, Seattle and Arizona.

Valdez, 30, has played in the big leagues with the White Sox, Mariners, Padres and Dodgers. He's a .211 (54-for-256) hitter in the big leagues. Last season he played in Korea and Japan. He hit .218 for the Kia Tigers (34-for-156) in Korea and .256 (20-for-78) for the Yakult Swallows in Japan.

The Indians have five players coming to camp on minor league contracts.

[buckeyemania11]

Originally Posted by JCOSU86

OK, washed up pitcher - check

Need a scrub infielder and an over the hill outfielder and the Tribe offseason will be complete

scrub infielder(s)- check

[ysubuck]

Originally Posted by billmac91

just like last year???

we were saying the same thing last year as Betancourt, Perez, and Lewis were coming off of great years and Borowski was scary but converted his opportunities.

I'm optomistic as well, but you never know...

-sarcasm font on- I just don't think that Borowski was given an opportunity to succeed in Cleveland. -sarcasm font off-

[buckeyemania11]

ESPN - Sources: Chicago Cubs deal Mark DeRosa to Cleveland Indians

Sources: DeRosa headed to Indians

Mark DeRosa, who had been rumored to be a part of three- and four-team scenarios in the Jake Peavy trade talks is finally headed out of Chicago -- but not in a deal for the San Diego Padres' ace.

DeRosa has been traded to the Cleveland Indians for three players, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

DeRosa hit 21 home runs and drove in 87 runs for the Cubs last season, appearing in 149 games. He played 97 games at second base.
He will be 34 when the 2009 season begins.

[buckeyemania11]

from what im reading the 3 players the Indians are giving up are minor league pitchers Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer, John Gaub

good trade.......

[OHSportsFan9]

Originally Posted by buckeyemania11

from what im reading the 3 players the Indians are giving up are minor league pitchers Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer, John Gaub

good trade.......

Yeah, scrub pitchers for a decent infielder that fills a need (2B), though he could be hit or miss coming off a great year.

Plus, he comes cheap and for only 1 year. Might be a good stop-gap.

edit- looks like he's going to play 3b. Either way, good flexibility.

[LitlBuck]

The Indians certainly did not give up much in getting a third baseman. I have no idea how good this guy is going to be.

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Indians acquire infielder Mark DeRosa from Chicago Cubs
by Paul Hoynes, Plain Dealer Reporter
Wednesday December 31, 2008, 1:30 PM

The Cleveland Indians will begin the New Year with a new third baseman.
The Indians announced this afternoon at 1:30 that they have acquired infielder Mark DeRosa from the Chicago Cubs for minor-league pitchers Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer and John Gaub.

DeRosa, who played six different positions for the Cubs last season, is expected to play third base for the Indians. If that holds true, Jhonny Peralta will stay at shortstop and Asdrubal Cabrera will stay at second base. Last season, DeRosa, 33, batted .285 for the Cubs with 21 home runs and 87 runs batted in. He scored 103 runs.

DeRosa, who apparently is the missing piece to the Indians' infield situation, could bat second in the lineup.

Stevens is the only pitcher the Indians gave up who is on the team's 40-man roster. Last season, Stevens went 5-1 for the Class AA Akron Aeros and 0-3 with Class AAA Buffalo. The 25-year-old has a career earned-run average of 3.52 during his four seasons in the minor leagues.
Archer, 20, had a 4.29 ERA last season while going 4-8 with the Class A Lake County Captains. He has played three seasons in the Indians' farm system.

Gaub, 23, also pitched for the Captains, going 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA.
DeRosa will make $5.5 million in 2009. Under terms of his contract, which expires after the 2009 season, he receives a $50,000 bonus for being traded.

Continued

[buckeyemania11]

Originally Posted by OHSportsFan9

Yeah, scrub pitchers for a decent infielder that fills a need (2B), though he could be hit or miss coming off a great year.

Plus, he comes cheap and for only 1 year. Might be a good stop-gap.

DeRosa has been pretty decent the past 3 seasons when he has played a full MLB season, not just last year

2006 with Texas- .294 13 HR 74 RBI
2007 with Cubs- .296 10 HR 72 RBI
2008 with Cubs .285 21 HR 87 RBI

plus he can play 2B 3B and both corner outfield spots..........

[Piney]

Originally Posted by buckeyemania11

DeRosa has been pretty decent the past 3 seasons when he has played a full MLB season, not just last year

2006 with Texas- .294 13 HR 74 RBI
2007 with Cubs- .296 10 HR 72 RBI
2008 with Cubs .285 21 HR 87 RBI

plus he can play 2B 3B and both corner outfield spots..........

Hmmm, can you say Casey Blake with a better batting average?

[BuckeyeMac]

I like the trade....just wish he was younger. That'll fill that 3B opening slot quite nicely IMO. And if he can bat like he has the past 3 years (thanks for the stats Mania) that'll help big time in the lineup. Now if we can get Victor/Pronk going again, this team will be in the right direction for the next few years. Cross your fingers.

[buckeyemania11]

according to Buster Olney the Indians are "close" to signing Carl Pavano

get the DL spot ready

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by buckeyemania11

according to Buster Olney the Indians are "close" to signing Carl Pavano

get the DL spot ready

Great.

[tsteele316]

typical cleveland reclamation project signing.

i mean, it worked with kevin millwood, bob howry and bob wickman, so it will work for this scrub too.

[LitlBuck]

Well, here is the new righthanded starter. Nice going Mark I mean he has not had many arm surgeries over the past three years

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Indians sign former NY Yankee pitcher Carl Pavano to one-year contract
by Paul Hoynes/Plain Dealer Reporter
Tuesday January 06, 2009, 3:18 PM

PavanoCLEVELAND --- The Indians have signed right-hander Carl Pavano to a one-year deal to see if he can fill out their starting rotation.

Pavano, one of the biggest free agent failures in history, just completed a four-year $40 million deal with the Yankees in which he barely pitched. It's believed Pavano's deal with the Indians is worth about $2 million.
Last season Pavano spent most of his time recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He made five rehab starts in the minors and seven starts with the Yankees at the end of the season. He went 4-2 with a 5.77 ERA in those starts.

GM Mark Shapiro has been looking for a veteran starter to stabilize his rotation in the No.3 spot. Pavano, 33, may or may not be it. Apparently, the Indians think he's worth a gamble. If so, he would fit in right behind Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona.

Pavano had a career season in 2004 for Florida. He went 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA. He was a free agent that winter and hit the jackpot when the Yankees signed him. That was the last jackpot he hit.

He injured his right shoulder in 2005 and pitched only 100 innings. He missed the entire 2006 season, alienating his Yankee teammates in the process. He opened the year on the disabled list with a strained buttocks muscle. During his rehab, Pavano was involved in a car accident in which he broke two ribs. He neglected to tell the Yankees, which did not go over well in the front office or locker room.

He opened the season with the Yankees in 2007, but injured his right elbow. Ligament transplant surgery on the elbow followed.

Continued