Tribe signed IF Ryan Flaherty to a minor contract yesterday.

Jose Iglesias is a phenomenal fielder - wouldn't mind him being picked up.

Jeff Passan @JeffPassan
Free agent reliever Alex Wilson is in agreement with the Cleveland Indians on a minor league deal, a league source tells ESPN. Wilson will get $1.25 million if he makes the big league roster and can get another $750,000 in performance bonuses.

looked at his stats; he's been reasonably good for the Tigers for several years; only once did his ERA go over 4 and last year was a bounceback from 2017. Not a strikeout pitcher and his homeruns have increased the last 2 years over his earlier career. Seems more likely to make the roster than any of the other invitees

At last! The free agent log jam has broken: Brewers sign Josh Tomlin to a minor league contract. Now the rest of the dominoes will fall quickly.

MILWAUKEE -- With less than a week before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, the Brewers reportedly added depth on Thursday in former Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin. According to The Athletic, Tomlin and the Brewers agreed to a Minor League contract that includes an invitation to Major League camp.

The Brewers had yet to make the agreement official, but MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal reported that Tomlin would get a $1.25 million salary (same figure quoted for Alex Wilson and other of the minor league signees lately] in the Majors with incentives that could add up to $2.25 million if he tops 150 innings. [incentives for home runs could boost his income quickly]

Tomlin, 34, appeared out of the bullpen for 23 of his 32 appearances with Cleveland in 2018, when he logged a career-worst 6.14 ERA and was limited to 70 1/3 innings because of a hamstring injury and trouble with the long ball. Tomlin yielded 25 homers, two more than the season before when he pitched more than twice as many innings.

But he was a regular member of the starting rotation in the two years prior to that, including going 13-9 with a 4.40 ERA in 174 regular-season innings in 2016 for an Indians team that reached the World Series.

Needless to say I'm shocked that Tomlin got anything more than an invite to camp on a minor league deal.

Pretty sad when you feel sorry for a player that has to take a cut to only$1.25M

I'd be surprised if Josh does not wind up back with the Indians as some sort of assistant pitching coach at Goodyear this summer.

Melky with a minor league deal with the Pirates. He can split RF with Chisenhall again

Polish Day for the Tribe.

2/14/19 Cleveland Indians invited non-roster SS Ernie Clement to spring training.
2/14/19 Cleveland Indians signed free agent RHP Asher Wojciechowski to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
2/14/19 Cleveland Indians signed free agent C Tim Federowicz to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Wojciechowski has been a starter most of his career and had a terrible AAA-only year in 2018, with a 4.53 ERA and 26 homers allowed in 119 innings.
Federowicz is a classic AAA catcher who gets a few games in the majors most seasons and is necessary to add to the supply of receivers in spring training.
Clement is a 22 year old 4th round pick who worked his way through 3 levels last summer, excelling at High A while less impressive both before and after his stay with the Hillcats Good hit, not so great fielder who forecasts as a possible utility IF.

CARLOS SANTANA
1B, CLEVELAND INDIANS

Indians manager Terry Francona said Saturday that he's considering using Carlos Santana some in the outfield.
Jake Bauers is also being considering for some outfield duty.

Santana has played just 10 games in the outfield in his career, but manager Terry Francona believes the 32-year-old is "a better athlete than people give him credit for," while also noting that Santana has "never been the biggest fan of DH-ing."

Not a bad thing if he can play a little left field.

Indians mulling whether to play Santana in OF
Francona wants to keep his glove on field; plus notes on Anderson, Mercado


By Mandy Bell
Feb. 16th, 2019

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- There's been plenty of names thrown around when attempting to predict the Indians' starting outfield, including Tyler Naquin, Jordan Luplow, Greg Allen and Jake Bauers, but could the Tribe turn to Carlos Santana?
"That's something I want to sit down and talk to him about," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Between Bauers and Santana, we need to figure out what ends up being best for our team. And to do that, I think we need to communicate with both those guys and watch them play for a little while."
• Perez arrives confident, has backing from Tito
If Bauers becomes the Tribe's everyday first baseman, an obvious option the team has is moving Santana into the DH role, but the Indians may try to find another way to keep his glove on the field.
:: Spring Training coverage presented by Camping World ::
"Knowing Carlos, he's never been the biggest fan of DH-ing," Francona said. "Some of that may have to come with how we're configured. I was proud of him for being willing to do it, I just thought physically it wasn't that hard for him. He's a better athlete than people give him credit for."
Santana, 32, has played in 10 games in the outfield in his career (seven in right and three in left), spending most of his time as a catcher, first baseman and third baseman. Two of those 10 contests came in the 2016 World Series, where he made appearances in left field in Games 3 and 5 against the Cubs. Although he's not as experienced in the grass, both Santana and Francona believe he has the athleticism to be able to play there.


"Everybody knows that my natural position is catching and playing third base and first base," Santana said. "I don't like to worry about that. I worry about if I'm going to be in the lineup every day. If Tito needs me to be in the outfield, then I'll do it 100 percent."
Now that the Tribe's position players have officially reported to Spring Training, Francona will have his one-on-one meeting with Santana in the next few days to start that conversation.
"We'll see what happens," Santana said. "DH, first base, outfield, whatever. I'll be fine. But everybody knows I'm pretty good at first base, so we'll see. I haven't talked to [Indians president of baseball operations] Chris [Antonetti] and [general manager] Mike [Chernoff] and Tito yet, but we'll see the plan where they are for me this year."
Anderson unrestricted to start camp
After missing the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery, Cody Anderson is back in baseball. Francona said the 28-year-old right-hander is cleared to participate in full baseball activities at Spring Training, but the team will make sure to give him some extra rest if needed to ensure he doesn't rush back too quickly.
"He's free to go compete, but like I said, with the caveat [of keeping an eye on him]," Francona said. "We do it with everybody, but a guy coming back from Tommy John, you need to, especially with Cody's attitude where he pushes so hard. They all look at Opening Day and I understand it, but we can't let that get in the way of guys getting hurt."
Prospect to get opportunity in spring
The Indians will get a chance to evaluate outfielder Oscar Mercado, who was acquired at last year's non-waiver Trade Deadline from the Cardinals and spent the remainder of the season with Triple-A Columbus.
The club's No. 16 prospect per MLB Pipeline began his professional career as a shortstop and made the transition to center field in 2017. Mercado, 24, has a plus arm, speed and defense, and his offensive numbers improved greatly after he made the move to the outfield.
"I actually called [former Cardinals manager Mike] Matheny last year," Francona said. "… He just raved about this kid, like he wanted to adopt him. But it was kind of fun to hear that. You always like hearing that stuff."