Cleveland Sports Forum

Rondon was rehabbing in Venezuela from his TJ surgery and pitching pretty well when he walked off the mound during his 4th rehab appearance with discomfort in the elbow. He left his Leones team and came back to the US to be examined by Jobe. That was three weeks ago. I haven't heard a word since the exam. At the time, there were two options open, one was a second surgery, the other was rest. Good reason to be removed from the 40 man roster I guess.

Tribe open to exploring first-base options
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 12/05/11 7:59 PM EST
Comments (34)1printe-mailDALLAS -- The halls of the Hilton Anatole are buzzing with speculation over which teams will land Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. The Indians certainly could use a slugger at first base, but their wallet is not thick enough to get into the discussion.

Cleveland's hunt for a bat at these Winter Meetings centers around first base, and the Tribe is searching high and low for a realistic alternative to its current situation. The goal is to possibly upgrade over Matt LaPorta, who was supposed to be the answer when the Indians landed him from the Brewers in a Trade Deadline deal four seasons ago.

On Monday, sitting inside his suite, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti made it clear that the team has not lost faith in LaPorta. What the Tribe realizes, however, is that a continued push up the American Central standings requires more consistency from such an important position on the field.

Antonetti on offseason plans00:01:28Indians EVP and GM Chris Antonetti talks about his plans to upgrade the Tribe's lineup in the offseasonTags: Cleveland Indians, GM MeetingsShare:
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Sizemore re-signs with Tribe
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LaPorta's RBI double"We still think Matt has a lot of potential," Antonetti said. "He's demonstrated at different points in the past that he can be a very productive Major League hitter. The challenge for Matt is to demonstrate that consistency over the course of a full season.


2011 Winter Meetings
• Hot Stove: Tracker | Buzz blog
Hot Stove news, analysis

Day 1 coverage: Select team ¬ AL EAST ¬ Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays -- AL CENTRAL ¬ Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins -- AL WEST ¬ Los Angeles Angels Oakland A's Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers -- NL EAST ¬ Atlanta Braves Miami Marlins New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Washington Nationals -- NL CENTRAL ¬ Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Houston Astros Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals -- NL WEST ¬ Arizona Diamondbacks Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants"We're hopeful that he can do that, and do that as early as next year, but right now our job is to build the best team that we can. We'll look at all avenues to improve the team."

There are few realistic options for first base on the open market for the Indians. Pujols and Fielder are way out of Cleveland's price range. Carlos Pena and Derrek Lee might also cost a bit too much for the club, too. One name linked to the Tribe on Monday was free-agent Casey Kotchman, though he hits from the left side and does not bring much power.

The fact of the matter is Cleveland is almost certainly checking in on nearly all of the available options not named Pujols or Fielder.

The Indians are also examining possible additions to help with outfield depth and utility roles. Cleveland has reportedly expressed interest in Casey Blake and Mark DeRosa, both of whom would likely command low-level deals. Cleveland has also checked in on outfielder Josh Willingham and third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, but the interest level is remote in both cases.

Internally, the Tribe wants to give Jason Donald, who hits from the right side, every chance to make the club as a super utility man. He can man multiple infield spots and will be tested in left and center field during Spring Training.

"He's a really valuable guy," Antonetti said. "He's got a lot of ability. He's got a lot of defensive versatility, too. He plays the game the right way and I think he's continuing to develop as an offensive player. You combine that offensive potential with his defensive versatility, it gives us a lot of opportunities to potentially get him in the lineup and let him play."

While searching for possible fits at first base, the Indians are keeping in mind that catcher Carlos Santana is also in the plans for some starts at first base, as well as at designated hitter on occasion. The volume of his playing time at the corner will partially be based on what other players are in the fold come Opening Day.

"A lot of it's based upon what we do," Antonetti said. "It's based upon the guys around him, how Lou Marson continues to develop offensively, what other things we do at first base, how either Matt LaPorta or someone else we bring in from the outside, how they produce at first base. We'll kind of work off that.

"[It will also depend on] how Travis Hafner is doing at DH, and his health status. We can be flexible on how we look at it. We're fortunate in the fact that Carlos' bat is so productive that it plays no matter where you play him."

The trade route might present a better fit for the Tribe.

One possibility is first baseman Gaby Sanchez of the Miami Marlins. If Miami manages to reel in a star such as Pujols, that would seemingly make Sanchez a prime trade candidate. The 28-year-old first baseman hits from the right side and is under team control for four more seasons. He also offers decent power and a solid on-base percentage.

For a team like the Indians, who have limited financial resources (the payroll projects to be between $60-70 million in 2012), inquiring about a player such as Sanchez would seem to make sense. Last year, he hit .266 with 19 homers and 78 RBIs in 159 games for the Marlins.

Cleveland also feels it makes sense to closely examine its in-house alternatives.

If LaPorta, who has a Minor League option, begins the season with Triple-A Columbus, Shelley Duncan could be a possibility for first base. Duncan -- a strong offensive performer down the stretch last year -- is out of options, so he would be exposed to waivers if he was removed from the active roster.

Antonetti noted that third baseman Jack Hannahan can play first base, as well. Another option that the Tribe has discussed is left fielder Michael Brantley, who played some first base as a Minor Leaguer.

What is clear is that the Indians are not willing to guarantee LaPorta a spot on the Opening Day roster. In his three seasons in the big leagues, LaPorta has hit .238 with 30 home runs and 115 RBIs over 269 games. A year ago, he hit .247 with 11 homers and 53 RBIs in just 107 games for the Tribe.

Antonetti said LaPorta has handled his struggles as well as possible.

"Matt's been great," Antonetti said. "His attitude's been great. His work ethic has been great. We just need to get him over that hump where he can be a little more consistent. Not for two weeks, not for three weeks, not for a month, not for two months, but for six months."

So LaPorta has a good chance to return to Columbus to start 2012. He may turn out to be even worse 1st baseman than predecessors Garko and Broussard. It's been a dead zone position for the Indians for a decade.

As for Brantley, minor league scouting reports used to say his only decent defensive position, due to lack of arm strength, was 1st base, but noted that his offensive skills are not quite those of a 1st baseman.

Indians Looking At Right-Handed Bats
By Tim Dierkes [December 6 at 3:56pm CST]

The Indians are looking at right-handed hitters such as Derrek Lee, Andruw Jones, and Mike Cameron, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Yesterday we heard the Indians have mild interest in Josh Willingham, and on Friday they were linked to Mark DeRosa.

Also, Morosi says the Indians are willing to trade from their bullpen depth to acquire the right bat.

I'd be pumped if they managed to get Derrek Lee. Definitely not holding my breath on that one.

MarkShapiro Mark Shapiro

Seems like trade mket is stalled waiting on player arb decisions + big free agents. Lots of grndwrk will get done this wk but that may b all

Tribe gets Steve Karsay again, as well as Scott Erickson (as coaches).


Steve Karsay, Scott Erickson provide big-league savvy to Tribe's minor-league coaching staff:

Winter Meetings Insider

Updated: Tuesday, December 06, 2011, 9:32 PM


"I'll be there for spring training, extended spring training and the season," said former Indians pitcher Steve Karsay, who has been hired as a minor-league pitching coach at the franchise's Arizona complex. "I'm excited because I'm starting out at the bottom and working my way through the organization."

DALLAS, Texas -- Steve Karsay pitched in every role in 11 years in the big leagues. It's one of the reasons he believes he can be a good coach and one of the reasons the Indians hired him.

Karsay, 39, was at the winter meetings Tuesday to meet with the Indians following his hiring as their Arizona Rookie League pitching coach.

"I'm really excited," said Karsay, who pitched for the Indians from 1998-2001. "I was ready to get back in the game and I wanted to do it with one of the teams I'd pitched for."

Karsay has a home in Scottsdale, Ariz., which means he's just a 40-minute drive from the Indians' training site in Goodyear, where the Arizona Rookie League Indians play.

"I'll be there for spring training, extended spring training and the season," said Karsay. "I'm excited because I'm starting out at the bottom and working my way through the organization."

The Indians hired Karsay and former 20-game winner Scott Erickson as pitching coaches. Erickson will be at Class A Carolina.

"Karsay and Scott Erickson immediately stood out to us," said farm director Ross Atkins. "Steve has had a lot of different experience from being a closer, late-inning reliever, middle reliever. He's gone through trades, free agency and playoff experience."
Winter Meetings chatter

Here’s one item you can’t do without from the winter meetings at the Anatole Hilton Hotel in Dallas:
Derrek Lee. The Indians like him, but the Pirates have offered him arbitration and he has until Wednesday to accept or reject it.

If Lee accepts, he’d be guaranteed a one-year deal with a raise over the $7.5 million he made last season. Lee, 36, opened the year with Baltimore and was traded to the Pirates. Lee fractured his wrist with the Pirates, but still managed to hit .349 (29-for-83) with five homers and 15 RBI in September.

Lee, a right-handed hitter, batted .267 (116-for-435) with 19 homers and 59 RBI overall. He hit .287 (29-for-101) with two homers and nine RBI against lefties.

If the Indians did sign Lee, they may have to create salary space. They may have to trade someone or non-tender a player. Players must be tendered contracts by Monday.

— Paul Hoynes

If the Indians did sign Lee, they may have to create salary space. They may have to trade someone or non-tender a player. Players must be tendered contracts by Monday.


Wow Dolan really is cheap.

I don't keep up on the marriages of former ballplayers, but last I knew Scott Erickson had a palatial home on Lake Tahoe he shared with Lisa Guerrero.

The house has been featured on television due to it's uniqueness.


A mountain getaway that's both the ultimate party pad and the most romantic house on lake tahoe, scott erickson's castle in the sky is without a doubt one of the most beautiful lake homes in the country.

http://www.livedash.com/transcript/grea ... 10/448201/

8:27PM : Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports that the Houston Astros offered to trade outfielder Carlos Lee to the Indians and pay half of his $18.5 million salary in 2012, but the Indians declined.

more hard hitting baseball news from today.....

Dec 6, 10:50 PM EST

MLB issues dress code guidelines for media members

By BEN WALKER

AP Baseball Writer


DALLAS (AP) -- Muscle shirts, ripped jeans and flip-flops - fine for the beach, not so fine for big league press boxes starting next season.

Baseball has become the first major pro league in North America to issue dress guidelines for media members, putting them in writing at the winter meetings.

The no-wear list also includes visible undergarments, excessively short skirts or anything with a team logo.

"This is not in response to any single incident," MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said Tuesday.

However, baseball was aware of the flap caused in the National Football League when a Mexican TV reporter drew unwanted attention at the New York Jets' training camp in September 2010, and formed a committee of executives and media representatives to work on guidelines.

The panel included female and Latin reporters and there was input from team trainers, who had health concerns about flip-flops in clubhouses and bare feet possibly spreading infections. Such footwear is no longer permitted.

The media should dress "in an appropriate and professional manner" with clothing proper for a "business casual work environment" when in locker rooms, dugouts, press boxes and on the field, the new MLB rules say.

Banned are sheer and see-through clothing, tank tops, one-shouldered or strapless shirts or clothing exposing bare midriffs. Also listed in the guidelines are skirts, dresses or shorts cut more than 3-4 inches above the knee.

The NFL, NBA and NHL do not have similar policies.

MLB and members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America who regularly cover the sport agree that most reporters are within the boundaries. Probably not everyone, though.

"Personally, I believe the baseball media in general could dress slightly more professionally," said San Francisco Chronicle writer Susan Slusser, recently elected vice president of the BBWAA and a member of the guidelines panel. "I think it's been a little too casual."

MLB said it would consider appropriate actions if the guidelines were broken.

At 81, former Marlins manager Jack McKeon has seen dress codes change a lot during more than a half-century in the game. Especially at warm-weather ballparks during the hottest summer months.

"I remember the old days, when even the people in Triple-A would wear a coat and tie," he said. "Now, it's casual. Less than casual, really," he said.

"Today, it can look pretty sloppy," he said. "But that's not just baseball. It's generational."

rusty2 wrote:8:27PM : Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports that the Houston Astros offered to trade outfielder Carlos Lee to the Indians and pay half of his $18.5 million salary in 2012, but the Indians declined.

Carlos Lee turns 36 before the All Star Break.

In a full season in 2011 he had 18 home runs, stole 3 bases in 6 attempts, and batted .275.

I can't argue with with The Tribe's reported decision.

It appears that the Indians have come to the conclusion that you can win 75 games with a 40 million dollar payroll by chance and you can win 79 games with a 90 million dollar payroll. Dolan wants to buy a new boat. He will take the former.

You are only off by about 20 million.

Coy Antonetti hints at surprising deal in works
Indians' deep bullpen could make closer Perez trade candidate

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 12/07/11 12:37 AM EST

DALLAS -- It would probably take a lot to stun Indians fans these days. Only four months ago, Cleveland traded away its top two pitching prospects to land starter Ubaldo Jimenez, so shock is not a foreign reaction for the team's loyalists.

Even so, during a session with reporters in his suite at the Hilton Anatole on Tuesday, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti claimed to have one trade proposal in the works that would be very surprising if it came to fruition. Antonetti smiled as he declined to delve into any specifics.

He was content with lobbing the major tease and letting it linger in the air.

Let the speculation begin.

Antonetti might not have been willing to spill the beans about a trade that may never occur, but it is clear that Cleveland is exploring ways to add a hitter. First base remains the biggest hole on the diamond, but the Indians are looking at outfield options, too. Free agency is one way to go, but a solution might be better sought through a swap.


Cleveland's pitching depth, especially in the bullpen, is one resource the club could potentially use for a deal. The Indians boast several young, emerging arms that are under team control. The most intriguing of the lot might be All-Star closer Chris Perez, who saved 36 games a year ago.

A few teams have called the Indians to ask about Perez, though nothing significant has developed. At this point, it has been more due diligence on the part of the inquiring clubs than anything else.

The Indians are not shopping Perez, but they are willing to listen to offers.

One thing the Jimenez trade with Colorado showed was that Cleveland is open-minded to just about anything. Top pitching prospects Drew Pomeranz and Alex White were believed to be untouchable, but both were included in a four-player package that landed Jimenez at the July 31 Trade Deadline.

"We have pitching depth overall," Antonetti said, "at the Major League level and in the upper levels of our Minor Leagues. While our preference would be to keep it, and preserve as much of that as we can, if we have opportunities to improve the team by trading from an area of depth to address other needs, we certainly have to be open minded to doing it.

"Again, we don't have luxury of being able to say, 'Here's the one avenue we intend to pursue to improve our team.' We have to be flexible and adapt to what opportunities we may have through either trade or on the free-agent market."

Cleveland might also consider fielding offers to reliever Rafael Perez, who is eligible for arbitration after earning $1.33 million last season. In 2011, the lefty went 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA over 71 games for the Tribe. The Indians also have a wealth of relief prospects on the cusp of the Majors.

The fact is that Cleveland has an offensive hole to fill.

The rumor mill continues to churn, linking the Tribe to the likes of free agents such as outfielders Josh Willingham, Andruw Jones and Mike Cameron, as well as first baseman Derrek Lee and utility man Mark DeRosa. Nothing appears imminent on any front, but Antonetti said he had multiple meetings on Tuesday.

This offseason, the market for closers has been a hot topic.

Free agent Jonathan Papelbon inked a four-year, $50 million deal with the Phillies. The Marlins reeled in Heath Bell (three years, $27 million) and the Rangers netted Joe Nathan (two years, $14.75 million). On Tuesday, the Blue Jays acquired Sergio Santos in a trade with the White Sox. One day earlier, the Twins retained Matt Capps on a one-year deal worth a guaranteed $4.75 million.

The Red Sox, Reds and Padres are among the teams on the hunt for a stopper. Ryan Madson and Francisco Rodriguez are available, but it has been speculated that one or both could accept arbitration with the Phillies and Brewers, respectively, due to the dwindling market.

Francisco Cordero is also a free agent, while fellow closers Brandon League (Seattle), Andrew Bailey (Oakland) and Huston Street (Colorado) could possibly be had in a trade.

Given the volume of late-inning pitchers available at the moment, it seems unlikely that Cleveland would be compelled to move Chris Perez in a deal.

It is not known at the moment which teams have called about Perez, but it makes sense that clubs would at least ask about the acquisition cost (starting point would likely be a Major League-ready player plus at least one prospect). The right-hander is 26 years old, coming off two solid seasons -- including an All-Star appearance last year -- and he is under team control through 2014 after earning $2.225 million in 2011.

The Indians also have a future closing candidate in hard-throwing setup man Vinnie Pestano, who struck out 84 hitters in 64 innings during his rookie tour last season. With Perez in the closer's role, though, the Indians have watched their bullpen develop into one of the best groups in the league.

"He's an important part of it," Antonetti said. "Chris has solidified the ninth inning and that's allowed [manager Manny Acta] to optimize how he uses some of the guys in front of him. That gives those guys some security and peace of mind in having some idea of when they're going to be expected to pitch."

That is a big reason why it seems unlikely that Perez would be dealt right now, when the Indians believe they can contend for the playoffs next season.

"It's comforting to some degree to have some stability back there," Antonetti said, "and have a guy that's done it and has had success in that role. But, at the same time, it's important for us to continue to build options and depth in the bullpen behind him.

"A closer can only pitch so many games and save so many games, but it's good to have some stability in that role."