Cleveland Sports Forum

Rockies Release Casey Blake
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [March 27 at 3:33pm CST]

The Rockies announced that they released third baseman Casey Blake (Twitter link). Agent Jim McDowell represents the veteran infielder, who signed a non-guaranteed contract worth $2MM plus $1MM in performance bonuses in December. The Rockies owe Blake $491K in termination pay, Troy Renck of the Denver Post tweets.

Blake hit .252/.342/.371 in 239 plate appearances for the Dodgers in 2011, spending considerable time on the DL with a cervical strain. He had surgery in September and the Dodgers declined his $6MM option for 2012 after the season. The Phillies are known to be looking for infield depth and may inquire on the 38-year-old free agent.

The goal is to "take the best team North" to open the season.

That means some team other than the Indians.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Injuries came at the wrong time for Cristian Guzman and Fred Lewis.

The Indians released Guzman on Wednesday and re-assigned outfielder Freddy Lewis to minor league camp. Guzman recently strained his right hamstring and Lewis came down with a sore right elbow. Spring-training injuries for veterans trying to make a team are never a good thing, especially when they come late in camp.

Manager Manny Acta said the Indians gave Lewis the option of accepting the assignment to the minors, but added, "I don't know if we have room in Triple-A."

Guzman hit .217 (5-for-23) in 10 games after not playing baseball at any level last year. Lewis hit .200 (3-for-15) in nine games.

"I'm going home to the Dominican Republic and finish my rehab," said Guzman. "Everyone knows I can still play."

The Phillies were following Guzman this spring, but backed off when he was injured.

"It's very hard when you come into camp trying to make a club and get hurt over the last 10 to 15 days," said Acta. "That's a crucial time of spring training. They both were professional. They came in here and knew what they were up against, especially Freddy with as many guys as we had in camp trying to win the left field job."

The Indians are 41 players still in camp. They break camp in five days.

Testing, testing: Closer Chris Perez will make his first Cactus League appearance Thursday against the Rockies at Goodyear Ballpark. Perez is recovering from a strain left oblique muscle suffered Feb. 23 during his first bullpen session.

"I'm ready ," said Perez.

Perez has made two minor league appearances in preparation for Thursday. Manager Manny Acta and GM Chris Antonetti are optimistic that Perez will be reason to pitch in the season opener April 5 at Progressive Field.

"We're going off him outing by outing," said Acta. "He's feeling good. Our medical staff is on board. His velocity was fine the other day. . .Right now he's on scheduled to be ready for Opening Day."

Where's the beef? The Indians averaged 4.4 runs per game last season when they finished ninth in the American League. They're averaging 4.2 runs in 25 Cactus League games this spring.

Today's lineup:

Indians: 2B Jason Kipnis, SS Asdrubal Cabrera, RF Shin-Soo Choo, DH Travis Hafner, C Carlos Santana, 1B Casey Kotchman, LF Russ Canzler, 3B Jack Hannahan, CF Aaron Cunningham, RHP Josh Tomlin.

Cubs: CF Tony Campana, 2B Blake DeWitt, SS Starlin Castro, LF Alfonso Soriano, 3B Ian Stewart, C Geovany Soto, 1B Bryan LeHair, RF Joe Mather, RHP Jeff Samardzija.

Men at work: Nick Hagadone, Frank Herrmann, Rafael Perez and Dan Wheeler are scheduled to follow Tomlin against the Cubs.

Next: Thursday is a split squad day for the Indians. Derek Lowe will face the Rockies at Goodyear Ballpark, while David Huff will face Arizona in Scottsdale, Ariz.

MESA, ARIZ.: It was another Indians loss, the sixth in a row, pushing the Tribe’s record top 6-17, worst in the Cactus League.

Does it matter that the Cubs prevailed 2-0? Exhibition games don’t count. So maybe more important for the club was the performance of Josh Tomlin, who gave up two runs and nine hits in 5‚ innings, walking one and striking out six.

Tomlin was pitching a shutout until the sixth, when he allowed both runs on four hits. He pitched out of jams twice, giving up a leadoff double in the second and a leadoff triple in the fifth without yielding a run.

“He had a very good curveball today,’’ manager Manny Acta said. “He’s not overpowering, so he needs his other pitches to pitch effectively.’’

Acta pulled Tomlin in the sixth, because he had thrown 86 pitches and three other pitchers needed to get their work in.

Rafael Perez relieved Tomlin and got the last out of the sixth on a strikeout. Frank Herrmann threw a scoreless seventh, striking out one, and Dan Wheeler, battling for the seventh spot in the bullpen, pitched the eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one.

The Tribe amassed only five hits, with Jason Kipnis being the only batter to get two hits, one a double.

Precautionary

Michael Brantley returned to the lineup Tuesday after nursing a hamstring injury for a week. He did not play Wednesday, though not because he suffered a setback.

“We’re giving him the day off today,” Acta said, “but he’ll play seven innings tomorrow.”

The unkindest cut

Middle infielder Cristian Guzman was released, and outfielder Fred Lewis was reassigned to the minor-league camp but probably will become a free agent.

“It’s very hard to come to camp to make a club and get hurt the last 10-15 days,” Acta said.

Both players were nursing minor injuries and hadn’t played in recent days. However, neither player had only the slimmest of chances to make the 25-man roster.

Forty-one players remain in big-league camp.

Minor league cuts

Seven minor-leaguers were released: right-handers Josh McKeon, Will Krasne, Nick Sarianides, and Drew Rucinski, plus outfielder Brian Heere and infielders Chase Burnette and Chin-lung Hu.

Marching onward

The Indians will split their squad today to play the Rockies in Goodyear and the Diamondbacks in Scottsdale.

Derek Lowe will start against Colorado’s Juan Nicasio, and David Huff will start against Tyler Skaggs of Arizona, with Jeremy Accardo, Chris Ray, Tony Sipp and Joe Smith

Terry Pluto muses on the Tribe's "offense"

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians' lack of hitting has me talking to myself ...

Question: Aren't you the guy who wrote, "Don't worry, the Indians will hit."

Answer: Can't you let that go? That was in the spring of 2010.

Q: With those words stirring in their hearts, the Tribe's bats turned to feathers as they ranked 12th out of 14 teams in runs scored.

A: Is that a question?

Q: OK, what did you write last spring?

A: I wrote, "The Indians will hit ... maybe ... better than they did in 2010." Which they did.

Q: Not by much: Ninth in runs scored, lower than that in other key categories.

A: Can we bring this up to the present?

Q: OK, will they hit this year?

A: Manny Acta said the offense will be better "if every single [key] guy is healthy and productive."

Q: When does that ever happen?

A: I actually thought the same thing when the manager said that. The Indians point to injuries to Shin-Soo Choo, Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore and Michael Brantley last year. Not all of them will miss that many games again.

Q: Isn't Sizemore out with back surgery?

A: Exactly. The Indians did absolutely nothing to improve their offense during the winter. It's why I'm worried about the offense.

Q: What does the manager say?

A: Acta tries to hide his concern by talking about having second baseman Jason Kipnis in the lineup from opening day. Choo has lost 20 pounds and added lots of muscle in the off-season. The right fielder appears ready to return to his .300 average, 20-homer, 90-RBI form of 2009-10. He believes Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera can have big seasons once again.

Q: Doesn't that sound plausible?

A: It does, but the Indians still don't have much depth. The Tribe came back with Sizemore for $5 million, gambling that he'd not get hurt. And you know what happened, he got hurt ... back surgery. Regardless of what the Indians say, no one is exactly sure when Sizemore will return ... or how he'll deliver when he finally is on the field.

Q: That means what?

A: There is a huge hole in the outfield. Michael Brantley has to play center. They have no one showing anything in left. They have $5 million of the budget tied to Sizemore, instead of being available to possibly be used later as part of a trade. The decision to retain Sizemore, followed by his injury, is very damaging, especially because the Indians have no top outfield prospects in the upper levels of the farm system.

Q: Aren't the Indians a strange team in terms of where they are supposed to find their power?

A: On most teams, the home run hitters are found at first base, third base, left field, right field and designated hitter. The good news is Hafner's cranky shoulder has been quiet, his bat has been loud. The trouble is Hafner has been on the disabled list five times in the last four years. It would be ridiculous to count on him to play more than 120 games. In the last three years, he's been in the lineup for 306 of 486 games.

Q: Didn't they go for defense in the infield?

A: New first baseman Casey Kotchman and third baseman Jack Hannahan are in the lineup because the Tribe couldn't find power hitters on the free agent or trade market for those spots, so they decided to go with elite glovemen to help out their ground-ball pitching staff. Last year, Kotchman and Hannahan combined for 18 homers and 88 RBI in 820 official at-bats.

Q: They don't have a first baseman in the minors who can hit?

A: Not at the upper levels, not with Matt LaPorta still lost at the plate. [Note: not at the lower levels either. Jesus Aguillar is a possibility, but has not impressed anyone who rates prospects.]

Q: You said Choo has been good, right?

A: He should be an anchor in right field, but left is completely adrift. A few weeks ago, a frustrated Acta said all the candidates "were tied for last place." Since then, Shelley Duncan hit some more, and now has an edge. But it's unrealistic to expect Duncan to turn into a regular at the age of 32. Ideally, he has about 350 at-bats and hits some homers. But they need someone else.

Q: What do the Indians say about this?

A: They can receive power from their catcher -- Santana hit 27 homers with 79 RBI and 35 doubles in his first full big-league season. Cabrera had a career year at short with 25 homers and 92 RBI. Kipnis is not a power hitter, but he can deliver a lot of doubles and 10-15 homers at second. So they should receive power from positions that normally are associated with defense.

Q: Anything else?

A: Brantley is critical, because he needs to stay healthy, play a solid center field and be an effective leadoff hitter.

Q: Will that be enough?

A: Acta correctly says this is not a team built for offense. The key will be defense and pitching. But with this lineup, that pitching and defense had better be very good for them to have any hope of contending in the Central Division.

The Indians announced that they acquired right-hander Jairo Asencio from the Braves for cash. The right-handed reliever led the International League in saves in 2009 and 2011 and posted a 1.81 ERA with 11.5 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 54 2/3 innings at Triple-A last year. Asencio is out of options.

Which means that someone is being removed from the 40.

Indians acquired RHP Jairo Asencio from the Braves for cash considerations.

Asencio appeared in just six games with the Braves last season, but had a solid 1.81 ERA, 26 saves and a 70/22 K/BB ratio over 54 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level. The 27-year-old right-hander makes for an interesting under-the-radar pickup. The Indians still need to make room for him on the 40-man roster.

Mar 29 - 10:32 AM

No reason not to dump Corey Kluber. He could hardly manage to hold to a starting rotation job for Columbus last year.

Cleveland Indians trade for Atlanta's Jairo Asencio to try and fill hole in bullpen


Published: Thursday, March 29, 2012, 10:50 AM Updated: Thursday, March 29, 2012, 11:51 AM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer



GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians have acquired right-hander Jairo Asencio from Atlanta for cash. He will compete for one of the two open spots in the bullpen that GM Chris Antonetti and manager Manny Acta are trying to fill before the regular season begins April 5 at Progressive Field.
The 28-year-old Ascensio is out of options.
Ascencio went 3-1 with a 1.81 ERA and 26 saves in 27 opportunities at Class AAA Gwinnett last year. He struck out 70 and walked 22 in 47 games. Ascencio made six appearances with the Braves, posting a 6.97 ERA.
The 6-2, 205-pound Asencio last year limited Class AAA hitters to a .196 (39-for-199) batting average. His six appearances with the Braves came on three different trips to the big leagues. This spring he made 10 relief appearances with a 3.27 ERA (four earned runs in 11 innings) for Atlanta. He's allowed 13 hits and three walks, while striking out 12.
Ascencio pitched winter ball in the Dominican Republic for Toros Del Este where he saved 10 games in 23 appearances. He struck out 33 and allowed 16 hits and three earned runs in 25 1/3 innings. He was named MVP of the Caribbean World Series where he posted three saves in three games for the Dominican Republic.
He has led the International League in saves in 2009 (27) and last year. Asencio's big league career consists of nine games with the Braves, three in 2009 and six in 2011.
Asencio's carrer record in the minors is 42-44 with a 3.68 ERA in 303 games. He's made 56 starts and saved 98 games in the Pirates and Braves' organizations.
The Indians will announce a move on the 40-man roster Thursday to make room for Asencio. He will join the Indians in the next couple of days.
Asencio did not play in 2010 with the Braves because he was on the restricted list for playing under a false name. The Dominican native signed with the Pirates in 2004 as Luis Valdez. His true identity was discovered in 2010.
Roberto Hernandez, the Indians pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona, is currently on the restricted list. He cannot entered the United States until he receive as voucher/waiver from the U.S. government.
Related topics: cleveland indians, jairo asencio

Hope this is a prelude to a blockbuster deal for some hitters. The only thing we have to trade is bullpen guys.

If this team doesn't make any moves to get some hitters, you know they have chalked this season up.

Antonnetti's bumbling and stumbling is making Shapiro look like a mastermind.

Ascencio made six appearances with the Braves, posting a 6.97 ERA.

Very impressive.

We were supposedly loaded with bullpenners, but have had to trade for VandenHunk and Ascensio to fill the pen. What a mess this team is.

We used to think we had bullpen guys to trade Sea, but that depth no longer is apparent. We could ship one of the veteran lefties, assuming Hagadone could pick up for him but:

1. Perez has been hurt so his trade value is low.
2. As is true for most any area of the team, there is no depth behind Hagadone for lefty relievers. We lost delaCruz again, this time to the Tigers.

As for righties, we've already dealt Putnam and Burns (for Slowey and Cunningham) and DFAd Judy, so the only depth we have there is Lee and Sturdevant and a bunch of retreads we've been looking at. I don't assume there's a big market for Wheeler or Herrmann. If they want to rob Peter to pay Paul, they can swap Joe Smith and replace him with one of the recent acquistions and thereby downgrade the pen in order to pick up an OF.

If Joe Smith had any value I would trade him quick. I would not call that a downgrade.

Indians Designate Rick VandenHurk For Assignment
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [March 29 at 12:16pm CST]

The Indians designated out of options right-hander Rick VandenHurk for assignment, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweets. The move creates 40-man roster space for a pitcher the Indians acquired from the Braves earlier today: right-hander Jairo Asencio.

VandenHurk has bounced around considerably in 2012. The Orioles released the native of the Netherlands in February, the Blue Jays signed him to a Major League contract soon afterwards and the Indians claimed him off of waivers eight days ago.

VandenHurk has MLB experience in five seasons, but he appeared in just four games for the 2011 Orioles. He spent most of the season as a starter at Triple-A, where he posted a 4.43 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 154 1/3 innings. The 6'5" 26-year-old has a 5.97 ERA with 8.8 K/9, 4.7 BB/9 and a 27.9% ground ball rate in 181 career innings with the Marlins and Orioles.

Bobby Abreu-to-Cleveland possible


The Los Angeles Angels might have found a landing spot for veteran Bobby Abreu, with sources telling ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas on Thursday night they're discussing a deal to move him to the Cleveland Indians.

Neither the Angels nor the Indians have confirmed the deal.

Abreu had grumbled publicly about a diminishing role even before spring training. When he reported to camp, the Angels told him he could expect to get around 400 at-bats this season, but the rapid improvement of slugger Kendrys Morales quickly made that a hollow promise.

Morales, who hasn't played a regular-season game since fracturing his left ankle in May 2010, is 10 for 16 with two home runs this spring, while Abreu, 38, is hitting .087 in 46 at-bats. The Angels also need to find designated hitter at-bats for rookie of the year runner-up Mark Trumbo, who -- along with Morales -- was displaced from first base by the acquisition of superstar Albert Pujols.

Abreu is making $9 million this season, the product of a vesting option he reached in 2011. The Angels likely will pick up the vast majority, if not all, of Abreu's salary in order to complete the deal. It's not clear whom the Angels will receive in exchange for Abreu, but 28-year-old outfielder Trevor Crowe was pulled from a minor league game on Thursday.

Crowe, a former first-round draft pick, is a .243 career hitter in 205 games with the Indians. He missed most of 2011 with shoulder and elbow injuries.

The Indians were looking to bolster their outfield depth after Grady Sizemore underwent back surgery and is expected to miss the first two months of the season.

Abreu, 38, is a .293 lifetime hitter with an elite .397 career on-base percentage and is in the top 25 on the all-time doubles list. But he is coming off the worst season of his career and has seen his outfield skills decline rapidly in recent years. He played just 28 games in the field in 2011.