RHP Matt Belisle has joined the club as a non-roster spring invitee. Will work out with the team today. He saved 9 games as the @Twins closer last August/Sept. following the trade deadline

Yep - they now are moving to get back the depth they lost in Smith/Shaw.



ESPN's Buster Olney says Belisle will make $1.5 million with $1.75 million more available in incentives if he's on the big league roster.

Belisle served as the Twins' closer for a time last season, posting a 4.03 ERA and 54/22 K/BB ratio over 60 1/3 innings.

The 37-year-old should have a good shot at making the Indians' Opening Day roster as long as he's healthy.

Ditto here:

Ben Taylor - R - Indians

Indians claimed RHP Ben Taylor off waivers from the Red Sox.

Taylor, 25, held a 5.19 ERA over 14 relief appearances for the Red Sox last season but struck out a batter per inning. He'll compete for a middle relief spot in Cleveland.

I might add wasn't Carl Willis the Red Sox pitching coach last year?

Probably put in a word for Taylor??

I didn't have any doubts. Me and Mr. Antonetti talked. I talked to the front office and we had an open dialogue the whole time.

I'm glad Michael's happy with his dealings with the front office and happy to have his $11M deal. I would have been happier if he expressed his pleasure at his rapider than expected recovery and likelihood to be ready for opening day

STO has more spring training games this year if I remember past springs correctly

Listening on my phone; broadcast is by MLB.COm which means Tim Belcher is color man for Jim Rosenhaus.

Great signing today.

I knew it ! I knew it !

Report: Indians to sign Napoli to minors deal
The Indians have signed Mike Napoli to a minor league contract, reports Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

The deal is pending a physical. Napoli posted career-lows with a .193 batting average and a .713 OPS, but he still showed some pop with 29 homers. Keep in mind that he did that while playing through a torn ligament in his hand. Still, the 36-year-old ended up having to settle for a minor league pact. He'll provide depth between first base and the DH spot in his return to the organization.
Source: Jordan Bastian on TwitterFeb 27 - 10:10 AM

The band is getting back together again !

World Series !

Now if the Browns can just get Derek Anderson as the bridge QB !

LOL

That would be a more welcome signing than this one.

I've been sitting here last few days trying to figure out how to get my man Diaz more at bats. That job just got even harder. For a washed up strike out king.

Well Napoli can back up Nellie Rodriguez backing up Bobby Bradley for the Clippers.

Mike Napoli rejoins Cleveland Indians: "It's a unique situation for a unique person"
Updated 2:22 PM; Posted 2:16 PM

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com phoynes@cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Mike Napoli is back with the Indians, but unless there is an injury he will not be opening the season with them.

Hey, but at least Jose Ramirez has his card-playing partner back for a while.

Napoli was scheduled to take a physical on Tuesday. If he passes, he'll join the Indians on a minor league deal, but make no mistake this is strictly a team doing a favor for a player who helped them reach the World Series in 2016.

Manager Terry Francona, before news of the deal surfaced, talked to Edwin Encarnacion and Yonder Alonso and told them Napoli was not coming to Goodyear, Ariz., to take their job. The Indians just felt Napoli deserved to get out of the player's association training camp for unsigned free agents in Bradenton, Fla., so teams could get a real look at what the 36-year-old first baseman-DH has left.

Francona called it a "unique situation for a unique person."

Mike Napoli reflects on his time in Cleveland

"It's a situation where a player that is universally respected in our organization, and in our opinion, shouldn't be in that camp in Bradenton, Fla.," Francona told reporters in Goodyear, Ariz. "He wanted a chance to be in a major league camp. There's a decent chance that we're going to get him ready to go to another team and help beat us.

"Saying that, we all felt he deserved it. He's such a pro, so special to us. Certainly, if there's an injury (he could help us). I'm just laying it out as honest as I can. It's a very unique situation, but he's a very unique person."


As a point reference, the Twins showed interest in Napoli over the winter. Could the Indians be helping their nearest rival in the AL Central by extending a helping hand to Napoli?

Francona, in his conversation with Napoli, explained the situation as plainly as he could.

"My biggest concern was, and I told him this, is that he comes in here and hits .500 and we don't have a spot for a kid we're crazy about and we have to tell him that," said Francona. "So we told him up front because I didn't want to damage a relationship that's important.

"So we walked through the whole thing. I think he's really excited. It's been a hard winter for him. We'll treat him like he deserves. Get him his playing time and see where it goes."

Napoli hit .239 (133-for-557) and set career highs with 34 homers and 101 RBI for the Indians in 2016. He also set career highs in games played, plate appearances and at-bats. A gassed Napoli faded in September and the postseason, but the Indians wouldn't have had the chance to reach Game 7 of the World Series without him.

Last year Napoli played for Texas, hitting .193 (82-for-425) with 29 homers and 66 RBI.

"We've said a lot about him and it's true," said Francona. "He had a big hand in our team transforming itself into a team that could win a World Series. Just because he left for another team never changed his impact or how we felt about him."

Mike Napoli, Terry Francona on monster homer

There was no clubhouse a clique that could resist Napoli. He played cards with Ramirez long before anyone thought he would by an All-Star third baseman. He played cribbage with Francona.

"There were no boundaries with Nap," said Francona. "He's fearless."

The Indians open the regular season on March 29 in Seattle. Between now and then Napoli will get a chance to prove if he can still play in the big leagues.

"We're thrilled to have him in here in camp," said Francona. "My guess is you'll see him with Bobby Bradley (first base prospect) and whoever he wants (to work with). Whatever time he spends here with us will be valuable for everybody. And if we end up helping him out, we've done a good thing.

"Because if there's anybody who deserves it, it's Nap."

Looking for the next Jason Giambi. Cheerleader.