The Indians outrighted outfielder Jerad Head and righty Mitch Talbot today, the team announced on Twitter. The moves drop the 40-man roster count to 38, though Carlos Carrasco, Josh Tomlin, Michael Brantley, and Shin-Soo Choo still need to be activated from the 60-day DL.
Talbot is now a minor league free agent, according to the Indians, and he is out of options, as MLB.com's Jordan Bastian notes (on Twitter). The 28-year-old started 12 games for the Indians and posted a 6.64 ERA with 5.1 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 in 63 2/3 innings. He spent time on the disabled list with a strained lower back and was outrighted to the minors in August.
Head, also 28, made his MLB debut this year. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he hit 24 homers and posted a .284/.338/.526 line in 463 plate appearances. He can elect free agency, as he has previously been outrighted.
