Cleveland Indians Rumors

Odds & Ends: Lackey, Upton, De La Rosa, Wood

Some more links to check out as you celebrate the end of the work week... MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez confirms that the Red Sox did indeed meet with John Lackey's agent. This morning we learned that Boston expressed preliminary interest in the free agent hurler. ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that the Rangers asked the Rays about outfielder B.J. Upton as part of their offseason routine, but no talks are ongoing. Rockies' GM Dan O'Dowd said that they will only look at a one year deal for the arbitration eligible Jorge De La Rosa, according to Troy Renck of The Denver Post....   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Bellorin, Chapman, Cardinals

Links for Friday... Frankie Piliere of AOL FanHouse takes at Yankees prospects who could draw attention in trade talks. The Royals signed catcher Edwin Bellorin to a minor league deal, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Bellorin, 28 in February, hit .277/.308/.351 in 216 plate appearances in his fourth Triple A stint. David Waldstein of the New York Times profiles new Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos. Ronald Blum of the AP chatted with Aroldis Chapman, who doesn't mind beginning his pro career in the minors. MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince expects a quiet offseason for the Indians, though he wonders...   Continue Reading

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Olney On Ausmus, Carroll, Prior, Penny

A few notes from ESPN's Buster Olney... Via Twitter, Olney's heard from other teams that the Reds would love to move closer Francisco Cordero. Of course, closers are plentiful and Cordero is set to earn $25MM over the next two years. I mentioned in our Reds Offseason Outlook that the team would have to eat half of that to make him mildly appealing. Similarly, the Indians would definitely listen on Kerry Wood, who is set to earn $20MM over the next two years. Olney believes other teams could join the Reds and Tigers in cost-cutting mode. He says the teams...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Griffey, Tigers, Torrealba

Let's have a look at another handful of evening links.... MLB.com's Corey Brock reports that new Padres GM Jed Hoyer will sit down with Adrian Gonzalez next week to discuss the first baseman's future. Keith Law of ESPN.com shares his thoughts on the trades that have transpired so far during the hot stove season. Scott Miller of CBS Sports wraps up his observations from the GM meetings, and includes a quote from Angels GM Tony Reagins, saying the team will try their best to retain both John Lackey and Chone Figgins. I think they'd be doing very well if they...   Continue Reading

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Indians May Look At Pavano As Backup Plan

If Jake Westbrook isn't fully recovered from Tommy John surgery in time to start the 2010 season, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer proposes that the Tribe might turn to a familiar face --- free-agent starter Carl Pavano.The Indians want at least one veteran to anchor their young starting rotation, and if Westbrook comes out of his Puerto Rican winter league starts at less than 100 percent, that will leave the combustible Fausto Carmona as Cleveland's default ace. By signing Pavano, the Tribe would be bringing back an experienced arm who had a 3.83::1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 21 starts in...   Continue Reading

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Indians Notes: Free Agent Targets, Marte

Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer answers readers' questions in a mailbag piece. Within the article, he provides his opinions on a few Indians-related topics.... There's "no way" the Indians will sign someone as expensive as Kerry Wood this year. If the club is involved in signing free agents at all, Hoynes expects the deals to happen later in the offseason, and at very little cost. Hoynes wouldn't be surprised if GM Mark Shapiro targeted one or two inexpensive, low-risk starting pitchers. Hoynes doesn't offer any specific names, though one reader suggests Noah Lowry. Check out MLBTR's free agent...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Matsui, Belcher, Cuddyer, Griffey

Links for Friday... Lefty reliever Darren Oliver "will play in 2010 and perhaps beyond," according to his agent Mike McCann (MLB.com's Lyle Spencer reporting). Free agent Hideki Matsui ruled out the possibility of returning to Japan, says NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman (via Twitter). The Indians have hired their new pitching coach: Tim Belcher. The decision on Michael Cuddyer's $10.5MM option for 2011 is due by Monday, according to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Cuddyer would like to finish his career in Minnesota. Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel considers Jeremy Hermida among the all-time exasperating Marlins. Mark...   Continue Reading

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Indians Notes: Nakamura, Sizemore, Acta

A few Cleveland Indians-related links to sort through this morning. Let's take a look.... The Indians will sign Japanese right-hander Takafumi Nakamura to a minor-league deal, according to Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker. Newman suggests that the Chuo University pitcher isn't one of the more "high-profile" draft prospects, but that he has shown he can strike out college hitters. An official contract should come sometime soon. Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer answers fans' questions in a Tribe-centric mailbag. One reader asks about the possibility of the Indians dealing Grady Sizemore to the Chicago Cubs. Hoynes opines that if...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Hawkins, Uribe, Hill, Hazen

Here's a few links to end the night... MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tweets that Astros GM Ed Wade said the team "is talking with LaTroy Hawkins, who wanted to see who the manager was going to be first." Hawkins will be a free agent this offseason for the fourth time in as many years. Juan Uribe has informed the Giants that he plans to test the market, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Mercury News. MASNSports.com's Roch Kubatko reports that the Orioles outrighted three players off their 40-man roster, including southpaw Rich Hill. Meanwhile, MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince says the Indians outrighted...   Continue Reading

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Angels Yet To Call On Aroldis Chapman

The Angels have been linked to free agent lefty Aroldis Chapman via scouting director Eddie Bane. Given Chapman's friendship with Kendry Morales and interest in Southern California, the Halos could be a decent fit. However, our source says the team has yet to call to express interest. Chapman is also friendly with Alexei Ramirez of the White Sox. We reported Chicago's interest on October 22nd, but we've since learned that their involvement has been limited. Chapman visited with the Red Sox on Wednesday. A meeting with the Orioles will take place today. He's yet to throw for teams, so the...   Continue Reading

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