SATURDAY: 3:59pm: The Tribe is closing in on a minor league deal with Raburn, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com (on Twitter). The deal is likely to be finalized next week.
THURSDAY, 1:12pm: The Indians have some interest in free agent utility player Ryan Raburn, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). CSE represents Raburn, who was released by the Tigers in November.
Raburn projected to earn $2.1MM through the arbitration process. However, after a season that saw him post a .171/.226/.254 batting line in 222 plate appearances, that salary seemed excessive to the Tigers. Raburn averaged 15 home runs per season from 2009-11 and owns a career batting line of .256/.311/.430. He played second base and both corner outfield positions in 2012. The Braves and Marlins had interest in Raburn earlier in the offseason.
The Indians also have some interest in Ryan Theriot, another right-handed hitting free agent capable of playing multiple positions.
This post was originally published on January 17th and updated on January 19th.
