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Another Arm - Elarton Signed to a Minor League Deal 2008-02-08 15:38:26 Another arm will be in camp in a few weeks, as former Indian Scott Elarton was added to the roster today as a minor league free agent. Elarton was with the Tribe in 04 and 05, and was pretty good in 05 going 11-9. Here is the presser from Bart on the signing. The Cleveland Indians today signed RHP SCOTT ELARTON to a minor league free agent contract with an invitation to big league camp. Elarton, who turns 32 on February 23, owns a career Major League record of 56-60 with a 5.31 ERA in 224 games/170GS since beginning his career 10 years ago with the Houston Astros in 1998 (1050.0IP, 1091H, 620ER, 409BB, 683K). He pitched with the Indians in 2004 (3-5, 4.53ERA, 21GS) and 2005 (11-9, 4.61ERA, 31GS) and spent 2006-07 with the Kansas City Royals. He underwent shoulder surgery in August 2006 that curtailed the start of his 2007 campaign and this past season made 19 starts between AA Wichita, AAA Omaha and Kansas City between a pair of stints on the disabled list (shoulder rehab, right f ...

Grover and Gordon The Newest Added to the Tribe Hall of Fame 2008-02-08 11:22:38 The Indians have sent out a presser with two more added to the Indians Hall of Fame, which is out in Centerfield at the now Progressive Field. Mike Hargrove and Joe Gordon have been added to the bunch. Here is the presser from the Indians on the two being added. CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Indians today announced the organization will induct two former Tribe greats into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 16 prior to the 3:55PM game vs. Los Angeles Angels at Progressive Field, highlighting the club’s Hall of Fame Heritage Weekend August 15-17. The Class of 2008 entering the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame includes: MGR/1B MIKE HARGROVE and MGR/2B JOE GORDON. Gordon’s induction this year, member of ’48 team, coincides with the 60th Anniversary of the Tribe’s last World Championship. This brings the total to 33 players inducted into the Indians Hall of Fame. Hargrove will attend the ceremony on August 16. Gordon will be honored posthumously. MIKE ...

Another Bullpen Arm - Tribe Invites Donnelly to Camp 2008-02-06 19:48:08 Today the Indians added another marginal bullpen guy that “could” make the roster - former Angel and Red Sox hurler Brendan Donnelly. Here is the presser from Bart and the gang at the Indians. The Cleveland Indians today signed RHP BRENDAN DONNELLY to a minor league free agent contract with an invitation to Major League spring training camp. Donnelly, 36 , went 2-1 w/a 3.05 ERA in 27 relief appearances for the Boston Red Sox last year (20.1IP, 19H, 7ER, 5BB, 15K) before being placed on the disabled list on June 11 with a strained right forearm. He did not allow an earned run over his last 8 outings prior to his injury (6.2IP). After feeling additional discomfort in subsequent rehab outings Donnelly eventually underwent ligament reconstruction in his right pitching elbow (Tommy John Surgery) on August 14. He will report to camp at the end of March to begin his rehab and is expected to miss the first several months of the season. Donnelly owns a career Major League recor ...

Former “Never Was” Branyan in Court for Domestic Violence 2008-02-06 09:44:37   Former Tribe stiff Russell Branyan was in court on Tuesday…here is the article from WKYC’s website. Branyan in court  SHAKER HEIGHTS — Former Cleveland Indians player Russell Branyan was in Shaker Heights Municipal Court Tuesday morning charged with one count of domestic violence. Branyan entered a “not guilty” plea. Judge K.J. Montgomery set a trial date of 10 a.m. March 6. She also continued Branyan’s $7,500 bond so he remains out of jail. Branyan’s attorney, Philip Kushner, and Pepper Pike Prosecutor Jonathan D. Greenberg agreed to terms of a temporary protection order against Branyan that protects Branyan’s wife, Jill, and their two children. ...

Yahoo! Sports Take on This Years Indians 2008-02-06 09:41:13 Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown has his preview of the AL Central up.  Here is the link to the complete article: Divison Tour: AL Central  Below is his take on the Indians First impression: If the Indians are to become the next small-market club to lose a Cy Young-type left-hander to the economic polarities of the game, then it looks like they’ll go down fighting. Unless the Indians tank early, which is unlikely, GM Mark Shapiro apparently has no designs on trading Sabathia, who, at 27, just pitched his best and most durable season. Still, Sabathia’s coming free agency could put a clock on the Indians’ revival, at least as far as standing among the AL elite. If his arm holds up and he backs up last season’s 19 wins with anything like it, Sabathia could approach the $23 million or so average annual value the New York Mets gave Johan Santana. That would amount to about a quarter of the Indians’ payroll. So, in the face of the Tigers’ offseason reload a ... Yahoo

Article Says the Tribe Should Deal Sabathia 2008-02-05 17:27:21 Todays Bucyrus Telegraph Forum has an opinion piece basically saying that the Indians should trade Sabathia now and that they will not be able to afford him. Time for Indians to say bye, bye C.C. A couple players that the author talks about that would be out there in a possible deal include: The Yankees - Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, The Red Sox -  Jon Lester, Jacoby Ellsbury, The Giants - Rajai Davis, Dan Ortmeier, The Dodgers - Matt Kemp.  I see the logic in an article like this, but the Indians have already said that C.C. is going nowhere, and to trade him for the guys listed above (minus Cabrera or Ellsbury, who I would take) the rest are players that are not high enough on the prospect scale for me.           ...

Shapiro Speaks Out as Spring Training Nears 2008-02-05 10:20:15 Well Indians fans, GM Mark Shapiro is speaking out on a wide array of topics about the team as they get set to open up spring training for the final time in Winter Haven. PD pal Paul Hoynes wrote today on Shapiro talking about topics like: C.C., moving from Buffalo to Columbus, the outfield spots, the bullpen, and more. Check it out, as there are some interesting tidbits in there. Shapiro Talks CC, other Topics ...

Tribe and Blake Agree on a One-Year Deal 2008-02-01 11:13:20 The Indians have once again avoided arbitration as earlier today they signed the last unsigned guy - the wonderful Casey Blake. The team and Casey agreed on a one-year deal. As stated below, the team has not gone to arbitration since 1991. Below is the presser from the Tribe on the deal. CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed INF CASEY BLAKE to a one-year Major League contract for the 2008 Championship Season, avoiding arbitration. Blake, 34, had a very consistent season as he batted .270 (159-588) with 81 runs scored, 36 doubles, 4 triples, 18HR and 78 RBI in 156 games for the Indians. The versatile Blake started the season as the club’s first baseman and reserve outfielder and moved to third base in late April after Andy Marte was injured and optioned, which stabilized the position and sparked the club. He hit in a career-high 26 straight games from May 20 through June 17th, which was the longest hitting streak in the American League i ...

Sabathia Talks About Expanded Drug Testing 2008-01-31 11:51:57 C.C. recently was quoted talking about MLB doing expanded drug testing. This came out when he was in was in Oklahoma on Wednesday to receive the 2007 Warren Spahn Award. Here is the link to the piece: Cleveland Indians ace C.C. Sabathia on expanded drug testing: ‘Bring it on’ ...

Tribe Signs Reliever Julio to a Minor League Free Agent Deal 2008-01-31 11:47:05 Tribe makes a roster move today - grabbing former stud relief pitcher Jorge Julio off the scrap heap. Julio is another classic case of trying to find a diamond in the rough for the bullpen. Here is the presser from Bart: CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed RHP JORGE JULIO to a minor league free agent contract with a non-roster invitation to Major League camp in Winter Haven, FL. Julio, 28, spent most the year with the Colorado Rockies, posting a mark of 0-3 with a 3.93 ERA in 58 appearances (52.2IP, 50H, 23ER, 20BB, 50K) for the NL Wildcard entry. He began the year with Florida, having been acquired by the Marlins from Arizona at the end of spring training, and appeared in 10 games for the Marlins (0-2, 12.54ERA). His combined 68 appearances in 2007 were a new career-high as he limited left-handed batters to a .227 (22-97) mark for the season with 0 HR allowed. His ERA in Coors Field in 2007 was 2.86 (32G, 28.1IP, 23H, 9ER, 9BB, 27K). The C ...

Press Tour Wraps Up; The First of Many Stories on C.C. 2008-01-26 15:23:02 Couple more pieces from the final day of the 2008 Winter Press Tour. Below is a piece from the stop in Lima: Indians caravan stops in Lima The story talks about how the Tribe has the #1 ranked pitching staff in the Majors. And here is the first of what will be about 5,000 stories written about CC and his deal that will be up at the end of the year and what he is going to do. It has been my experience that the guys that hit free agency with the Tribe do not resign, and with the youth that the team has in its pitching staff, I expect CC to be elsewhere in 2009. Sorry. Anyway, here’s a link to the story: Cy Young winner Sabathia on Cleveland: “This has been my second home” (cue up the tears) ...

Follow Ups in the Local Papers on Betancourt’s New Deal 2008-01-24 09:32:50 Lots of stories today on the re-signing of a new deal for Rafael Betancourt, here are some of the bigger ones: My good pal Chris Assenheimer’s story at the Chronicle - in which he makes a good point that the Tribe has not had an arbitration hearing since 1991: One down, Casey Blake to go: Indians re-sign Rafael Betancourt, avoid arbitration again Here’s Sheldon Ocker’s piece in the ABJ about Betancourt: Indians relieved to sign reliever And 3rd another good friend, Andy Call, from the Canton Repository, and his story on Rafael: Betancourt takes roundabout route to new contract    ...

Betancourt Inks a New Deal; Invites to Spring Training 2008-01-23 10:14:37   After just wrapping up the last article on it, the Indians have sent out the official presser on relief pitcher Rafael Betancourt inking a new deal, two years with the second being a club option.  The signing means now that we’re all just holding our breath for Casey Blake to get his deal done and then we’ll all be one big happy family.  Here’s the press release from the Indians on Rafael: CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed RHP RAFAEL BETANCOURT to a two-year contract thru the 2009 season with a club option for 2010. Rafael, 32, was one of the most dominant relievers in baseball in 2007, posting a record of  5-1 w/3 saves and a 1.47 ERA in 68 relief appearances (79.1IP, 51H, 13ER, 9BB, 80K).  He posted 31 holds in front of closer Joe Borowski, tied for first among AL relievers while his 1.47 ERA was the 2nd lowest relief and his .183 average against the 4th lowest mark. He also ranked among the AL’s relievers in ...

Winter Press Tour Stuff; Blake and Rafael Close 2008-01-23 09:38:26   Some sources are reporting today that both Casey Blake and Rafel Betancourt are close to signing their deals to avoid going to arbitration.  Casey is set to get a 1-year deal, while Rafael will get a couple years on his deal. The Winter Press tour continues, and there are a couple stories out today on some various players.  Here is on on Jake Westbrook from some paper in New Philadelphia: Westbrook optimistic about’08 season And here is another Westbrook piece in a Mansfield paper, where the team made a stop yesterday as well: Westbrook, Indians stop in Mansfield on winter tour And a third story on a couple of topics from MLB.com Notes: Indians’ Winter Caravan rolls on   ...

Betancourt Mulling Over Tribes Long Term Offer 2008-01-22 05:38:50   As the Indians kicked off their 2008 Winter Press Tour on Monday, one tidbit of news is that the team and relief pitcher Rafael Betancourt remain in talks about him signing a long-term deal. Betancourt said he would know in a few days if he is going to sign the Tribe’s offer. He is seeking $2.5 million through arbitration, while the team is offering $1.75 million. Last season with bonuses he made $860,000.  More than likely the two sides will meet in the middle.  Betancourt was well worth the cash last season, going 5-1 with a 1.47 ERA in 68 games.  He is one player the team should look to take care of. ...