Indians Off-season Notes

The Indians, who have yet to make a monumental trade or signing this off-season, have made a number of smaller moves over the past week:

• The Indians acquired right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (28) from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash, and added him to the 40 man roster, while designating OF Michael Choice for assignment. Yates has spent parts of the last two seasons in the majors posting a 1-2 record with a 5.27 ERA in 57 appearances (56.1 IP). While his 2015 season didn’t go as planned, he did manage to post a 3.75 ERA in his first 37 appearances. Yates will be fighting for a bullpen spot this spring.
• Shane Robinson was signed to a minor-league deal with an invite to major league spring training. The outfielder hit .250 in 83 games last year for the Twins. He would provide outfield depth off the bench if he makes the big-league club.
• The Tribe added organizational depth at catcher as they signed former Met Anthony Recker to a minor league deal. Recker likely won’t make the big league club unless Roberto Perez or Yan Gomes are traded or injured.
• Shane Victorino has been contacted by the club though no offers have been made. Victorino is the type of outfielder the Indians would likely pursue this off-season due to his affordability. He would likely agree to a one-year deal if he were to sign with the Tribe.

• David Schoenfield of ESPN says that the Indians may be a potential fit for free agent OF Justin Upton. Though he will likely command around twenty-million a year, the Indians do not have a single player on the current roster making over 8.5 Million next year (Carlos Santana).
• Catcher Adam Moore has been resigned to a minor league deal. He only appeared in one game for the Indians last year but hit .282 in 92 games for the Clippers.

Around the AL Central 11-29-15

• The Tigers agreed to a 5-year $110 Million Dollar contract with starter Jordan Zimmerman.
• The White Sox signed former Detroit catcher Alex Avila to a year deal worth $2.5 M.
• The Twins are close to completing a deal with Korean Outfielder Byung Ho-Park.

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Nick Loparo

CST Indians Beat Reporter

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