Transactions: Spring Training Cuts

by Ryan on Mar 22, 2009 2:15 AM EDT in Transactions

From 3-15-09:

Reassigned RHP Tomo Ohka and LHP Ryan Edell to Minor League Camp

Although all Spring Training stats need to be treated with a high degree of skepticism, a pitcher fighting for a roster spot giving up 14 hits and 10 runs in 3.2 innings is a sign that he's not very good. That's what the Indians saw in Tomo Ohka.

Edell was a starter all of last year, but the Indians brought him to major-league camp to (I assume) take a look at him as a reliever. If he makes the Clippers as a reliever we'll know if they liked what they saw.

Optioned LHP Rich Rundles to Columbus (AAA)

Rundles looked like he had a decent chance of making the bullpen after making the 40-man roster late last season, but Eric Wedge saw some things he still had to work on:

''It's getting to the point where innings are tough to come by,'' Wedge said. ''Rundles needs to be very good against left-handers and be able to defend himself against right-handers. It's fairly new for him to be dropping down [throwing sidearm], and he has to get more consistent with that. So he has more development to do.''

With Rundles going down, it's very unlikely the Indians will be taking a situational lefty north with them.

From 3-19-09:

Reassigned the following to Minor League Camp:

1B: Jordan Brown, Beau Mills, Stephen Head

Brown and possibly Head will be playing in Columbus; Mills is headed to Akron. Mills is the prime prospect, Brown the sort-of prospect, and Head the not prospect.

RHP Jack Cassel

SS Jesus Merchan

3B Wes Hodges

A lot of things outside of Hodges' control has gone right for him. The Indians, instead of moving Jhonny Peralta to third, traded for Mark DeRosa, who is a free agent at the end of this season. And Andy Marte is for all intents and purposes not in the indians' future plans. That means Hodges now has the opportunity to play himself onto the 2010 roster. I still think it's more likely Peralta's playing at third next season, but if Hodges plays well, it will make the Indians' decision much more difficult.

Optioned the Following Players to Columbus (AAA):

2B Luis Valbuena

While Hodges is going to have to play his way into the Indians' future plans, Valbuena seems to be the default option at second in 2010. If the Indians do shift the infield around next season, his performance this season in Columbus will be the impetus for it.

LHP Tony Sipp

Sipp hasn't been able to stay healthy (tommy John in 2007, shoulder problems last season), but the only thing preventing him from pitching with the Indians this season is proof that he can handle a relievers' workload.

RHP John Meloan, Adam Miller, and Juan Salas

It was a given that Salas would be optioned to AAA as depth. Meloan washed out of the bullpen battle fairly quickly, but my expectations are still pretty high. Adam Miller looks like he'll undergo season-ending surgery on his right middle finger; the injury is possibly career-threatening. Miller's never pitched for the Indians, but it's a huge loss nonetheless. A healthy Miller in this year's bullpen would have given Eric Wedge a relief ace capable of filling in a multi-inning cap if a starter had to come out early, and eventually a late-inning setup man.

Optioned C Carlos Santana and Hector Rondon to Akron (AA)

Both players did nothing this spring to dampen the high expectations already placed on them. Santana is already an advanced hitter, but the Indians are fine at catcher and won't need to promote him agressively. Rondon, on the other hand, probably needs a full season in Akron.

[Update: Although not listed in the official transactions, the Indians also assigned LHP David Huff to Minor League camp.]

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Comments

I still believe in Hodges. I mean, I don’t think he’s anybody to get excited about or that he has any real shot of becoming an impact player, but I think he can become a useful player. You know, what Adam wrote in the Annual.

One of the things sometimes lost in his deficiencies, is that last year he made the second biggest jump in professional baseball and maintained his performance in almost every area. I think that’s a good sign.

by ClarkM on Mar 22, 2009 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

Valgood’s got an ñ? Far out.

Has anybody else had the thought that the 2010-2013 teams are going to be ridiculously left-handed? Valbueña, Mills, Chisenhall, Weglarz, Brantley, Sizemore, Choo … I guess there’s nothing wrong with that, since right-handed bench guys are a lot easier to come by than lefties. And of course there’s a 1- to 3-percent chance that all of those guys are healthy and major leaguers simultaneously.

The thing I’ve wondered most about the 2009 squad is, what if LaPorta, Brantley, and Valbueña are already major leaguers? Do you hesitate to option down Barfield and Garko, or to ditch Dellucci?

The thing I’ve wondered second-most is, what record would the Clippers have if they kept their opening day lineup for a whole season and played in the NL West?

by fleerdon on Mar 22, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions

In regard to your first question, I think that’s one question they’ll be asking but I think Shapiro et al will also be asking How are B/G/D playing? and Is the team winning/playing well with the current configuration?

by NickFantana on Mar 22, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

All true. I guess I’m just very disused to the idea of having potential impact position player depth in the upper minors. It will take me a while to adjust to the fact that, just because a high-ceiling guy is hitting in AAA doesn’t mean we’ve got to clear the deck for him.

by fleerdon on Mar 22, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, this isn’t encouraging, but I doubt any of the three guys we listed will be holding off any depth challenges from AAA. My expectations couldn’t be lower for that Crap Pack.

by NickFantana on Mar 22, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Valgood’s got an ñ?

After further review, it appears not.

by Ryan on Mar 22, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

what if LaPorta, Brantley, and Valbueña are already major leaguers? Do you hesitate to option down Barfield and Garko, or to ditch Dellucci?

It depends on what role is available to the rookies on the big-league club. If you do a talent pecking order, the big-league starters are at the top, followed by prospects who are Triple-A starters, followed by the big-league bench guys, followed by everyone else in Triple-A. So from a valuation standpoint, going from Triple-A lineup to big-league bench is actually a demotion — which is why Barfield is doing exactly that. The only time you would consider that a promotion is if the player’s ceiling was always as a utility guy.

Bottom line, they’re not going have Garko and Barfield starting in Columbus just so that Valbuena and LaPorta can be on the big-league bench. Really good prospects need to hit their way not only onto the 25-man roster, but into a significant role in the big-league lineup.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Mar 22, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

going from Triple-A lineup to big-league bench is actually a demotion

Except for the pay cut of course.

by mauichuck on Mar 22, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, in the short-term, but your long-term pay potential is going down.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Mar 22, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Only if you’re in the ~30% of AAA players that have true major league potential. Many of these guys – especially Latin American guys like Marte and Valbuena – have never seen $1,000 in one place at one time in their lives until they got onto American baseball team. There’s a hell of a difference between the Major League minimum $400k a year and the Minor League (AAA) minimum of $65k. Many of these guys support more than just their wives and kids on this money. So yeah, I’m sure that Marte getting sent down hurts and hurts alot.

by mauichuck on Mar 22, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Definitely what I was driving at, and I appreciate seeing it laid out like this, so thanks. As I said above, I’m just not sure I’ve ever had to deal with this as a fan recently. All the position player promotions I’ve been tracking these last few years seem to be because a) rebuilding year or b) necessity.

by fleerdon on Mar 22, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions