Nine More Players Signed For 2009

The Indians have signed nine more players from their 40-man roster to one-year contracts for 2009. It leaves 14 players unsigned. Signing Sunday were Josh Barfield, Shin-Soo Choo, Aaron Laffey, John Meloan, Adam Miller, Anthony Reyes, Tony Sipp, Jeremy Sowers and Wyatt Toregas. The only two players from that group pretty much assured of having spots on the opening-day team are Choo and Reyes.

Still unsigned:
LHPs Zach Jackson, Scott Lewis, Rafael Perez.
RHPs Jensen Lewis, Edward Mujica, Hector Rondon, Joe Smith.
C Carlos Santana.
INFs Asdrubal Cabrera, Ryan Garko, Chris Gimenez, Luis Valbuena.
OFs Trevor Crowe, Ben Francisco.

The Major League deadline to renew or sign all 40-man roster players with 0-to-3 years MLB experience is March 11.

Choo is expected to be Cleveland's starting right fielder, while Reyes is penciled in as the Indians' No. 4 starter.

Laffey and Sowers are among those competing for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation.

Miller and Meloan are in competition with others for the final bullpen berth, with Sipp having an outside chance there, but more likely to open the season in the minors.

It is unlikely Toregas would break camp with the big-league team, barring injuries to starting catcher Victor Martinez or backup Kelly Shoppach.

Barfield, the starter at second base in 2007 who was sent back to the minors a year ago and then missed much time with a finger injury, is likely in competition for the final position spot on the roster. He is taking practice in the outfield in an effort to improve his versatility and give him a better chance at being a utility player in Cleveland rather than a starter at Triple-A Columbus.