The Indians officially announced the reporting dates for spring training and they are as follows...

Feb 20: Pitchers and Catchers Report
More inside...

The Indians officially announced the reporting dates for spring training and they are as follows...

Feb 20: Pitchers and Catchers Report
Feb 21: Physicals
Feb 22: First Workout
Feb 25: Position Players Report
Feb 26: Physicals
Feb 27: First full-squad workout
Mar 02: Photo Day
Mar 05: First game

CLEVELAND INDIANS REPORT -- Tuesday, January 13  

I can't believe that we're closing in on one month until the start of spring training. Have the equipment trucks left yet? That's always a sure sign that spring is right around the corner.

The Indians made a minor move yesterday when they signed veteran infielder Lou Merloni to a minor league contract that includes an invite to spring training. Merloni is a 32-year old infielder who was originally drafted by the Red Sox in the 10th round of the 1993 draft, making his major league debut five years later in 1998 (.281/.343/.375/.718 in 96 ABs) and spending the next four seasons riding the shuttle between Boston and Pawtucket with a short stint in Japan in 2000 mixed in for good measure. Claimed off waivers by the Padres late last spring, Merloni spent the first five months of the season in San Diego (hitting .272/.362/.364/.726 in 137 ABs) before being dealt back to the Sox in late August for the stretch run where he hit .233/.324/.276/.591 in 30 ABs. He also sat out nearly the whole month of June with a sprained MCL. The Sox non-tendered him last month, making him a free-agent, and leading to his eventual signing with the Indians yesterday. In parts of six major league seasons, Merloni has never had more than 200 at-bats in a season and has career averages of .270/.332/.380/.712 with 10 homeruns.

A shortstop by nature, Merloni was obviously blocked by the presence of Nomar Garciaparra in Boston, and that led to him developing into a utility player, highlighted by the fact he played in 32 games at third base last year, 23 at shortstop, 17 at second base, three in the outfield, and two at first base. Rotoworld essentially referred to him as a "poor mans Tony Graffanino" and if there ever could be such a thing, Merloni might fit the bill due to his versatility, his never receiving an opportunity for full-season at-bats, and the fact he has been able to hit left-handers very well in the past. I say in the past because left-handers dominated Merloni last season, holding him to a .196 average in 92 at-bats after being hit at a .321 clip in 2002 (56 ABs) and a .303 clip in 2001 (33 ABs). Admittedly, these are all very small samples sizes but that's all we have to go on at this point. Merloni did hit much better against right-handers last year (.337/.404/.427/.831 in 89 ABs) after a .217 campaign in 2002 (138 ABs) and a .257 average in 2001 (113 ABs) to complete the backwards season he enjoyed in 2003.

The interesting thing about this signing is that Hal Lebowitz reported in the News Herald this weekend (thanks, by the way, to the person who posts Hal's column on FanHome every week, you rock!) that Merloni is expected to make the big league club to provide infield depth along with John McDonald. He goes on to say that Eric Wedge is considering playing Casey Blake at first occasionally against left-handers, Merloni could fill in at third-base, and Wedge likes the fact that Merloni can play anywhere in the infield. Hmmm.... Filing that Blake note for later discussion, what I'm more interested in is looking at the impact that Merloni breaking camp with the Indians will have on the rest of the roster.

Assuming a 12-man pitching staff and Brandon Phillips and Jhonny Peralta are headed to Buffalo to start the season, here's how the position players shape up one month before spring training...

(2) Catchers: Victor Martinez, Josh Bard
(8) Infielders: Travis Hafner, Ben Broussard, Ron Belliard, Ricky Gutierrez, Omar Vizquel, John McDonald, Casey Blake, Lou Merloni
(6) Outfielders: Milton Bradley, Coco Crisp, Jody Gerut, Alex Escobar, Ryan Ludwick, Matt Lawton

Yeah, that's 16 players for 13 spots. We'll get into this a lot more when the organizational position reviews start later this month but here's a couple of quick thoughts (with "barring injury" assumed at the beginning of each line)

1) It doesn't look like there's any way that both Ben Broussard and Travis Hafner can make the opening day roster. Broussard has an option remaining, Hafner doesn't (I think) and that gives Hafner the advantage if the spring numbers are close. I would also not be surprised to see the loser traded during the spring.

2) While it's true Merloni could simply be insurance in case Ricky Gutierrez is not ready for the start of the season, I think this signing hints more at the fact that the Indians don't expect Gutierrez to play this year.

3) If six infielders (Merloni, Blake, Vizquel, Belliard, McDonald, Hafner/Broussard) make the opening day roster along with two catchers, that leaves room for only five outfielders (assuming a 12-man pitching staff). Who goes? Coco has an option left.

4) Could Merloni replace John McDonald as the Indians primary backup infielder? It allows the Tribe to keep six outfielders, Ryan Ludwick could backup at first, and Merloni is likely to provide more offense off the bench than Johnny Mac.

Merloni's signing makes 16 spring training invitees who will descend on Winter Haven next month: Jason Bere, Bob Howry, Giovanni Carrara, Lou Merloni, Jeff D'Amico, Chris Clapinski, Luther Hackman, Kevin Orie, Dave Lee, Adam Piatt, Mike Porzio, Ernie Young, Mark Wohlers, Carl Sadler, Matt Miller, and Tim Young. Of this group, Merloni, Howry, D'Amico, and Bere have the best chance of sticking with the Indians. Keep in mind that for every one of these NRIs who break camp with the big league club, a player will have to be removed from the 40-man roster.

Two of those spots will come when Billy Traber and Brian Tallet are placed on the 60-day disabled list. Mark Shapiro told the local papers that if either Traber or Tallet (both recovering from Tommy John surgery) pitch in the majors in 2004 it will be as a reliever in September. I don't have a problem with that, rushing young arms (or any arm for that matter) back from injury is generally not a good organizational practice. Sounds like they both may follow the same rehab program as Bob Wickman last season (i.e, a few games in the minors late in the season and then shut down until the following spring training).

David Riske avoided arbitration by signing a one-year contract for $1,025,000 that includes the opportunity to earn an additional $50k in incentives tied to appearances and games finished. The recently acquired Scott Stewart is now the lone arbitration-eligible Indian.

Paul Hoynes had some good info in the Plain Dealer on Sunday....

-- Jody Gerut is rehabbing a sore left shoulder and may not be 100% by the start of spring training. It's possible he could start the season at DH.

-- Jhonny Peralta and Victor Martinez are in town as part of the Indians conditioning program with Eric Wedge saying that "(Martinez) looks like a different guy".

-- Bobby Howry impressed the Indians in a throwing session at Jacobs Field last week. It sure sounds like Howry's on the roster if he makes it through the spring healthy. I'm being cautiously optimistic but I really like Howry.

-- Kevin Orie will open the season in extended spring training as he continues to recover from two shoulder surgeries last year. When he does return, he'll start at first base before moving across the diamond to the hot corner in midseason (once his shoulder has been deemed healthy enough to make the throw). Looks like it will be Adam Piatt/Chris Clapinski at third this year in Buffalo (unless Jhonny Peralta is moved over) with Corey Smith returning to Akron for another year of double-A seasoning.

-- The Indians are talking with Derek Thompson about returning to the organization after he was non-tendered by the Dodgers last week. I'm still not sure how his Rule 5 status no longer applies but that appears to be the case.

-- Regarding Luther Hackman..."If he doesn't make the bullpen out of spring training and agrees to go to the minors". I'll take that to mean that Hackman can elect to become a free agent if he doesn't make the big league club.

The Indians winter development program (January 5-30) is in full swing with Fernando Cabrera, Jason Cooper, Francisco Cruceta, Jake Dittler, Trey Dyson, Travis Foley, Mariano Gomez, Mike Hernandez, Joe Inglett, Ivan Ochoa, Luke Scott, Grady Sizemore, Corey Smith, Kazuhito Tadano, and Dave Wallace taking part in the four-week session and Eric Crozier and Jeremy Guthrie participating in the two-week "finishing program". The winter development program is now in its 8th season after being developed by then Director of Minor League Operations Mark Shapiro in January 1996 and it's designed to hone the players physical, mental, and fundamental skills.

Mike Hernandez's agent reports that the left-hander is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn labrum and is expected to begin light throwing this Friday.

Danny Aquino was released by the Indians. He signed in 1999 out of the Dominican, made his US debut in Burlington in 2001, but sat out the last two seasons.

Spring training tickets are now on-sale so if you're headed down to Winter Haven, you can now purchase your ducats at www.indians.com, Jacobs Field, Indians team shops, and Office Max kiosks.

Carlos Guillen, who was slated to come to the Indians in the ill-fated Omar Vizquel deal, was dealt to the Tigers after the Mariners signed Rich Aurilia to play short.

Dave Roberts resigned with the Dodgers for one year and $975k. Roberts posted a .331 OBP and .638 OPS in an injury plagued 2003.

Julian Tavarez signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals that will pay him $4.2 million.

Bob Ojeda left the Mets organization after serving as a double-A pitching coach last season, according to the New York Daily News.

In his latest diamond notes column, Peter Gammons quotes a scout as saying that former Indians minor leaguer Simon Pond had "one of the best power swings I saw" in Puerto Rico after Pond hit .338 with 10 longballs this winter. Pond is now 27 and spent two seasons in the Indians system, hitting .268 with 11 homeruns for Akron in 2001, before being released in the spring of 2002.

Gammons also notes that Nick Bierbrodt (unsigned Tribe minor league free-agent) is talking contract with Boston. I've always liked Bierbrodt but it looks like he may not be headed back to the Tribe. I wonder what happened?

Blake Stein signed a minor league contract with the Pirates, former Kent State star Mike Gulan did the same with the White Sox. David Cortes signed with the Tigers, Aaron Myette signed with the Reds, and AJ Hinch signed with the Blue Jays.

Former Indian outfielder Leon Wagner passed away last week at the age of 69. In five seasons (1964-1968) with the Tribe, "Daddy Wags" hit .265/.332/.437/.769 with 97 homeruns, highlighted by 31 dingers in 1964 and a .294/.369/.495/.864 campaign in 1965 that included 28 more longballs. Wagner was a little bit before by time but most everything I've read about him this past week mention that he was one of the friendliest players in the game. Yet Hal Lebowitz reported this weekend that Wagner apparently passed away without any friends or family to claim his body. When the Indians learned about this, according to Hal, the Dolans immediately notified Mudcat Grant (who had tracked down Wagner's body in the LA city mortuary) that the Indians would cover all expenses and to make sure that Wagner had a fitting funeral. Very nice gesture by the Dolans.