Robbie Aviles – Right-handed PitcherBorn: 12/17/1991 – Height: 6’4” – Weight: 195 – Bats: Left – Throws: Right

(Photo: LoHud.com)

History: The Indians selected Aviles in the 7th round of the 2010 Draft out of Suffern High School (NY). The Indians signed him for $150,000 which was much lower than the bonus he was originally anticipated to command in the draft because he tore ligaments in his elbow just days before the draft. …

The Indians have had discussions with
Tigers free agent pitcher Jeremy Bonderman
(Photo: AP)

Some news, notes, and thoughts from my Tribe notebook…
Indians still searching for veteran pitcher
While pitchers and catchers report in just eight days, the Indians are still doing some last minute bargain hunting in free agency to fill an offseason need to add a veteran starting pitcher.
Rumors swirled earlier in the week that they were close to signing right-hander Jeremy …

Jess Todd – Right-handed PitcherBorn: 04/20/1986 – Height: 5’11” – Weight: 210 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

History: Todd was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2nd round of the 2007 Draft out of the University of Arkansas. The Indians acquired him in July of 2009 from the Cardinals as the player to be named in the Mark DeRosa trade. He was the Cardinals Minor League …

Ezequiel Carrera – OutfielderBorn: 06/11/1987 – Height: 5’10” – Weight: 185 – Bats: Left – Throws: Left

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

History: Carrera was signed by the New York Mets as an undrafted free agent out of Venezuela in April of 2005. In December of 2008 he was traded by the Mets to the Seattle Mariners as part of a nine player deal that sent reliever J.J. Putz from the Mariners to the …

This is all sorts of wonderful with this ice, ya know?
[WHAT KIND OF NICKNAME CAN I GET OUT OF BONDERMAN?!]
Well, we’ve gone all this time without signing a starting pitcher to a minor league deal. I mean, I figure Anthony Reyes is enough fodder for us.
But it looks like the Indians are trying hard to get one in the fold.
Bastian says the Indians are close to an agreement with Jeremy …

Vinnie Pestano – Right-handed PitcherBorn: 02/20/1985 – Height: 6’0” – Weight: 205 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right

(Photo: Ken Carr)

History: Pestano was selected by the Indians in the 20th round of the 2006 Draft out of Cal-State Fullerton. He was one of the top relief prospects in the country going into the 2006 Draft, but a serious elbow injury early in the season sidelined him. The Indians drafted him even …

Tony Dischler – Right-handed PitcherBorn: 03/06/1989 – Height: 6’3” – Weight: 198 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right

(Photo: Lianna Holub)

History: Dischler was selected by the Indians in the 23rd round of the 2010 Draft out of Louisiana State University-Eunice Junior College. As a draft eligible sophomore he had a commitment to attend Louisiana-Lafayette next year, but chose to sign with the Indians for $255,000. He transferred to LSU-Eunice from Louisiana-Monroe …

Alexander Perez – Right-handed PitcherBorn: 07/24/1989 – Height: 6’2” – Weight: 156 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

History: Perez was signed by the Indians as an undrafted free agent in May of 2007 out of the Dominican Republic. After coming down with elbow tendonitis at the end of spring training last year, the Indians eventually shut him down and he underwent Tommy John surgery in May.
Strengths: Perez throws …

Michael Goodnight – Right-handed PitcherBorn: 06/10/1989 – Height: 6’4” – Weight: 215 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

History: The Indians selected Goodnight in the 13th round of the 2010 Draft out of the University of Houston. As a draft eligible sophomore, after picking him last year the Indians watched him pitch summer ball in the Cape Cod League where he started six games and went 3-1 with a …

Make sure you follow the twitter today. I’ll be at the Tribe on Tour event at Summit Mall today and I’ll try to tweet and post pictures.
The Tribe on Tour event has received a lot of praise and has seen a lot of attendees the past two days.
I have a quick update really, nothing too major, but I wanted to get this all out of the way because I’ll probably …

The Indians need Carmona to anchor the staff
while they rebuild and as they move back into
contention (Photo: AP).

Some news, notes, and thoughts from my Tribe notebook…
Carmona, Sizemore are not on trade block
A report from a Baltimore news outlet on Tuesday made mention that the Indians and Washington Nationals have discussed a deal that would send right-handed pitcher Fausto Carmona and outfielder Grady Sizemore to the Nationals. The report cited an anonymous …

T.J. McFarland – Left-handed PitcherBorn: 06/08/1989 – Height: 6’3” – Weight: 190 – Bats: Left – Throws: Left

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

History: McFarland was a 4th round pick of the Indians in the 2007 Draft out of Amos Alonso Stagg High School (IL). He hurt his elbow as a high school junior but avoided Tommy John surgery, and when he complained of elbow soreness after signing with the Indians they played it …

Oh February, how close you are to us.
Next week, I’ll share the Spring Training Primer schedule, because the week after, it begins.. That is how close we are to spring training. I’d give anything to have the season of spring come at that time, but I’ll settle for what we can get. This snow… This snow I do not mind. The snow is whatever…
But when we get these below 10 …

Cole Cook – Right-handed PitcherBorn: 10/18/1988 – Height: 6’6” – Weight: 215 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

History: The Indians selected Cook in the 5th round of the 2010 Draft out of Pepperdine University. As a draft eligible sophomore, the Indians signed him for $299,000. He was originally drafted out of high school by the Mariners in the 36th round of the 2007 Draft but did not sign. …

Bo Greenwell – OutfielderBorn: 10/15/1988 – Height: 6’0” – Weight: 185 – Bats: Left – Throws: Left

(Photo: Ken Carr)

History: Greenwell was taken by the Indians in the 6th round of the 2007 Draft out of Riverdale High School (FL).  Had he not signed with the Indians he had a scholarship to play baseball for the University of Miami, FL. He was a very good football player in high school where …

Jared Goedert – Third BasemanBorn: 05/25/198 – Height: 6’2” – Weight: 200 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right

(Photo: Ken Carr)

History: The Indians originally drafted Goedert out of high school in the 36th round of the 2003 Draft, but he chose to go to college and the Indians took him again when he was eligible in the 9th round of the 2006 Draft out of Kansas State.  He had a monster …

This weekend, the Cleveland Indians will hit the road for their revamped version of their winter press tour. This Sunday, they come to my area in Akron and I’m locking it down right now.
My ultimate hope is that Manny Acta is wearing a fedora, just so I can tell him that I admire the hat he is wearing.
Yes, I’m a strange person.
[STILL STUCK IN THIRD]
This third base thing just seems …

Jorge Martinez – ShortstopBorn: 03/29/1993 – Height: 6’2” – Weight: 170 – Bats: Switch – Throws: Right

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

History: Martinez was signed by the Indians as an undrafted minor league free agent in July of 2009 out of the Dominican Republic. He is a low profile signing from the Indians’ 2009 International class, but they are high on him and he immediately impressed in Instructional League in the fall of …

Jordan Brown – First BasemanBorn: 12/18/1983 – Height: 6’0” – Weight: 205 – Bats: Left – Throws: Left

(Photo: Ken Carr)

History: Brown was selected by the Indians in the 4th round of the 2005 Draft out of the University of Arizona. He won the Carolina League MVP Award at High-A Kinston in 2006, and followed that up with the Eastern League MVP Award at Double-A Akron in 2007 where his …

Cabrera may be the first player to sign a
long term deal (Photo: AP)

Some news, notes, and thoughts from my Tribe notebook….
Signed, sealed, and delivered
The Indians completed negotiations this week with the final four arbitration eligible players on their roster.
Back in December they inked right-handed relievers Jensen Lewis and Joe Smith to one year deals just hours before the filing deadline date, and then this week they agreed to one year …