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Inbox: Will the Indians a starting ? Beat reporter Jordan Bastian fields questions from Tribe Nation By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | November 27th, 2015 + 119 COMMENTS If the Indians trade one or two starting for outfield help, do they have enough starters in the Minors ready to help the big league team? -- Frank L.,

First of all, know that such a trade would require a clear-cut, impact player coming back to the Indians. Cleveland is open to listening to offers that include its young, talented starting pitchers, but the club isn't going to weaken an area of strength unless it is the kind of deal a team can't walk away from. As for your question, the Indians do have some depth to their rotation, making it easier to entertain such proposals. Behind the front four of , Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer are youngster Cody Anderson and the more veteran Josh Tomlin, both of whom could be sound options at the back of the starting staff. From the 40-man roster, Cleveland currently has righty Michael Clevinger, along with lefties Shawn Morimando and TJ House. The 24-year-old Clevinger (2.73 ERA, 145 , 158 at Double-A Akron last year) and the 23-year-old Morimando (3.18 ERA, 128 strikeouts, 158 2/3 innings at Double-A in '15) were added to the roster on Friday. House, 26, had a 3.35 ERA in 19 games for the Tribe in '14, but he was limited to 37 innings in '15 between the Majors and Minors due to a shoulder issue. Outside of the 40-man roster, one prospect that stands out would be righty , who had a 2.39 ERA with 137 strikeouts and 28 walks in 166 innings between Advanced Lynchburg and Akron last year. Anderson began the season at Double-A on his way to a 15-start stint with Cleveland, so it's not out of the realm of possibility to see one of Clevinger, Morimando or Plutko rising fast. If the Indians were to pull the trigger on a trade that shipped one of their top Major League starters to another team, though, I'd also expect Cleveland to look for more depth options outside of the organization. The Tribe would likely be looking at the trade market, or potential non- tender candidates, to potentially add to its rotation depth. Submit a question to the Indians Inbox Will Giovanny Urshela be the Tribe's ? Or are the Indians seriously pursuing someone to step in and take it over? If so, then what happens with Gio? -- Shawn B., Malvern, Ohio Highest on Cleveland's priority list right now is solving the outfield situation. (right shoulder surgery) is out until at least late April, and the Major League depth is thin for left and center field. Beyond the outfield, the Indians could explore upgrading their offense via the corner-infield and designated-hitter spots. At the moment, the Indians have a and DH option in Carlos Santana, who isn't likely going anywhere. Chris Johnson is also in the fold (and under contract for $7.5 million) to help with those roles, too. Given Urshela's rough year at the plate, it would make sense for the Indians to at least look into what alternatives might exist for third base. What the Indians know for certain is that Urshela can provide strong defense at the hot corner, which is important. What is less certain is what kind of hitter the young player will become. It is hard to get a read on his showing last year, because Urshela dealt with knee, back and shoulder issues at various points from last winter through the season's final month. In 2014, Urshela .280 with 18 homers, 60 extra-base hits, 84 RBIs and an .825 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A Columbus, so Cleveland knows there is potential in his bat. In 81 games for Cleveland in '15, though, Urshela hit just .225 with a .608 OPS and faded down the stretch (.559 OPS across August and September) while dealing with discomfort. If the Indians were to find an alternative for third base, Urshela has options and can be sent to Triple-A. How likely is a trade for Reds third baseman ? -- Dave L., Cleveland Frazier is an intriguing player, but there are some things to be wary about, too. He'll be 30 in February and, while his overall showing last season was solid, the third baseman had a .220/.274/.390 slash line after the All-Star break. Recent reports indicated that the Reds, while not aggressively shopping the third baseman, would seek young, Major League-ready talent for Frazier, who is under contract for $7.5 million in 2016, arbitration-eligible in '17 and then eligible for free agency in '18. The plus defense and right-handed pop is attractive, but this could also be a sell-high situation for Cincinnati. Were the team to trade one of its starting pitchers for outfield help (, please!), would there be any interest in signing to a cheap, one-year deal as a reclamation project/starting-pitching depth, or even bullpen help? -- Dane M., Richfield, Ohio Hey, the Indians are no strangers to reclamation projects (see: Scott Kazmir) and the club actually selected Lincecum in the Draft back in 2005. At the very least, I'd expect Cleveland to monitor the pitcher's progress from hip surgery and have someone on hand when the right-hander holds his reported showcase in January. It seems early on that Indians president of baseball operations is still making the decisions at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. How long until the proverbial training wheels are taken off and is free to be creative on his own with trades, promotions, etc.? -- Levi M., Charlotte, N.C. Antonetti might have the final say on baseball moves, but Chernoff and Derek Falvey (assistant GM) have taken the lead on various decisions. Even before his promotion to GM this winter, Chernoff handled a lot of Cleveland's arbitration cases. Both Chernoff and Falvey have played key roles in contract negotiations, trade talks and player-development moves, too. So, yes, Antonetti is the face of the decision making in Cleveland, but it's a collaborative effort behind the scenes. Yankees pitcher (and former Indians lefty) CC Sabathia recently opened up about his struggles with alcoholism and checked in to rehab. What do teams like the Indians do to support players in proactively addressing issues like addiction and mental health? -- Steve G., Wadsworth, Ohio The Indians have an extensive employee-assistance program, which helps players, field staff, scouts and front-office members deal with any personal issues, including any type of addiction or substance abuse. Cleveland's staff also includes Dr. Charles Maher, who is the team's sports psychologist and director of psychological services. The Indians also have a trio of performance coaches (Ceci Clark, Brian Miles and Oscar Gutierrez Ramirez) on staff to help with the mental side of the game.

Catcher signs Minor League deal, could provide depth behind plate By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | November 27th, 2015 + 28 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- The Indians are set behind the plate with the solid tandem of starting Yan Gomes and backup Roberto Perez. Cleveland's only task this winter for that aspect of its roster is to try to build up solid depth beyond its Major League duo.

On Friday, the Tribe took a step in that direction by signing catcher Anthony Recker to a Minor League contract that includes a non-roster invitation to attend with the big league club. As of now, Recker would join Adam Moore (non-roster invite) and Tony Wolters (40-man roster) as Cleveland's backup catching options for this spring. The Indians' current list of non-roster invitees includes Recker, Moore, pitcher Joe Colon, utility man Michael Martinez and Shane Robinson. The 32-year-old Recker has been on a Major League roster to start each of the past four seasons. Over 167 career big league games in parts of the past five years, he has hit .185 with a .594 OPS in 511 plate appearances between stints with the A's, Cubs and Mets. Recker has thrown runners out at a 27-percent clip in the Majors, compared to a 34-percent mark in the Minor Leagues. This past season, Recker hit .125 in 32 games, including 23 starts, with the Mets. In 27 games with Triple-A Las Vegas in '15, the catcher hit .245 with eight home runs, three doubles, 21 RBIs and an .896 OPS.

Tribe prospect duo leads off MLBPipeline Inbox By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com | @JonathanMayo | November 27th, 2015 + 2 COMMENTS Still recovering from feasting on Thursday? Trying to avoid any Black Friday shopping stampedes? You've come to the right place.

Welcome to a special Thanksgiving weekend edition of the MLBPipeline Inbox. Much like on Turkey Day, we're overstuffing you. But at least this gorging won't cause any tryptophan to kick in. Who are some Major League comps to Indians' uber-prospects Bradley Zimmer and Clint Frazier? -- Steve Z., Erie, Pa. The dynamic outfield duo of Zimmer and Frazier are currently Nos. 1 and 2 on the Indians' Top 30 prospects list, and that's not likely to change any time soon. Zimmer, tall and athletic, is coming off a first full season that saw him reach (and scuffle a bit in) Double-A. But he hit a combined .273/.368/.446 with 16 homers and 44 steals. Because of his build and his power-speed potential, the comps that make the most sense are guys like Andy Van Slyke, Von Hayes or Shawn Green. Frazier, the 2013 first-rounder, is a little trickier. He had a tremendous second half and a solid Arizona Fall League to build off as he prepares for that jump to Double-A. He doesn't fit just one profile all that well. Some see the bat speed and think of Gary Sheffield. Some see the size and right-handed power and think . That's not to say Frazier will be exactly like either of those guys, but there are qualities in Frazier that remind scouts of those All-Stars.

Indians acquire Yates from Rays for cash By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | November 25th, 2015 + 144 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- The Indians boasted one of the 's best bullpens last season and have the ability to return with virtually the same cast next year. Given the volatile nature of a relief corps, though, the club is always on the hunt for more depth.

On Wednesday, Cleveland took a step in that direction, acquiring right-hander Kirby Yates from Tampa Bay in exchange for cash considerations. In order to add Yates to the 40-man roster, Michael Choice was designated for assignment. • Hot Stove Tracker Yates had been designated for assignment by the Rays on Friday. In parts of the past two Major League seasons with Tampa Bay, the 28-year-old Yates turned in a 5.27 ERA in 57 appearances, compiling 63 strikeouts and 22 walks in 56 1/3 innings. He had a 7.97 ERA in 20 games in 2015, allowing 10 home runs in 20 1/3 innings. The 10 homers accounted for 16 of the 18 earned runs he allowed.

Yates features a four-seam fastball, which registered at 93.2 mph on average last season, according to PITCHf/x data. He also throws a , and . Yates had more success in 2014 (3.75 ERA in 37 games) when he relied on his slider as his primary breaking pitch. In '15, he threw more and , while dropping his slider usage by nearly 20 percent. As things stand, the Indians' bullpen projects to include Cody Allen, setup man , righty Zach McAllister and right-hander Jeff Manship. Others in the mix for jobs from the 40-man roster include Austin Adams, Shawn Armstrong, Kyle Crockett, Nick Hagadone, Giovanni Soto and Josh Tomlin. Joe Colon will be in camp as well as a non-roster invitee. Last season, the Indians ranked second in the AL with a 3.12 ERA, third in -to-walk ratio (2.92) and fifth in bullpen WAR (4.9, according to Fangraphs). Thanks to the strength of its starting rotation, the Tribe's bullpen threw the second-fewest innings (453 1/3) in the league as well. The Indians have 10 days to either trade or release Choice, or send him outright to the Minor Leagues if he clears waivers. Cleveland originally acquired the outfielder from the Rangers last season on Aug. 21 in exchange for cash considerations. Choice hit .204 in only 14 games for Triple-A Columbus while in Cleveland's system.

Indians extend Triple-A Columbus partnership By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | November 25th, 2015 + 7 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- It can take several years for a ballplayer to successfully navigate the road to the Major Leagues. For those striving to reach the big leagues in Cleveland, the journey from Triple-A to The Show is roughly a two-hour drive.

That commute up Interstate 71 from Columbus, Ohio, will continue to be the path to the Majors for Cleveland's Triple-A players for at least the next three seasons. The Indians and Triple-A Columbus announced Wednesday that they have extended their partnership with a two-year player development contract that runs through the 2018 campaign. "The Clippers create a Major League environment in Triple-A," Indians director of player development Carter Hawkins said in a release. "Our players and staff love playing in Columbus and we can't think of a better setting to develop our players as they make their transition to Cleveland. We could not be happier to extend our partnership and look forward to many more outstanding seasons at Huntington Park." The Indians have utilized Columbus as their Triple-A team since 2009. In that time period, the Clippers have reached the postseason four times and have captured the Governors' Cup (International League championship) three times (2010-11, '15). Columbus has also won the Triple-A championship twice (2010-11) during its time as Cleveland's Triple-A club. Huntington Park, the home of the Clippers, has also been recognized as one of the best ballparks in the Minor Leagues by various publications. "The Indians are extremely excited to extend our relationship with the ," said Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti. "The resources their front office staff provides is always first class, in addition to the state-of-the-art facility and passionate fan base. We look forward to the continued success of our partnership." Added Clippers president and general manager Ken Schnacke: "Everything about this relationship has been a 'grand slam'; for the fans, for both franchises, and for both cities. We look forward to continuing this relationship and to seeing the Indians win a championship sometime in the near future."

Spring's around corner as Tribe reveals Cactus slate By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | November 24th, 2015 + 46 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- The temperature is dropping, the first snowflakes have fallen and holiday lights are beginning to adorn houses all around the Cleveland area. It is as good a time as any to begin thinking warm thoughts of baseball and Spring Training.

On Tuesday, the Indians unveiled their spring schedule, allowing fans to officially begin a countdown to the 2016 season. There are only 85 days until pitchers and report to Cleveland's complex in Goodyear, Ariz., where sunsplashed diamonds will be filled with players prepping for the next campaign Feb. 17. The Tribe's full squad will be required to report by Feb. 21, and the Indians will play their first game of 2016 on March 1 against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark. As has become a spring tradition for the Ohio teams -- Cleveland and Cincinnati have neighboring facilities and a shared ballpark -- the Indians and Reds will play three games in a row (March 1-3) at the outset of the Cactus League slate. Single-game Spring Training tickets will be available exclusively on indians.com/spring, beginning at noon ET on Dec. 12. Information about season tickets, a variety of ticket packages and travel offers, as well as promotional dates this spring, can also be found at indians.com. In all, the Indians will play 19 games (16 home games and three as the visitors against the Reds) at Goodyear Ballpark. Cleveland will host the World Series champion Royals on March 23 and will play three night games at home. Those dates include March 19 against the Cubs, March 24 against the Dodgers and March 29 against a split-squad Mariners team. Before heading back to Cleveland for against the Red Sox on April 4 at Progressive Field, the Indians will travel to Texas. The Tribe is scheduled to play a pair of exhibition games against the Rangers on April 1-2 at Globe Life Park in Arlington. In all likelihood, the Indians will have made their final roster decisions before that brief trip to the Lone Star State.

Could former Rockies' slugger help offense? Hey, Hoynsie Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio – Do you have a question that you'd like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? Submit it here or Tweet him at @hoynsie. Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think the Indians have any interest in Wilin Rosario,recently designated for assignment by the Rockies?. He wouldn't help the Indians' outfield problem, but he'd be a good right-handed option at DH and wouldn't cost the Indians a pitcher. -- Sam Swanson, Pennington, N.J. Hey, Sam: It makes sense. Rosario, 27, is a professional hitter and the Indians have an opening at DH. Rosario, limited as a catcher and first baseman, hits righties and lefties and he's shown that his power can play away from Coors Field. One concern is that Chris Johnson and Rosario probably fill the same role. The Indians owe Johnson $17.5 million over the next two years so that could stop Rosario from coming to Cleveland. Rosario, whose conditioning might present a challenge, made $2.8 million this year. When the Rockies designated Rosario for assignment, it meant they could trade, release or put him on waivers. If the Indians did acquire Rosario, he would be eligible for arbitration. @hoynsie best guess - how many more wins would cesepedes give the Indians next year? Hey, Steven: Yoenis Cespedes, according to WAR, would probably be worth four wins for the Indians next year compared to a player from the minors who would replace him if he was unable to play. Cespedes posted a 6.3 WAR with the Tigers and Mets last season -- 4.0 with the Tigers and 2.3 with the Mets. In four big league seasons his average WAR is just under 4.0 Hey, Hoynsie: Please tell me that the Tribe won't trade any of its starting pitchers unless it's for a game-breaking position player. Starting pitching seems to be the toughest commodity to acquire and the Tribe has it. So no deals for mediocre, overrated and overpaid who won't make a difference. With this rotation the Tribe will be competitive in 2016. Are there any bats in the system that can help the Tribe in 2016? – Stu Boyar, Buffalo. Hey, Stu: The Indians have holes in the outfield with prospects Tyler Naquin, James Ramsey, Bradley Zimmer and Clint Frazier waiting for a chance. Bobby Bradley, 19, hit 27 homers with 92 RBI at Class A Lake County, but he still needs seasoning. Jesus Aguilar has hit and hit with power at every level, but has yet to establish himself in the big leagues. So the Indians do have some hitters. It's just a matter of how faraway they are from the big leagues. Hey, Josh: Why pay big bucks for a closer when you've developed an excellent one in Cody Allen? The Tribe's bullpen had the second lowest ERA in the AL next to Kansas City, 2.72-3.12. Sure they need a couple of fresh arms so Allen and Bryan Shaw don't get worn out, but to me the pen seems to be a strong point. Hey, Hoynsie: Here's my trade proposal: Trevor Bauer to Toronto for center fielder . It would allow the Indians to move to the No.5 hole and give them a good leadoff hitter – John Smitz, Solon. Hey, John: I know you wrote this a while ago, but as you can see by Toronto'srecent acquisitions of J.A. Happ and and the re- signing of Marco Estrada that it has gone in a different direction to acquire pitching. They also have and R.A. Dickey under contract. Hey @hoynsie what do you think of the trade for Yates? I saw we have interest in Hunter. Will he be the biggest FA signing? Westchester, NY Hey, Miles: I don't think it moves the dial a whole lot as far as fans are concerned, but the same thing could have been said when the Indians acquired Scott Kazmir, Jeff Manship, Scott Atchison, and Esmil Rogers. They have a knack for getting quality innings out of pitchers who have been around the block a couple of times. Yates has a good arm and can strike people out. For a bullpen that ranked 11th in strikeouts in AL last season that could come in handy. Hey, Hoynsie: Yes the Indians have starting pitching to trade. But they also have their entire big league roster and farm system. Is it unreasonable to believe they can't put together a package of two or three of these players to acquire someone like Josh Reddick, Mark Trumbo, Kris Davis, Adam Lind or young hitters from the Cubs or Diamondbacks? -– Denny Pinch, Arlington, Va. Hey, Denny: You raise a good point. The Indians have talent beyond their starting rotation, but as always beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Hey, C-Town: Their best bet to do that is to trade one of their top three starting pitchers or a package of big league players and prospects. If they don't do that, the only way Chris Antonetti and manager are going to find a big hitter is to build one in the basement of Progressive Field, ala Dr. Frankenstein. Hey, Hoynsie: Do you see the Indians making a trade for Jay Bruce – Barry Elliot, Jackson Center. Hey, Barry: I don't see that happening, especially if the Reds want one of the Tribe's starting pitchers. Bruce can be a free agent after the 2016 season, although the Reds hold a $13 million club option on him for 2017. Bruce, a left-handed hitter, would certainly help the Indians' power crisis. He's averaged 26 homers in his eight years with the Reds. But he strikes out a lot, averaging 155 strikeouts annually over the last six seasons. Hey, Rob: I think Chisenhall has earned a spot on next year's team based on the way he played right field following his recall from Class AAA Columbus after Brandon Moss was traded at the end of July. If Brantley were healthy, I'd still feel he'd earned a spot on the roster. A couple of things, of course, could change that. The Indians could decide Chisenhall's arbitration price, an estimated $3 million, is too high and trade or non-tender him. Or he could be involved in a trade this offseason to bring in a hitter to bat in the middle of the lineup. If I had to bet, I'd say Chisenhall will be on the opening day roster in 2016.

Should Cleveland Indians make blockbuster trade or just tweak roster? Hey, Hoynsie Paul Hoynes, November 26, 2015 at 6:02 AM CLEVELAND, Ohio – Do you have a question that you'd like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? Submit it here or Tweet him at @hoynsie. Hey, Hoynsie: All this talk about trading Corey Kluber, Danny Salazar or Carlos Carrasco is making me nervous. That would be a mistake and a knee-jerk reaction. Help from the minors from Clint Frazier or Bradley Zimmer is on the way even though it will not be here in 2016. So why not make a minor trade to get someone in here for one or two years? I know the Tribe needs offense and outfielders, but why give away the future for just a one-year fix? – Jim Dean, Bay Village. Hey, Jim: You've captured the balancing act that the Indians' front office is trying to pull off. If they do trade one of their starting pitchers, it can't be for just a one-year fix. They have to get back a player who can help them for multiple years. That's the only way such a deal would make sense. @hoynsie Will the Indians ever draw more than 30k to a non-opening day game again? — Kurt Ramage (@kurtramage) November 25, 2015 Hey, Kurt: Since they did it on consecutive days on Aug. 7 and Aug. 8 while playing the Twins this past season, the answer is yes. Hey, Hoynsie: Why isn't Carlos Santana being mentioned in these trade rumors? Is it because of his large salary for next season? – John Gasior, North Ridgeville. Hey, John: For much of the season Santana was the subject of trade rumors. At the moment, and this could be changing as I write this, I think the Indians have studied to market for first basemen/DHs and found that Santana is as productive as anyone else they could bring for the same salary. Santana will make $8.25 million in 2016 with a club option worth $12 million in 2017. The option includes a $1.2 million buyout. @hoynsie hey hoynsie my name is markus voosen from Gahanna ohio and my question is will the Indians make a big trade this off season? — markus voosen (@buckeyesfan2015) November 25, 2015

Hey, Markus: Our definitions of big might differ, but I think the Indians will make a significant trade this winter. They have no other choice. Hey, Hoynsie: Can Johnny Manziel pitch? It looks like he will need a different sport soon. -- MA, Vermillion. Hey, MA: Scouts have told me Manziel was a good high school back in Texas. So he's always got that going for him. @hoynsie I know that the brass said the coaching staff was staying intact, but has the Tribe reached out to Jason Giambi for hitting ? — Andrew Banc (@bobcatnoah) November 25, 2015 Hey, Andrew: The Indians already have two hitting coaches. Giambi would make three. That's too many chefs and not enough cooks. @hoynsie Are you in favor of moving Santana to full time DH? John Kassinger, Silver Lake, Ohio — John Kassinger (@jbigkaz) November 25, 2015 Hey, John: It all depends on who you're going to replace him with at first base. Chris Davis, yes. Jesus Aguilar, probably not. @hoynsie Will we see Tyler Naquin at the major league level by July? Robert Hayes, Youngstown, Ohio. — Robert Hayes (@GuitaristRobDog) November 25, 2015 Hey, Robert: If the Indians don't find a center fielder this off-season, and Naquin shows he's healthy in spring training, it could be a lot sooner than that. @hoynsie hey hoynsie, is the tribe serious about adding outfield depth? Is Yasiel Puig a real possibility? For who? Scott, — Scott Iantosca (@THEscottyI) November 25, 2015 Hey, Scott: The Indians already have outfield depth. What they need is starting outfielders. Puig, however, will not be one of them. The Dodgers want a lot for him. @hoynsie how much weight does the Bauer for todd Frazier rumors hold? — Steve Allanson (@boymeetsworld89) November 25, 2015 Hey, Steve: As I've said before, I love Frazier's power and he'd be a natural fit at third base and in the middle of the Tribe's lineup. But he's a free agent after the 2017 season. Bauer is under the Tribe's control for the next five years. It does not sound like the kind of one-for-one deal the Indians would make. @hoynsie Who's done/is doing a better job, Neal Huntington with the Pirates or Chris Antonetti with the Tribe? Rory, Foster City, CA. — Rory M Wohl (@rorywohl) November 25, 2015 Hey, Rory: Now that's a loaded question if I ever heard one. Huntington spent 10 years with the Indians before the Pirates hired him as GM after the 2007 season. He lost and lost big for five straight years as he rebuilt the Pirates despite their losing streak reaching 20 straight seasons. In the last three years, the Pirates have won big, making the postseason three straight times. Antonetti just finished his fifth season as GM. The Indians had losing records in his first two seasons, but have put together three straight winning seasons, winning a spot in 2013. Right now, I'd give Huntington an edge. He's done a nice job with a limited payroll in a market similar to Cleveland. He seemed to get passed over in a front-office shuffle in Cleveland, but has shown his talents in the Steel City. Then again, 20 straight losing seasons should produce a backlog of talent through the draft that a GM could put to use. Huntington now faces the test that challenges all successful small to mid-market teams --- how does he sustain that success? The Indians have never done a complete rebuild under the Dolan ownership. They've always lived on the edge of respectability and hoped for the best. It's hurt them in the acquisition of talent in the draft. Antonetti, in the confines of that strategy, has done a good job. The fact is they've each done well in a job that turns bright young men into weary old ones in a hurry. @hoynsie with Trevor Bauer being demoted to bullpen in September, is the Tribe giving up of him as starter? Andy Mees, Sandusky, Ohio — Andy Mees (@andy_mees) November 25, 2015 Hey, Andy: Bauer is a starter. When the Indians moved him to the bullpen, they said it was temporary. His last appearance of the season was a start. @hoynsie Besides Kirby Yates, any other 4A type player acquisitions in the near future? Mike Meszaros, Lorton, Va — Mike Meszaros (@MeszarosMX) November 25, 2015 Hey, Mike: The Indians usually invite about 20 players to camp on minor league deals. Most of them will have spent time in the big leagues. So the answer to your question is yes, more are on the way. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 11.27.2015 Indians acquire RP Kirby Yates from Tampa Bay for cash considerations By Ryan Lewis Published: November 25, 2015 The Indians added an option for their 2016 bullpen on Wednesday, acquiring right-handed Kirby Yates from the in exchange for cash considerations. Yates, 28, has a 5.27 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 57 relief appearances the last two seasons with the Rays. Yates at times has struggled with control but has a track record for keeping his strikeout numbers high, as he’s averaged 11.9 K/9 in the minors and 10.1 in the majors. Yates has split much of the last two seasons between Tampa Bay and Triple-A Durham, bouncing back and forth. Yates will join the mix as a possible option for the Indians’ bullpen with closer Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Jeff Manship, Nick Hagadone (once healthy), Zach McAllister, Austin Adams, Giovanni Soto and Shawn Armstrong. To make room for Yates on the Indians’ 40-man roster, outfielder Michael Choice has been designated for assignment. Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 11.26.2015 Cleveland Indians acquire right-hander Kirby Yates from Tampa Bay for cash Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians, who always like to add fresh arms to the bullpen during the off-season, did so Wednesday with the acquisition of right-hander Kirby Yates from Tampa Bay for cash. Yates, designated for assignment last week, has made 57 relief appearances for the Rays over the last two seasons. Outfielder Michael Choice was designated for assignment to make room for Yates, 28, on the 40-man roster. Tampa Bay's bullpen pitched the second-most innings in the AL this year. Yates was part of that as he made 20 appearances, while registering an unflattering 7.97 ERA in 20 1/3 innings. He struck out 21, walked seven and allowed 18 earned runs on 23 hits. In consecutive games against the Indians in June, Yates allowed three runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings. Two of the hits were home runs by Yan Gomes and . He posted a 1.475 WHIP and a FIP of 8.64 for the season. Yates, whose brother Tyler appeared in 239 big-league games with the Mets, Braves and Pirates, made 25 appearances with Class A Charlotte and Class AAA Durham last season as well. In 2014, Yates was 0-2 with a 3.75 ERA and one for the Rays in 37 appearances. Tampa Bay signed the 5-10, 210-pound Yates as a non-drafted free agent and he was named the organization's reliever of the year in 2013. Yates has averaged 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings in the minors and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings in the big leagues. He joins 10 other relievers on the Tribe's 40-man roster. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 11.26.2015 Cleveland Indians offering six packs of tickets for Christmas holidays Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com on November 25, 2015 CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians are once again giving fans a chance to purchase six packs of tickets for the 2016 season before the Christmas holidays. "We haven't done it for a few years, but we listened to our fans who wanted an opportunity to purchase tickets for the holidays," said Curtis Danburg, Indians senior director of communications. Fans can purchase six packs of tickets for six selected Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays during the 2016 season. Prices start at $84 in a variety of sections at Progressive Field. Here are the dates: June 3 through June 5 vs. Kansas City; June 17 through June 19 vs. the White Sox; June 8 through June 10 vs. the Yankees; July 29 through July 31 vs. Oakland; Aug. 12 through Aug. 14 vs. the Angels and Aug. 19 through Aug. 21 vs. Toronto. Anyone who buys tickets before Thanksgiving will receive access to the pre-sale of opening day tickets before they go on sale to the public. The Indians open the season April 4 against Boston at Progressive Field. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 11.26.2015 Cleveland Indians shopping in Shane Victorino's aisle for free-agent outfielders Paul Hoynes CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Thanksgiving has come and gone and the Indians still need outfielders. The good news is there are still more than four months to shop until opening day. The bad news is the Indians are still shopping in the same aisle. The Indians were never in play for the upper crust of free agent outfielders – , Justin Upton, and Yoenis Cespedes. The second tier of outfielders, players such as Austin Jackson, Rajai Davis, Gerardo Parra, , Dexter Fowler and Alex Rios are most likely beyond their reach as well because of monetary or draft pick compensation issues. Which brings the conversation to Shane Victorino and others just like him. The Indians, before they signed to a four-year $56 million deal in December of 2012, made a four-year $44 million offer to Victorino. When Victorino turned them down to sign a three-year $39 million deal with Boston, the Indians turned their attention to Swisher. The Indians got one decent year out of Swisher before he was hobbled by knee injuries and shipped to Atlanta along with Michael Bourn in August. The Red Sox received one good year from Victorino in 2013 when he hit .294 (140-for-477) with 15 homers, 61 RBI and won a Gold Glove for his play in right field. Boston won the World Series that year, while the Indians were eliminated in the wild card game. After that Victorino was limited to 30 games in 2014 and 71 games this year because of injuries. In July the Red Sox traded him to the Angels. Victorino, 35 on Monday, is a free agent this winter and is one of the many outfielders the Indians have contacted. He had back surgery in 2014 and was beset by calf and hamstring injuries this season as he hit .230 (41-for-178) with one homer and seven RBI for the Red Sox and Angels. At one time Victorino was a Gold Glove center fielder for the Phillies. At this point in his career, Victorino would probably just be a piece to the puzzle if the Indians signed him. He can play all three outfield positions and has once again started switch-hitting. Victorino stopped hitting left- handed during the 2013 season. The Indians, outside of injured Michael Brantley, don't have an everyday big-league outfielder on the roster or in the system. Unless they can acquire a starting outfielder in a trade, they might be forced to improvise with players such as Victorino until Brantley is ready to play sometime in April or May. The upside is players in Victorino's position most likely are looking for a one-year deal which would allow them to get back in the free agent market for a bigger payday in 2017. Their addition would mean outfield prospects Tyler Naquin, James Ramsey, Bradley Zimmer and Clint Frazier wouldn't be rushed to the big leagues before they were ready. The downside is their impact on a needy offense could be minimal. Minority owner: The Indians search for a minority owner continues. Late last season it was reported that a deal could be reached before the end of 2015. At the moment that appears doubtful. There has been a lot of interest in the Indians, but the interested parties want to buy the team. Owner Paul Dolan has no intention of selling his majority share. Draft order: Here are the teams that have the top 10 picks in the June draft: 1. Phillies. 2. Reds. 3. Braves. 4. Rockies. 5. Brewers. 6. A's. 7. Marlins. 8. Padres. 9. Tigers. 10. White Sox. The Indians have the 16th overall pick. After the second round, the Indians will have the second of six picks before the starts of the third round thanks to the competitive balance lottery. The order of the first round can change because of free agent signings and compensation picks. Touch of home: 's new front office and coaching staff has a Cleveland flavor. GM pitched for the Indians, while manager Scott Servais interviewed to be the Tribe's manager following the firing of Eric Wedge. First base coach Casey Candaele played for the Tribe, while third base coach Manny Acta managed the Indians for almost three seasons. Bench coach Tim Bogar managed in the Indians minor league system. Finally: ranked Frazier, 21, as the eighth best prospect in the just completed Arizona Fall League. Frazier, the Indians No.1 pick in 2013, hit .281 (25-for-89) with three homers and eight RBI. He struck out 27 times, drew seven walks and posted a .785 OPS . . .Jesus Aguilar is having another big winter-ball season for Caracas in Venezuela. He's hitting .282 (20-for-71) with five homers and 12 RBI. Aguilar has one minor league option left with the Indians . . .Former Tribe right-hander C.C. Lee, sold last week to the Seibu Lions, signed a one-year deal with the Japanese team Friday. Lee will make $750,000 in 2016 with a club option for 2017. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 11.29.2015 Cleveland Indians have Terry Talkin' about 2013 and what it means for the 2016 Tribe -- Terry Pluto Terry Pluto CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It was only two years ago that the Indians finished the season with a 92-70 record, making the 2013 playoffs. They were eliminated by Tampa Bay in a one-game wild card playoff. I began to think about that team, and what has happened in the last two years. Here was the lineup for most games: Catcher: Yan Gomes. First base: Nick Swisher. Second base: Jason Kipnis. Shortstop: Asdrubal Cabrera. Third base: Lonnie Chisenhall. Left field: Michael Brantley. Center field: Michael Bourn. Right field: . DH: Carlos Santana. Key reserves: , Mike Aviles and Jason Giambi. played 99 games before he was released. Look at that list. Consider all that has happened in the last two years. The only players still with the team are Kipnis, Brantley, Santana, Gomes and Chisenhall. Only five players remain. Now, let's look at the 2013 pitching staff. Here was the starting rotation: , 14-10, 3.45 ERA. Ubaldo Jimenez, 13-9, 3.30 ERA. Scott Kazmir, 10-9, 4.04 ERA. Corey Kluber, 11-5, 3.85 ERA. Zach McAllister, 9-9, 3.75 ERA. Kluber is the only one projected to be the 2016 starting rotation. The top three members of the rotation are gone: Masterson, Kazmir and Jimenez. It is true that Danny Salazar came up at the end of the year and made some starts, but he was not in the main rotation. Here are the seven relievers who pitched the most in 2013: Cody Allen, 77 games. Joe Smith, 70 games. Bryan Shaw, 70 games. Rich Hill, 63 games. , 56 games. Chris Perez, 54 games. Vinnie Pestano, 37 games. Who is still with the Tribe? Allen and Shaw. BIG TURNOVER Of the 25 names that I listed, only nine are still with the team. Think about that. And of those nine, a few are in different roles: Chisenhall no longer plays third. He will try to make it as a right fielder. Santana caught 84 games that season. Gomes took over as the catcher in the final three months. Santana no longer catches. He is either a DH or a first baseman. McAllister is a reliever, not a member of the rotation. So what does all this mean? In some ways, the Tribe made several short-term moves that paid off that season. Swisher and Bourn were reasonably productive and reasonably healthy. Jimenez and Kazmir revived their careers. Giambi had some huge hits. New manager Terry Francona inspired the team to overachieve. I'm not going to detail all that happened after that. Tribe fans have a pretty good idea. Right now, no one would want Swisher and Bourn, although they are still with the Braves. Masterson was cut in the middle of last season and is looking for a new team. In two years with Baltimore, Jimenez has an 18-19 record with a 4.39 ERA. He's heading into Year 3 of a four-year, $50 million deal. Kazmir is 22-20 with a 3.35 ERA in the last two seasons. He signed with Oakland in 2014, and then was traded in the middle of last season. He was only 2-6 with a 4.17 ERA with the Astros. After 2013, Kazmir signed a two-year, $22 million deal with Oakland. The Indians didn't think he'd stay healthy. They also were thinking they'd try to sign Masterson long-term. Lucky for the Tribe, Masterson turned down their three-year, $45 million extension during spring training of 2014. He has had a 5.70 ERA in the last two seasons. Masterson will probably find a team to give him a shot in 2016 to rebuild his career. Kazmir is expected to sign a lucrative free agent contract this winter with someone. WHAT ABOUT 2016? Looking back to 2013 and what happened after that shows the challenge facing the Tribe. In the last three seasons, the Indians have had records of 92-70, 85-77 and 81-80. They have climbed out of that pit where they had lost at least 93 games in 3-of-4 seasons from 2009-12. But can they get back to the playoffs? The Tribe starting rotation of Kluber, Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer and Cody Anderson is playoff caliber. That's especially true when you consider they have Josh Tomlin (7-2, 3.02 ERA) ready to take one of those spots. Let's just say they have six-man rotation. Last season the Tribe had a 3.67 ERA, second best in the American League. They need more depth for the bullpen. But let's face it, a 3.67 ERA is good enough for the playoffs. The 2013 Tribe had a 3.82 ERA, seventh best in the American League. Unless your team fails to have an average offense. Consider that the 2013 team scored 749 runs, fifth best in the American League. The 2015 Tribe scored 669 runs, 11th best in the American League. Some fans are upset when I suggest the Tribe will have to trade a significant starter to add pop to the lineup. I wrote that as recently as last weekend. But looking back at 2013, one of the lessons is that the you need some veteran hitters who can produce some runs. Now, the Indians must find a way to do that. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 11.29.2015 Cleveland Indians, Columbus Clippers extend player development deal through 2018 Paul Hoynes, November 25, 2015 CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians and Class AAA Columbus Clippers announced a two-year extension Wednesday that will carry their player development contract through 2018. The teams have been partners since 2009 after the Indians moved their Triple-A club from Buffalo. This year the Clippers went 83-61, won the International League Governor's Cup championship and advanced to the Class AAA national championship. Columbus has won three Governor's Cup titles and two national titles during their partnership with the Indians. They have also drawn 4.4 million fans to Huntington Park. "This has been an ideal situation for us and one we look forward to continuing with the Columbus Clippers," said GM Chris Antonetti. "The resources their front office staff provides are always first class, in addition to a state-of-the-art facility and a passionate fan base." Huntington Park has been named "ballpark of the year' five time since it opened in 2009. "The Indians have been very good to us and I think we've been very good to them," said Ken Schnacke, president and general manager of the Clippers. "It's been a win-win situation." Schnacke is a native Clevelander. He grew up in the city and remembers playing catch as a boy with neighbor and former Browns wide receiver/running back Bobby Mitchell. "I think this affiliation has been great for both parties," said Schnacke. "It's really helped Cleveland take a foothold in the Columbus market, which has traditionally been pro-(Cincinnati) Reds. If you look at the latest demographics about fan bases, the Cleveland fans are pretty much in the northeastern quadrant of the state with a sliver running down I-71 that wraps its way around Columbus. I think that has a lot to do with our relationship." Cleveland and Columbus are separated by about a two-hour drive. It can make for quick promotions when the Indians need players. But Carter Hawkins, Indians director of player development, says there are a lot more benefits than proximity. "It's a comfortable place for our players to go," said Hawkins. "It's a comfortable place for our players to develop and it mimics the major league environment better than anywhere else that we could consider. "Typically, the first thing you'd talk about is how close we are to Columbus. But that's almost an afterthought because of how well it has worked for both sides." The Indians contracts with their other farm clubs -- Class AA Akron, Class A Lynchburg, Class A Lake County and Class A Mahoning Valley -- are all signed through 2016. Regarding further extensions, Carter said, "Those are all on-going discussions with the individual clubs." Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 11.26.2015 Nick Cafardo / SUNDAY BASEBALL NOTES / Will the Red Sox meet the asking Price for David? The Red Sox are prohibitive favorites, at least in the eyes of the media and a few baseball executives, to land free agent for two reasons: president of baseball operations ’s relationship with the lefthander, whom he acquired and then dealt over the last two trade deadlines, and Boston’s desperate need for an ace after two consecutive last-place finishes and three in the last four years. Dombrowski is keeping talks with free agents close to the vest, but his counterparts are convinced Dombrowski is acting aggressively. We’ll likely hear soon of the courting process, with Dombrowski and Red Sox owners John Henry, Tom Werner, and Mike Gordon visiting Price. When asked about a possible offer to Price, Dombrowski texted, “No, I would not disclose that.” The bidding should reach the seven-year, $210 million range and likely include the Blue Jays, Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, and Dodgers. But other teams on the periphery could become engaged, such as the Nationals, Angels, Rangers, and Astros. The Yankees traditionally would be in on something like this, but they seem to be out of the business of long-term deals for the time being. The notion that Price wouldn’t come to Boston because of a rift with David Ortiz is overblown, according to a Red Sox source. David Price will be expensive, but Dave Dombrowksi knows the Red Sox need a No. 1 pitcher. “That’s resolved with one phone call,” said the source. “They have tremendous respect for each other on the field.” Red Sox fans on haven’t always been kind to Price, but Price should see that as the passion fans have for their players. The question nobody but Price can answer is, would he want to pitch for the Red Sox when he could feel more comfortable with the Cubs or Cardinals? Price hails from Murfreesboro, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville. The Winter Meetings begin Dec. 6 in Nashville, so you can bet Price’s agent, Bo McKinnis, will parade his client around the massive Opryland Hotel. The Nationals, who have no plans to pursue their free agent pitchers, Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister, will have some payroll relief they could gear toward Price. Ownership could keep Price in Toronto if it wanted, a Blue Jays player source said. Price loves playing for the Jays, according to the player. But that may not be realistic. While ownership opened its wallet to obtain and Price at the trading deadline, there’s no guarantee it will do the same to retain Price, or try to re-up Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion when they hit free agency next offseason. This past season, the Jays provided the most excitement for their fans since 1993. While they didn’t get to the World Series, you could tell by the reaction of the fans that it was a special team. New team president Mark Shapiro could have different ideas on how to keep the Jays relevant and thriving, but if those plans don’t include Price, Bautista, and Encarnacion, it’s not going to fly in Toronto, just as the departure of Canadian-born general manager made fans very angry. The Cardinals are closer to Price’s home, and there’s a need there with needing Tommy John surgery, though Adam Wainwright will be back for a full season. The Cardinals aren’t usually ones to set the market, but in this case they may have to. They also have issues on offense and have been linked to free agent first baseman Chris Davis. We’ll see whom the Cardinals prioritize, because it doesn’t appear they’ll get both. A link to the Cubs is obvious. Price played for Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay. Chicago is not far from Price’s home, the Cubs are an up-and- coming team, and Price could help form a nice rotation with winner and Jon Lester. After a long stint with the Rays, Price has enjoyed higher-profile stops in Detroit and Toronto, where fans truly care about baseball. Most executives believe Price, 30, will get blown away by the Red Sox. In fact, an executive told Peter Gammons of MLB Network that the Red Sox could exceed the next-highest offer by “$30 million-$40 million.” Not sure Dombrowski would do that, but the possibility of the Red Sox beating the rest of the field could be real after they fell short in the Lester bidding last offseason. The signing of Price again would be a shift in philosophy by Red Sox ownership, which has been against long-term contracts for pitchers 30 and over. There are scouts who believe is a better gamble because of his delivery, mechanics, and smarts. After experiencing anxiety early in his career in Kansas City, Greinke pitched in a huge market in Los Angeles and was lights out. Another team to watch closely is the Giants. They were runners-up for Lester and last offseason, so they are expected to be aggressive in their pursuit of Price and Greinke. While San Francisco is a beautiful city, has an excellent pitchers’ ballpark, and the Giants have won three World Series in the last six years, they’re not for everyone. After spending a couple of months in the Bay Area pitching for Oakland, Lester ruled the Giants out first among his three finalists last offseason. Price owns a career record of 104-56 with a 3.09 ERA. He was 18-5 this past season, 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA with Toronto in 11 starts. But he has struggled in the postseason, going 2-7 with a 5.12 ERA. David Price statistics W L ERA GS CG IP WHIP 2015 totals 18 5 2.45 32 3 220.1 1.076 2015 w/Detroit 9 4 2.53 21 3 146 1.11 2015 w/Toronto 9 1 2.3 11 0 74.1 1.009 Career totals 104 56 3.09 213 14 1441.2 1.132 162 game averages 16 9 3.09 34 2 227 1.132 SOURCE: Baseball-Reference.com Roberts a good choice by Dodgers could have been just another guy who had a good playing career and then disappeared. But life had other plans. Roberts helped the Red Sox beat the Yankees with a stolen base for the ages in 2004 American League Championship Series. The Red Sox ultimately won the World Series, ending an 86-year drought. Boston was also the place where Roberts realized how fragile life can be. He put his faith in the hands of the Dana-Farber cancer doctors and nurses, and he came away with his life. It was his biggest steal. This past week, another dream came true for Roberts. He was named manager of the Dodgers. Roberts has never managed and he’s not crazy about analytics. He will use the new data, like every manager in this day and age. But a great thing about Roberts is that he will call on his life skills to do his best work. The data aren’t going to get Yasiel Puig to be a great player, but the bet here is that Roberts’s ability to engage him will be a huge factor. You have to believe that was one of the reasons team president chose Roberts, to help turn Puig into a superstar. When Friedman met with Roberts, he probably reacted the way we all do, thinking this guy is special. That he was a UCLA Bruin and played for the Dodgers certainly helped. He also was a coach with the Padres, so he has knowledge of the West. When it came time to hire a manager in San Diego, Roberts was out of the mix. GM A.J. Preller didn’t even consider Roberts, which was a tremendous disappointment to him. So, Roberts went out and got the Dodgers job, while the Padres hired relative unknown Andy Green. Bravo to Friedman for picking Roberts. He had whittled it down to Roberts and Gabe Kapler, another terrific talent. Kapler, the Dodgers’ farm director, is more analytical, his one year managing the Red Sox’ was a huge success, and he is definitely on the Sox’ radar as a future manager. There’s no doubt Kapler will be a big league manager or GM in the not-too-distant future. Kapler is also a former teammate of Roberts in Boston, and he had nice things to say about him in his concession speech. Apropos of nothing 1. Barry Bonds has drawn great reviews from the Giants for the way he teaches hitting, as well as from Alex Rodriguez, who worked with Bonds last winter. How long will it be before the controversial slugger is hired as a hitting coach, and not necessarily with the Giants? You wonder if a team like the Marlins (Frank Menechino is currently their hitting coach) haven’t at least thought about it. Before the paint, the end zones, and football... there had to be field goal posts! ???? #ShamrockSeries pic.twitter.com/WGjxFWfMbR — (@fenwaypark) November 16, 2015 2. We’ve complimented him before, but here we go again. The football field at Fenway for the Boston College-Notre Dame game was aesthetically spectacular. Well done, Dave Mellor. 3. Marlins ownership had no idea how popular TV color analyst Tommy Hutton was after 19 years in the Miami market when they let him go last week. And he was let go so late it’ll be difficult for him to hook on elsewhere. 4. Larry Lucchino would hit a home if he would refurbish McCoy Stadium. It is the minor league version of Fenway Park in the eyes of Pawtucket fans. Lucchino was smart enough to redo Fenway after a bid for a new ballpark in Boston failed. If he takes the same path, Lucchino’s tenure in Rhode Island will turn out fine. 5. One thing that has to change with negotiations this winter for a new collective bargaining agreement is the formula for calculating the luxury tax. Big-market teams are getting the short end of the stick, while mid to small markets reap the benefits. The other relevant topic, brought up by agent Scott Boras two weeks ago, is teams being rewarded for tanking it. Boras is right: a team obviously trying to lose should not be allowed two consecutive years of top 1-3 picks. 6. Some bigwigs in the New York business community wonder whether Hal Steinbrenner would entertain a sale of the Yankees. “There would be no shortage of potential buyers,” said one prominent New York multimillionaire. “If Donald Trump doesn’t become president, there’s one major player for the Yankees.” 7. Baseball should encourage Mark Cuban to become an owner. He’s a good NBA owner with a passion for his Dallas Mavericks, and he always does right financially by his team. He’s an owner who really wants to win. Updates on nine 1. Hanley Ramirez, 1B-DH, Red Sox — There’s now talk in the front office that Dave Dombrowski is trying to move Ramirez in a deal. The Mariners, Orioles, and Angels seem to be the targets, and all three make sense. There are huge hurdles to cross, however. One is money. With a little more than $68 million remaining on Ramirez’s deal, the Red Sox would need to eat at least half. The other hurdle is position. All three teams would have use for him as a DH. Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto, after evaluating the Sox organization, knows Ramirez’s weaknesses. of the Orioles signed Ramirez originally with the Red Sox and has always loved his bat. Duquette also faces the possibility of losing Chris Davis. The Angels could use another bat. There is also a question as to whether Ramirez could play third base. If he lost the 20 pounds the Sox want him to, maybe. 2. Chris Davis, 1B-OF, free agent — Whether real offers have been made is unclear, but we do know the Orioles are engaged and have an idea of what it would take to re-sign their slugger. There are a few teams interested and there should be some face-to-face meetings soon. The Red Sox have at least discussed Davis internally, though any advancement would be tied into being able to deal Ramirez and the amount of resources expended on the ace pitcher. With David Ortiz one year away from retirement, Dombrowski must soon consider a slugger to fill that void, or wait for Jose Bautista’s free agency. 3. , RHP, Nationals — One of the most sought-after pitchers of the offseason has been the 22-year-old Ross. For the moment, GM is resisting all offers. The Nationals stand to lose Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister in free agency, and would fit Ross into the rotation. But they have other needs and Ross would bring a huge return. 4. Jordan Zimmermann, RHP, free agent — The righthander is drawing healthy interest from the Dodgers, who could pick off one or two free agent pitchers. The Dodgers may lose Zack Greinke, so Zimmermann would be a decent replacement as a No. 2. But there could be another free agent on their minds, as well as a mid-to-end rotation guy. 5. Juan Nieves, pitching coach — Nieves, formerly with the Red Sox, is strongly being considered by the Marlins. Nieves was replaced in Boston by Carl Willis after the Sox staff got off to a rocky start. Nieves oversaw Boston’s 2013 championship staff but quickly fell out of favor with team brass in 2015. 6. , 3B-2B, Athletics — With back in Oakland, the A’s could entertain offers for Lawrie, the principal player in the deal with Toronto last winter. Lawrie is only 25 and managed to stay healthy and play in a career-high 149 games in 2015. He also played 42 games at second base. He hit .260 overall with 16 homers, 60 RBIs, and a .702 OPS. 7. Ben Zobrist, INF-OF, free agent — There’s so much interest in the 34-year-old that it appears he may get a four-year deal. Zobrist was earmarked for a three-year deal tops given his age, but the competition for him will likely put him into four-year territory. 8. Neil Walker, 2B, Pirates — All of baseball knows Walker, 30, is available in trade as he approaches his final year of arbitration and is to the point in his career where his salary may trump his production. Walker made $8 million in 2015 and stands to increase that by a healthy margin. He has some power, which should appeal to a few teams. It doesn’t appear the Pirates will have trouble dealing him. 9. , president of baseball operations, Cubs — Venture to guess what Epstein’s next contract will bring as he enters the final year of a five-year, $18.5 million deal? With Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman reportedly making more than $7 million per season, Epstein may equal or top that after a successful overhaul of the team. Extra innings From the Bill Chuck files — “ joined Hiroki Kuroda, , Kevin Brown, and (twice) as the only pitchers 36 and over since 1993 to pitch at least 200 innings and allow fewer than 70 earned runs. Lackey threw 218 innings and gave up 67 earned runs.” . . . Happy birthday, Steve Rodriguez (45), Joe Price (59), Mike Easler (65), Dick McAuliffe (76), and George Thomas (78). Back for seconds , the 2014 AL MVP, was second in the voting this season, the third time in four major league seasons the Angels outfielder was runner-up. He’s the third player to take runner-up honors three times since baseball started awarding winners in each league in 1930, leaving the 24-year-old just one behind the only three four-time runners-up — Ted Williams, Stan Musial, and . Pretty good company. Boston Globe LOADED: 11.29.2015