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Lindor eager to represent PR in WBC '17 Much has changed for the 23-year-old since he took in the debut Classic in 2006 By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | February 1st, 2017 -- Francisco Lindor walked through the gates of Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, looked down at the field and saw some of his country's heroes. Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez was there, as were slugger and Bernie Williams. They had traded their Major League uniforms for ones with "Puerto Rico" stitched across the chest. A 12-year-old Lindor and one of his cousins took in a handful of games during the tournament's 2006 debut. Lindor had big league dreams back then, of course, but couldn't yet ponder what it would be like to suit up for his country. More than a decade later, Lindor will get that chance as a member of Puerto Rico's 2017 World Baseball Classic roster. "I went to a couple games," Lindor said. "It was in Puerto Rico, so it was fun just having it there and seeing Delgado and Bernie Williams and all those guys representing my country, and seeing how the whole entire country would stop just to watch that one game. It's pretty special. I'm looking forward to it. I always dreamed of representing my country." In only a short time in the Majors, Lindor has blossomed into one of the game's young superstars. The Indians is coming off a campaign in which he was named an All-Star and earned both Gold Glove and Platinum Glove Awards for his defensive wizardry. One year earlier, Lindor was the runner-up in balloting for the Rookie of the Year Award, which went to Astros shortstop . Correa also grew up in Puerto Rico and plans on playing for his country in the Classic. That will present Puerto Rico Edwin Rodriguez with a tough decision: Will he play Lindor or Correa at shortstop? Asked if he wants to man that position for his country, Lindor flashed his famous smile. "I'll leave that to Edwin," Lindor said with a wink. Lindor left Puerto Rico with his father, Miguel, when he was 12 years old in order to have a better opportunity to advance his baseball career. They settled in Florida, where Lindor attended Montverde Academy, played baseball and worked hard to further his education and learn English. In 2011, the Indians selected Lindor with the eighth overall pick in round of the MLB Draft, giving Cleveland a future cornerstone. Since reaching the Majors, Lindor has not only excelled on the field, but he has made an effort to give back in the community as well. Last season, the shortstop created a charitable program, Lindor Smile Squad, through the Indians to provide baseball experiences for kids and adults with disabilities. Lindor has also partnered with MLB to help speak to children in Cleveland and around the country through the R.B.I. (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program. "He's just a fantastic young man," Commissioner Rob Manfred said. "I had a chance to chat with him a little bit at the Winter Meetings. I think he's going to be a tremendous asset for the Indians and the industry for a really long time." For the upcoming World Baseball Classic, Lindor and Puerto Rico will be part of Pool 2, which also features Mexico, Venezuela and Italy. That group of teams will begin play at Estadio de Béisbol Charros de Jalisco, which is located in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. "They have great crowds over there," Lindor said. "I'm ready for it." In fact, Lindor has waited for this moment since he was a kid in the stands at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. "It's an honor. It's a blessing," Lindor said. "I'm excited. I'm very excited. I can't wait. I can't wait to wear my Puerto Rican jersey. I'm proud of my country. I want to represent it everywhere I go. That's the reason I play: For Puerto Rico, for Cleveland and for my family. I'm very excited." Jordan Bastian has covered the Indians for MLB.com since 2011, and previously covered the Blue Jays from 2006-10. Read his blog,

In offseason, Aggies' gym is 'Club Naquin' COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- One of the most accomplished athletes to emerge from Texas A&M University's baseball program, isn't quite just one of the guys when he works out in the weight room with current Aggie players. Sure, he blends in well with a dozen or so athletes who congregate for early-morning workouts at the state-of-the-art training facility in College Station. He often sneaks in, and no one realizes he's there. Until he takes over the music selection. "Then they'll look down and they know I'm in there," Naquin chuckled. Beyond his third-place finish in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2016 and his role in helping the Indians win their first pennant in more than a half-century, Naquin is known for his taste in tunes. And when the blaring sound system in the weight room switches to an array of techno music or Kid Rock, that's the signal to the others that it's time for, as Aggie players call it, "Club Naquin." "I try to get everybody going," Naquin said. Dressed in workout garb adorned with Indians logos -- a black bandana bearing the "C," a black Indians dry-fit T-shirt and matching shorts -- Naquin feels entirely at home at the facility where he spent most of his time as a student-athlete. Nearly five years have passed since he was selected by the Indians in the first round of the 2012 Draft, but when it comes to staying in shape and preparing for the upcoming season, this is the only place he wants to be. "It's awesome," said Naquin, who grew up in Spring, Texas. "I live 25 minutes from here -- enough to get away from everything but close enough to come to town and do my work. It's good being around the guys." Naquin's workouts start at around 9 a.m. with some stretching, agility and warmup exercises on a practice area adjacent to Olsen Field. He moves inside to the weight room for a variety of concentrated drills, including using free weights and barbells. The workout ends with swings off the tee in the sprawling batting cages near the weight room. Naquin rarely strays from his daily routine, though he is careful not to overdo it, simultaneously pushing and pacing himself as he prepares for his sophomore season with the Indians. "Mentally, it's 365 days a year," he said. "I don't think there's a day off just because of the mental side of it. But you have to take some time for your body." That generally means lifting weights three or four times a week, with agility drills mixed in twice a week. He's recently added mobility exercises for his hips and shoulders. "There's always room to improve no matter where you're at," he said. "There's always something to work on in this game." In that respect, it's presumably good for current Aggies to have Naquin around on a regular basis during the offseason. Mostly, he is just one of the guys -- except he's the only one in there whose photo, a gigantic poster-size action shot, hangs high atop the weight room. His is one of six photos of current Major Leaguers and Aggie alums to adorn the facility, along with the Tigers Alex Wilson, Cardinals pitcher , Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling, Angels infielder Cliff Pennington and Athletics pitcher Daniel Mengden. Naquin's jersey, along with those of other accomplished alums, hangs on a wall outside the weight room. A little farther down the hall, his likeness is everywhere on a mural that celebrates the best moments and players in Aggie baseball history. Still, he can get around largely unnoticed until he manipulates that ear-splitting sound system. "I'm Texas though and though," he laughed, ticking off a list of several legendary country music singers he considers his favorites. "But when I get in the weight room, I love to blare some techno music. That and Kid Rock. They seem to like it." Alyson Footer is a national

Indians reportedly agree to Minors deal with Wily Mo Pena hasn't played in Majors since 2011, spent 4 years in Japan By Matt Kelly / MLB.com | January 31st, 2017 The Indians have signed outfielder Wily Mo Pena to a Minor League deal, according to MLB Network insider . The agreement guarantees a $700,000 salary if he makes the Major League club. The Indians have not confirmed the deal. Pena, who turned 35 last week, has not played a Major League game since he was a member of the D-backs and Mariners in 2011. However, he has remained somewhat relevant in the world of baseball, thanks to several excellent seasons -- and some tape-measure home runs -- in Japan's Nippon Organization. From 2012-15, Pena collected 71 homers and 222 RBIs with the Fukoka Softbank Hawks, Orix Buffaloes and Tohuku Rakuten Golden Eagles. He then took the 2016 NPB season off, before playing most recently in the winter league in his native Dominican Republic. Pena is a career .250/.303/.445 hitter over eight Major League seasons, with 84 home runs and 240 RBIs. He slugged a career-high 26 homers for the Reds in 2004, before he was traded to the Red Sox two years later in exchange for pitcher Bronson Arroyo, who is rumored to sign soon with Cincinnati. Matt Kelly is a reporter for MLB.com based in . Follow him on Twitter at @mattkellyMLB. This story was not subject to the approval

Statcast shows Kipnis' evolution at plate By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | January 31st, 2017 CLEVELAND -- Jason Kipnis stepped into the batting cage in last spring with a very specific goal. The Indians' second baseman felt he had more home runs in him than he in the previous season, and he wanted to team with Cleveland's hitting coaches to unlock that power. It is one thing to have a goal. It is another to actually achieve it on the Major League stage. Last year, Kipnis belted a career-high 23 home runs and posted the best (.469) of his career. That was the product of tireless work in , an improved mental approach and adjustments made throughout the season. Kipnis has always displayed opposite-field power, but last year he consistently pulled the ball with authority. "It was a conscious effort," Indians assistant hitting said. "His commitment right from the start of Spring Training to the mental part of it, and the physical daily approach to drill work, the consistency, he took it to a new level last year." There are multiple layers to how Kipnis realized his goal, but the foundation was simple: Improve the hitting mechanics on inside pitches and have a more efficient eye across the zone. For the first part, Indians hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo worked with Kipnis on getting the barrel of the bat out in front quickly. For the next step, Kipnis studied opposing and , making daily adjustments based on past approaches against him. Kipnis had gained a reputation around the game as one of the best at back-spinning pitches down the left-field line or into the left-center gap for extra-base hits. If a hitter gets caught up in that style, though, he can begin manipulating the bat to send the ball the opposite way. That can reduce effectiveness on inside pitches, and it had been a problem at times for Cleveland's second baseman. "He knew that was his strength," Van Burkleo said of Kipnis' opposite-field power. "But from Spring Training on, we'd always do some work inside to where he'd feel how to get to that pitch the right way. I think that helped him. As a pitcher, you're going to try to at least show him stuff inside, because he's so efficient on the pitch out over the plate. So, there's going to be opportunities in there. "If he's ready for it, or anticipating that they may be trying to pound him in, then he can set his sights on that pitch and work on cutting it off. When he does it correctly, it is going to be for power." According to Statcast™, Kipnis posted a .525 slugging percentage on all pitches and a .704 slugging on fastballs (four-seamers, two-seamers and cutters) over the outer-third of the strike zone in 2015. Last year, those numbers dropped to .439 and .591, respectively. Kipnis maintained a level of effectiveness over that portion of the strike zone, while dramatically improving his production on inside pitches. During the 2016 season, Kipnis turned in a .743 slugging percentage on all pitches over the inner-third of the strike zone -- up from .593 in '15 and .439 in '14. On the 2016 season as a whole, the second baseman had 10 of his 23 homers come off inside fastballs, and 13 of his homers against inside pitches of any type. His work against inside heaters, specifically, improved greatly. Kipnis had a .687 slugging percentage on fastballs over the inner-third -- up from .527 in '15. Here is Kipnis' in-play percentage on fastballs over the inner-third of the plate over the past three years: 2014: 26.6 percent 2015: 19.0 percent 2016: 20.8 percent Here is Kipnis' slugging percentage against those fastballs put in play: 2014: .469 2015: .604 2016: .793 Comparing 2014 to '16, Kipnis had nearly the same percentage of hits (35.4 percent in '14 and 35.6 percent in '16) on the inside fastballs he put in play. The difference in slugging percentage (an increase of .324) is striking, though. Over that three-season period, the second baseman became far more efficient on which inside heaters he attacked, and that is partially due to how he approached the rest of the strike zone. "He probably took more pitches out over the plate that were called strikes that in the past he probably would've hit," Quatraro said. "That way, he could in turn concentrate on a smaller area that more times than not was middle-in. The league knew in previous years he looked to the outer part of the plate and drove the ball to left-center. So, maybe it was a conscious effort to pitch him in more, and he made an adjustment to the league." The statistics support that assertion by Quatraro. According to Statcast™, Kipnis took called strikes over the middle-third of the zone on 4.9 percent of all pitches he saw in 2016. That was up from 4.2 percent in the previous season. Looking specifically at fastballs, Kipnis took called strikes over the middle-third on 3 percent of all the pitches he faced. That was up from 2.1 percent in '15. " talked about it all the time," Quatraro said. "He said he would take three or four pitches that seemed hittable, because he knew at some point in that at-bat, the pitcher was going to throw him whatever he was looking for. The ability to have that approach and stay with it, and not vary it so you're just kind of chasing your tail from pitch to pitch, that would be a level of maturity that you continue to grow with." Kipnis did experience some trade-offs for improving his power. Overall, Kipnis' home total jumped by 14 and his at-bats per homer dropped to 26.5 in 2016 compared to 62.8 in '15. While the second baseman's walk rate stayed virtually the same (8.7 percent in '16 and 8.9 percent in '15), his rate went up (21.2 percent in '16 from 16.7 in '15). Both his batting average and on-base percentage took a hit, too. In the process, Kipnis' OPS dipped to .811 in '16 from .823 in '15. In terms of achieving his preseason goal, though, Kipnis succeeded. He wanted to hit for more power, and he did precisely that last season. Quatraro is expecting more of the same in the season ahead. "If he could do what he did last year, I think he would take that in a heartbeat," Quatraro said. "Not speaking for him, but if you could start the year and pencil in his production from last year, I wouldn't change it. Especially if you add [Michael] Brantley back to the lineup and you get Edwin [Encarnacion] and a healthy [Yan Gomes], that production in that kind of lineup, I think everybody would take it." Jordan Bastian has covered the Indians for MLB.com since 2011, and previously covered the Blue Jays from 2006-10. Read his blog,

Francona makes donation to Arizona baseball New indoor hitting facility will bear Indians skipper's name Indians manager committed $1 million on Tuesday to the baseball program at the , his alma mater, according to an official statement from the university. Francona's donation will be given specifically to the Wildcats' baseball capital projects fund, which will include a new indoor hitting facility named in his honor. "Since I moved back to Tucson four years ago, it has been a priority of mine to give back to the University of Arizona," Francona said. "The reason I am doing this is because of the impact the university has had on my life. "The people at the University of Arizona gave me an opportunity to go to the professional level, and not just survive, but be prepared. That's a big reason why I want to give back." Francona's donation will join a separate $1 million gift by an anonymous donor in June 2016 for capital improvements to , the Wildcats' home park. Construction on the Terry Francona Hitting Facility will begin this summer with the goal of being completed by the fall. "We couldn't be happier that Terry decided to support our baseball program and assist in its continued return to prominence," interim athletic director Erika Barnes said. "He is one of Arizona baseball's all-time greats, and it's a wonderful thing to see a former student-athlete, especially one as highly regarded as Terry, invest in the success of our department." Francona led Arizona to the NCAA Tournament in each of his three seasons in Tucson. In his junior season in 1980, his final year on the team, Francona batted .401 with nine home runs, 26 doubles and 84 RBIs to earn the Golden Spikes Award -- given to the best college player in the country. He was also named MVP of that year's College as he led Arizona to the national crown, and subsequently had his No. 32 retired and displayed at Hi Corbett Field. This is Francona's second major foray into charitable donations in the past four months. In October, it was announced that Francona and his fellow coaches, executives and players on the Indians had donated $1 million to create the Fund, a new effort that seeks to curb youth violence in the city of Cleveland. Matt Kelly is a reporter for MLB.com based in New York. Follow him on Twitter at @mattkellyMLB. This story was not subject to the approval

Indians re-sign Moore to Minor League deal By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | January 31st, 2017 The Indians on Tuesday re-signed Adam Moore to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. Moore, 32, begins his third stint in the Indians organization after spending the past two seasons at -A Columbus. He hit .247 with 14 doubles, seven home runs and 31 RBIs in 86 games in 2016 for the Clippers. Moore also appeared in nine games for Cleveland last September, and he's posted a .197/.237/.303 slash line in 96 career big league games. The Indians have invited 17 non-roster players to Spring Training. Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League

Tribe deals for 27-year-old right-hander Frias By Jason Beck / MLB.com | @beckjason | January 30th, 2017 The Indians swung a late offseason trade on Monday to bolster their pitching depth, acquiring right-hander Carlos Frias from the Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations. Los Angeles had designated the 27-year-old Frias for assignment last week to make room for outfielder Brett Eibner on its 40-man roster. Frias would have needed to clear waivers for the Dodgers to keep him. Instead, Cleveland adds another option to its ranks, a pitcher who made 13 starts for Los Angeles in 2015 before injuries limited him last year. The Tribe opened a roster spot by designating corner infielder Richie Shaffer for assignment. Frias posted a 5-5 record and 4.06 ERA over 77 2/3 with the Dodgers in 2015, spending May and June in the rotation before going on the disabled list with lower back tightness. He returned for three appearances in late September, but he missed the start of the '16 season in the Minor Leagues with a right oblique impingement. Frias made 10 appearances between -A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City before the Dodgers called him up for a couple of brief midsummer stints. He made one appearance in Los Angeles, tossing four scoreless innings of relief against the Padres on July 7 before oblique issues shut him down. Frias owns a 6-6 record and 4.50 ERA over 33 games in his big league career. He has been more effective in relief, allowing 27 hits and a .201 batting average over 36 innings, covering 18 relief appearances.

Mejia makes big jump on Top 100 Prospects list By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | January 28th, 2017 CLEVELAND -- The Indians signed catcher Francisco Mejia five years ago mainly on the strength of the rocket arm that he put on display. These days, Cleveland is daydreaming about the type of all-around threat that the prospect appears to be developing into for the organization. On Saturday, Mejia's breakout 2016 season was rewarded in the form of an incredible jump up MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list. Outfielder (No. 22), right-hander Triston McKenzie (No. 57) and Bobby Bradley (No. 95) also made the list, but it is Mejia's ranking (No. 40) that really stands out. That is 44 spots higher than where Mejia stood in the midseason Top 100 list last summer. "I felt really good about this season," Mejia said through a translator at the Indians' fall development program in September. "Thanks to God, everything went really well." Talk about an understatement. The annual ranking of MLB's Top 100 prospects is assembled by MLBPipeline.com Draft and prospect experts Jonathan Mayo, Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum, who compile input from industry sources, including scouts and scouting directors. It is based on analysis of players' skill sets, upsides, proximity to the Majors and potential immediate impact to their teams. Only players with rookie status entering the 2017 season are eligible for the list. Players who were at least 23 years old when they signed and played in leagues deemed to be professional (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cuba) are not eligible. It is no surprise to see Zimmer among the game's Top 25 prospects, as he ranked 25th on the midseason list. The outfielder will be in camp with the Indians as a non-roster invitee this spring and has a realistic shot at reaching the Majors this year. McKenzie and Bradley were ranked 95th and 67th, respectively, on the midseason list. Mejia also made the cut back then, coming in at No. 84. View image on Twitter Among players who were included in the midseason Top 100 rankings, Mejia's 44-spot jump on the updated list represents the second-largest leap. Only Braves shortstop prospect Kevin Maitan (plus-57) saw his ranking improve by more than Mejia. Carson Kelly of the Cardinals is the lone catching prospect ahead of Mejia, though he is only one spot in front at No. 39. Mejia's showing in 2016 was impressive on a number of fronts. First and foremost, Mejia enjoyed a 50-game from May 27 to Aug. 13 between stops with Lake County and Class A Advanced Lynchburg. Across those 78 days, the switch-hitting catcher dealt with a handful of minor health issues, had breaks to play in the All-Star Game and All-Star Futures Game (he had one hit in each), and overcame serious trade rumors. Prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline, Mejia, 21, was the centerpiece of a four-player package that was going to be shipped to the Brewers in order for the Indians to acquire All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy. That fell apart when Lucroy used his no-trade rights to block the deal. "There's just so many things that he fought through," said Indians assistant general manager Carter Hawkins, who was the director of player development last season. "He repeated a level. That's a very tough mental blow for guys as well. Put all those things together, the consistency that he showed despite that was a really, really big step for him mentally. We feel like it really helped a foundation that he's going to be able to jump off from for years to come." Mejia, who signed for $350,000 out of the Dominican Republic on July 2, 2012, hit a combined .342 with 11 home runs, 29 doubles, four triples, 63 runs, 80 RBIs and an .896 OPS in 102 games last season. He showed an aggressiveness in the strike zone, recording 63 compared to 28 walks. Defensively, Mejia threw out 43 percent (30-of-69) of would-be basestealers. Mejia's 50-game streak tied for the fourth longest in Minor League history, trailing the 69-game run by Joe Wilhoit in 1919, the 61-game stretch by Joe DiMaggio in '33 and a 55-game streak by Roman Mejias in '54. Mejia's streak matched the 50-game stretch by Otto Pahlman in 1922. Zimmer, Cleveland's first-round pick (21st overall) in the 2014 Draft, turned in a .250/.365/.425 slash line with 15 homers, 38 steals, 46 extra- base hits, 62 RBIs and 76 runs in 130 games between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus last year. The center fielder struck out 171 times and drew 77 walks. On MLBPipeline.com's Top 10 outfield prospects list, Zimmer came in at No. 7. McKenzie, 19 and a first-round pick by the Indians in 2015, compiled a 1.62 ERA with 104 strikeouts against 22 walks in 83 1/3 innings between Class A Short-Season Mahoning Valley and Lynchburg in '16. Bradley, 20, knocked 29 homers, 102 RBIs and a .231 Isolated Power in 131 games for Lynchburg last year. McKenzie did not make the cut on MLBPipeline.com's Top 10 right-handed prospects list, but Bradley ranked fourth in the Top 10 first basemen rankings. Jordan Bastian has co

Indians acquire RHP Carlos Frias from for cash considerations By RYAN LEWIS Published: January 30, 2017 The Indians added some pitching depth to the 40-man roster on Monday, acquiring right-handed pitcher Carlos Frias from the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Indians designated infielder Richie Shaffer for assignment. Frias, 27, has a career 4.50 ERA at the major-league level in 33 appearances—including 15 starts—across three seasons. He missed a significant amount of time in 2016 while dealing with a right oblique impingement that warranted two trips to the disabled list. Shaffer was recently claimed off waivers from the . At that time, Jesus Aguilar was designated for assignment. Now, Frias has replaced Shaffer on the 40-man roster. Pitching depth is often a concern of many teams entering any season. The Indians, certainly, would like to protect themselves from another doomsday scenario, such as two key starters both hitting the disabled list in September. Frias has an option remaining, which gives the club some flexibility. Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 01.31.2017 1047685 Will Edwin Encarnacion add to Cleveland Indians' clubhouse chemistry? Hey, Hoynsie By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, -- 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: With the big free agent contract Edwin Encarnacion received from the Indians, is he a good clubhouse guy and do you think he'll add to the clubhouse chemistry? - William Grossman, Cleveland. Hey, William: Former Indians' third baseman Brook Jacoby, Encarnacion's hitting coach in Cincinnati and Toronto, gives him high marks. That's good enough for me. Hey, Hoynsie: Would there be any way to get Michael Brantley, Edwin Encarnacion and Carlos Santana in the same lineup if Brantley was to start at DH? - David Medea, South Euclid. Hey, David: I'm not sure manager Terry Francona would do it, but he could play Brantley at DH, Encarnacion at first base and Santana in left field or third base. I think there would have to be extenuating circumstances - an injury to third baseman Jose Ramirez? - for that to happen. Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think the Indians traded for the All-Star Game? Or will be still be around in 2019? - Jim Bratton, Kirtland. Hey, Jim: No. I'm not sure if I'll be around in 2019, but I'm willing to bet The Chief will be here. Then again, I'm the guy who said the Indians wouldn't get past the first round of the postseason last year. Hey, Hoynsie: If the Indians don't eliminate Chief Wahoo by the end of the 2018 season, do you expect to see MLB pull the 2019 All-Star Game out of Cleveland? - Scott Mowery, Medina. Hey, Scott: No. Chief Wahoo or no Chief Wahoo, the 2019 All-Star Game will be played at . @hoynsie I know we just signed A Jackson was there any thought to bring back Coco? And what are the chance P Garner makes the club? Dan, Dennison -- Dan Gartrell (@dwg29) January 30, 2017 Hey, Dan: I loved what Coco Crisp gave the Indians down the stretch and in the postseason, but I think his days as a center fielder are over. That's probably why the Indians didn't bring him back. This will be a big spring for Perci Garner, but if he doesn't make the club out of spring training, I think there's a good chance he'll help them sometime during the year. He has three options left. @hoynsie what are the chances the Indians bring on a lefty like Boone Logan. Matt from rocky river -- matt hauck (@m_hauck_CLE) January 30, 2017 Hey, Matt: I think there's a good chance they will add a lefty reliever sometime before the start of the regular season. They had interest in Logan last offseason. @hoynsie Unlike your colleague (Pluto), did you initially vote for for the Hall of Fame? Kurt Ramage, North Ridgeville -- Kurt Ramage (@kurtramage) January 30, 2017 Hey, Kurt: I did vote for Lofton. I thought he was a Hall of Famer then and I still do. Every year over 400 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America vote on the Hall of Fame. Every voter has a different opinion and they have to vote the way they feel. Lofton appeared on the 2013 Hall of Fame ballot and received just 18 votes. It was not enough to give him the required five percent of the vote to keep him on the ballot. In the same year Lofton appeared on the ballot, Barry Bonds and made their debuts. In talking to Lofton, he believes he lost votes to players connected to steroid use (Bonds, Clemens and others). Lofton said he never used steroids. @hoynsie Now that Gomes gave his #10 jersey to Encarnacion, what are the odds his jinx gets transferred to Edwin as well? Matt, NY -- Nerd Nite (@nerdnite) January 30, 2017 Hey, Nerd: You must not have received the memo. This is a new era of Indians' baseball. No more negative vibes. Besides, Encarnacion did just fine with No.10 in Toronto. @hoynsie Hey Hoynsie what was colder, Lake Erie last October or w the thermostat? -- Andre Knott (@DreKnott) January 30, 2017 Hey, Andre: Compared to Mr. Freeeze, Lake Erie was a hot bath at the end of a long day. @hoynsie Going to spring training for the first time, any insider tips on making the most of our time in Goodyear? Carolyn N. Olmsted -- carolyn (@edsgirl242) January 30, 2017 Hey, Carolyn: Bring a hat, sunblock, sunglasses and a light coat. Best place for autographs during the morning workouts is on the back fields or along the fence between the clubhouse and main field. Once the games start, station yourself at the grandstand fence along the right field line before and after games. Check out the airplane graveyard behind the Indians' practice facility and say hello to the burrowing owl on Bullard Avenue leading into camp. Use my name. He knows me. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 01.31.2017 Cleveland Indians acquire RHP Carlos Frias from Los Angeles Dodgers for cash By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians have added another pitcher to their 2017 inventory by acquiring right-hander Carlos Frias from the Dodgers for cash. To make room for Frias, recently-acquired Richie Shaffer was designate for assignment. The Dodgers signed Frias as a free agent in the Dominican Republic in 2007. He has spent parts of the last three years in the big leagues, going 6-6 with a 4.50 ERA in 33 appearances, including 15 starts. Frias, 27, was on the disabled list twice last year with a right oblique probems. He made just one appearance in the big leagues last year, pitching four scoreless innings against San Diego on July 7. In 2015 Frias had his best season with the Dodgers, going 5-5 with a 4.06 ERA in 17 appearances, including 13 starts. He struck out 43 and walked 26, while the opposition hit .297 against him. Frias was designated for assignment on Wednesday so the Dodgers could add outfielder Brett Eibner to the 40-man roster. The Indians claimed Shaffer, an infielder, on waivers last week. They DFA'd Jesus Aguilar to make room for him on the roster. Pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 12 or spring training. The Indians are currenty carrying 25 pitchers on the 40-man roster. The 25 pitchers are: Austin Adams, Cody Allen, Cody Anderson, Shawn Armstrong, Dylan Baker, , Carlos Carrasco, Mike Clevinger, Joe Colon, Tim Cooney, Kyle Crockett, Perci Garner, Nick Goody, Frias, Corey Kluber, Zach McAllister, Ryan Merritt, Andrew Miller, Hoby Milner, Shawn Morimando, Dan Otero, Adam Plutko, Danny Salazar, Bryan Shaw, Josh Tomlin. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 01.31.2017 The aftermath of Game 7: Some Cleveland Indians did nothing but sleep, others couldn't sleep at all By Zack Meisel, January 30, 2017 CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians' postseason run was exhausting. There was the injury-ravaged roster and the prognosticators' gloomy forecasts and the necessitation for the starting pitchers to take the hill on short rest and more at-bats and games and innings in the field for the position players than ever before and the introduction to the October spotlight and the travel and chaotic schedule and the extra surge of adrenaline and nerves and when it was all said and done and the Cubs celebrated in the rain on the infield at Progressive Field after Game 7, the Indians ... were ... wiped. Well, except for Trevor Bauer. He packed his bags the next day and embarked on his offseason training journey. But everyone else was drained. Francisco Lindor couldn't stop nodding off, even when at the mall. His couch quickly became his sanctuary. "After that adrenaline wears off, you're pretty beat," said Corey Kluber. Cody Allen needed a few weeks to decompress. He took a 10-day vacation to clear his head. In the aftermath of a month of postseason drama, the mental fatigue can prove more debilitating than the physical toll. "I stayed up and thought about things I could have done differently, things we could have done differently," said Tomlin, who started a pair of World Series games. "You go through all of the scenarios in your head. They keep creeping back in, so you deal with them and move forward." Francisco Lindor loves his team and believes that they can get back to the World Series For Tomlin, the blend of weariness and heartbreak fueled some sleepless nights. "You go through the 'this-pain-will-never-go-away phase,'" Tomlin said. "It eventually does. You never really forget about it, but hopefully it feeds you and gives you that much more motivation and ambition to go out there and try to get the job done this year." Allen started to reflect on the postseason once he initiated his offseason training regimen. "You just have to push it out," he said. "You flush everything that happened and you start focusing on next year." Reliever Dan Otero didn't feel refreshed until he attended an out-of-town wedding with his wife about 10 days after the Tribe's season ended. A Disney cruise with his wife and two young children helped the cause in December. "When you get into the playoffs and you go that deep, it's a mental grind every day," Otero said. "To be so close and play such a great series against a great team, you were exhausted. I had to take some time just to wind down." Many players on the Indians' roster had never appeared in anything beyond a Wild Card Game, so the extra month's worth of postseason affairs proved quite demanding. "You really get a newfound respect for the dynastic teams of the past," Otero said. "It takes a toll." Adrenaline can assist in the moment, but once it disappears, so does a player's energy level. "You don't think about it [as it's happening]," Otero said, "and then after, it's like, 'Whoa. I was tired.'" The common practice, then, is to lounge around the house and watch TV as the body recovers. But the players had to tiptoe around turning on MLB Network. "They replay Game 7 of the World Series and I'll turn it off as soon as I can," Tomlin said. "It's not because I don't want to re-live the moment, but I know the outcome. I don't need to watch that. We played the best we could for as long as we could. We just came up one run short. It happens. "To me, it's not healthy. It's not beneficial for any of us to look back and dwell on that. We know what we have to do this year." Cleveland Indians outfielder on his game-tying homer in Game 7 of the World Series Otero once stumbled upon a highlight of Rajai Davis' monumental two-run homer in the eighth of Game 7. That's the extent of his World Series reviewing. Since the Indians played into November, they carved into their offseason. That allows them to swiftly shift their focus to next season, even though those days and weeks of physical and mental recovery aren't too far in the rearview. When Lindor was asked how long it took for him to get over Game 7, he replied: "I'll let you know." Spring training, though, is only two weeks away. "There [were] definitely a couple days where it was deflating," Kluber said. "You're so close to being the last team standing, so to speak. Once I started getting into my work and normal offseason routine, all the focus goes toward next year." Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 01.31.2017 SABR meeting set for Baseball Heritage Museum at Marc Bona, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - The chapter of the Society of American Baseball Research will hold its winter meeting Saturday, Feb. 4. The SABR meeting, open to the public, is at the Baseball Heritage Museum visitors center at League Park, 6601 Lexington Ave., Cleveland. Cost is $5. Itinerary 9-9:30 a.m. - Introductions. 9:30-10 a.m. - "Memorable moments from League Park," Joe Gazzo. 10-10:30 - Jeremy Feador, the Cleveland Indians curator, will speak on the Indians Hall of Fame. 10:30-11 a.m. - "Indians Missing MVPs," Lou Boyd. 11 a.m.-noon - "Reliving the 2016 season and looking forward to 2017," Matt Underwood, Indians play-by-play announcer. Noon-12:30 p.m. - "Reflections on a baseball career," John Massarelli, Northeast Ohio native who played and managed in the minor leagues. 12:30-1 p.m. - Tribe trivia contest with Rick Bradley. Graney was a Canadian-born outfielder who spent his entire 14-year career with Cleveland. He played on the championship team and went on to a broadcasting career. Among his claims to fame is being the first batter to face a young Boston pitcher named in 1914. Since 2014, the museum has been located in what was a ticket house at League Park, the Indians' old home on the East Side. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 01.31.2017

Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona donates $1 million to alma mater By Zack Meisel, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Indians manager Terry Francona has pledged $1 million to his alma mater, the University of Arizona. The school announced the donation on Tuesday. Francona resides in Tucson, Arizona during the off-season. He played for the Wildcats from 1978-80. He helped guide Arizona to a national championship in his final year of college. In 1980, Francona earned the Golden Spikes Award, bestowed annually upon the top player in college baseball. He batted .401 with nine home runs and 26 doubles during that championship season. He was also named College World Series MVP. Francona was a first-round draft selection of the Montreal Expos in 1980. His No. 32 collegiate jersey is retired and on display at Hi Corbett Field. The university has plans to use the monetary commitment to construct an indoor hitting facility named after Francona. The school hopes to have the building completed by the fall. Arizona relocated to Hi Corbett Field before the 2012 season. The venue hosted the Indians during spring training for nearly a half-century before the club shifted across the country to Florida in 1993. The Indians returned to Arizona in 2009 with a new complex in Goodyear. Francona, 57, has managed the Indians for four seasons. During that time, the Indians have tallied more wins than any other American League club. His contract with the club runs through the 2020 season. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 02.01.2017 Cleveland Indians re-sign veteran catcher Adam Moore to minor league contract By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Catcher Adam Moore is back for his third tour with the Indians. They signed him to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. Moore, 32, has spent most of the last two seasons at Class AAA Columbus. Last year he hit .247 (74-for-299) with seven homers, 31 RBI and a .681 OPS for the Clippers. Moore played nine September games for the Tribe. Seattle drafted Moore in the sixth round in 2006. He has played in the big leagues with the Mariners, Royals, Padres and Indians. In his longest stay in the big leagues, Moore played 60 games with Seattle in 2010. The Indians have three catchers on the 40-man roster with Yan Gomes, Roberto Perez and Francisco Mejia. They have three more catchers coming to camp on minor-league deals in Moore, Erik Kratz and Guillermo Quiroz. Last year Moore and Quiroz did most of the catching at Columbus. With Perez scheduled to play in the World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico, the Indians are going to need extra catchers for spring training. Moore caught 77 games and Quiroz 55 at Columbus in 2016. Quiroz added 11 homers. Pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Ariz., for spring training on Feb. 12.

Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 02.01.2017 Past, present converge as Cleveland Indians attempt to recreate the '90s era (with one major difference) By Zack Meisel, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The 46-year-old man in the suit approached the youngster half his age, the kid with blond highlights in his curly hair, and asked for a selfie. In the backstage area at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards, extended his arms and peered at the camera. Francisco Lindor leaned toward the Indians' all-time leader and flashed his familiar smile. It was a convergence of the Indians' past and present, a pair of franchise pillars posing for one, iconic moment. Thome and Sandy Alomar attended the function last week to introduce , who earned the Lifetime Achievement Award. Lindor and a handful of teammates were recognized shortly thereafter for the Indians' 2016 feats. They fell short in the World Series, but they exceeded the expectations of anyone who pondered the potential of a team missing a pair of starting pitchers and a former All-Star . Thome took his son to some of those World Series affairs. It had him harkening back to his own tenure with the Tribe, one that remains the modern benchmark for Cleveland baseball. But are that era's days as the golden standard numbered? The '90s teams produced six division titles, two World Series appearances, a plethora of All-Stars and a seemingly inimitable sellout streak. Then-named Jacobs Field hosted the Midsummer Classic in July 1997. Alomar snagged the Most Valuable Player award for his hometown heroics. A few months later, the club came within a [insert blame here: Jose Mesa meltdown; Tony Fernandez ; Hargrove decision; some other folly] of dismissing a half century-long title drought. They couldn't finish the deal, though, and that leaves the door open for some other team. Tribe players spoke in October about wanting to be the ones who, in 15-20 years, throw out ceremonial first pitches and sign autographs and receive plaques in Heritage Park. It starts with sustained success. Technically, the Indians have rattled off four straight winning seasons. But no 81-80 record (2015) or 85-77 mark (2014) -- both good for third-place finishes in the -- will vault a team into the upper class. Instead, we can point to the club's World Series run in 2016 and its outlook for the next few years as an indication that a '90s-like run is not far- fetched. "Two years ago, we were picked by Sports Illustrated to win the World Series, but maybe not everybody believed it and maybe they were right," Dolan said. "This year, we're going to be one of those teams that are picked and I think most people would believe it. It's great. That's what you want. You want to be one of those teams that's picked to win. That's the kind of pressure you want." The roster is littered with what should be household names. The front office has landed marquee talent via both the trade front and the free- agent market. The signing of Edwin Encarnacion has helped ownership start to rehab its image with the fan base. The league will return the All- Star Game to Cleveland in 2019. These are all symptoms of a baseball renaissance on Lake Erie's shores. A championship would serve as the difference-maker. The Indians seem to be as equipped to break the hex as they were in the '90s. "As a fan coming here and watching it from a different view -- during the '90s, [I] didn't really get to see what it's like outside of the ballpark," Thome said. "You don't really get to see the fans' perspective. "It was so incredible to watch it all evolve [in 2016]. Just the excitement, watching the [young players]. I was able to bring my son. Just the whole atmosphere. I really believe -- I think they're ready for a great run here." Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 02.01.2017 Cleveland Indians close to signing veteran slugger Wily Mo Pena to minor league deal By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Indians have reached back into the past to take a look at slugger Wily Mo Pena. The 6-1, 260-pound Pena is close to signing a minor league deal with the Indians. The deal would not include an invitation to big league camp, meaning Pena would report to Goodyear, Ariz., with the Indians' minor leaguers. Pena, 35, did not play last season. The right-handed hitter has not played in the big leagues since 2011 with Seattle and Arizona when he combined to hit seven homers in 113 at-bats. In parts of eight big league seasons, Pena batted .250 with 84 homers and 240 RBI. He played in Japan from 2012 through 2015, hitting 71 homers in 1,519 at-bats. In the big leagues, Pena played for the Reds, Red Sox, Nationals, Diamondbacks and Mariners. In 2004, he hit .259 with 26 homers, 66 RBI and .843 OPS. He struck out 108 times in 336 at-bats. Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com reported that Pena will make $700,000 if he makes the Indians big league roster. Indians' pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 12. Position players report on Feb. 16. The Mets signed Pena in the Dominican Republic as a free agent in 1998. He made his big league debut with the Reds on Sept. 10, 2002. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 02.01.2017 Carlos Martinez reportedly has agreement on new long-term deal with Cardinals Ken Rosenthal @ken_rosenthal Players occasionally avoid arbitration by signing contract extensions, and Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez will be the next rising star to land a significant deal. Martinez, 25, is in agreement on a five-year, $51 million extension with the club, according to FanRag Sports, which confirmed an initial report by FOX Sports saying that the sides were progressing toward such a deal. The contract, the largest ever given to a first-time eligible arbitration player, will buy out Martinez’s three arbitration years and two years of free agency, enabling the player and club to avoid a hearing that is scheduled for Wednesday. It also includes two club options, giving the Cardinals control over Martinez through 2023, MLB.com said. Martinez asked for $4.25 million in arbitration; the Cardinals offered $3.9 million. The Cardinals are a “file-and-trial” team, meaning that they go straight to a hearing once numbers are exchanged, with no further negotiation on a one-year deal. Their policy, however, does not preclude long-term discussions, a source said. Martinez has produced a 3.02 ERA and .663 opponents’ OPS in 60 starts and 370 innings the past two seasons. He also made two relief appearances in 2015. WHAT NEXT FOR ROYALS? At some point, the Royals will get financial relief on the $20.25 million remaining on the late Yordano Ventura’s contract. But that does not mean the club is operating as if it is about to receive a financial windfall. So, while ownership might approve the addition of a free agent such as right-hander , club officials are debating the value of such a move when they might get comparable performance out of younger, less expensive options. As I reported on Jan. 24, the fate of Ventura’s contract hinges on the outcome of his toxicology report, which is not expected for another two weeks. According to sources, the contract will remain guaranteed if Ventura’s death is determined to be accidental, with insurance reimbursing the Royals for about 75 percent of the remaining amount. The rest of the deal, however, will be voided if it is determined that Ventura’s death resulted from driving while intoxicated, likely triggering a legal battle. The loss of Ventura, who projected to be at least the Royals’ No. 3 starter behind Danny Duffy and Ian Kennedy, creates an obvious and heartbreaking hole. The Royals, however, are not without internal possibilities, starting with oft-injured righty Kyle Zimmer, who is coming off thoracic-outlet surgery. Right-handers Jake Junis, Alec Mills and Josh Staumont are progressing through the Royals’ minor-league system, along with lefties Matt Strahm and Eric Skoglund. BREWERS’ ATTANASIO AT IT AGAIN? Some Brewers officials are skeptical about the team’s reported pursuit of free-agent catcher Matt Wieters, believing that the interest is more from agent than the team itself. While that might be true, there is a history of agents working directly with Brewers owner Mark Attanasio to orchestrate signings late in free agency. On March 25, 2013, the Brewers signed right-hander Kyle Lohse — a Boras client — to a three-year, $33 million contract, forfeiting the 17th pick in the draft (the White Sox later chose shortstop with that selection). On Jan. 26, 2014, the Brewers signed right-hander Matt Garza, whose agent, CAA’s Nez Balelo, also represented . Garza’s four- year, $50 million deal did not include the loss of a draft pick. Lohse had a combined 3.45 ERA over 63 starts in his first two seasons with the Brewers, then faltered in his third. Garza has averaged 138 innings in three injury-marred seasons with the club, producing a 4.57 ERA in 71 starts. CUBS THINKING BUTLER COULD DO IT The Cubs’ acquisition of right-hander Eddie Butler on Wednesday was precisely the kind of trade the team wanted to make as it seeks to improve its starting-pitching depth. Butler, once a top prospect with for the Rockies, will be a project for pitching coach and manager Joe Maddon. Still, he gives the team another option on top of left-hander Brett Anderson, who recently signed a one-year, $3.5 million free-agent contract. The Cubs are more interested in supplementing their rotation than their bullpen — they signed righty Koji Uehara to a one-year deal rather than make a multi-year commitment to another free-agent reliever. While further moves are possible, club officials are trying to leave sufficient room under the $195 million tax threshold to stay flexible for mid- season acquisitions. The Cubs exceeded the threshold for the first time last season and paid a tax of $2.96 million. As a second-time offender, their penalty would increase from 17.5 percent for every dollar spent above the threshold to 30 percent. COMING UP ACES The free-agent market continues to vex some players and agents, as evidenced by the large number of proven major leaguers still available. But certain player representatives have skillfully worked around the clubs’ increased dedication to efficiency, crafting favorable deals for their clients by seizing available openings. The three-year, $33 million deal that Kendrys Morales landed with the Blue Jays on Nov. 18 looks increasingly good, given the saturation of first-base DH types in the market. The same can be said of the two-year, $22 million deal that Edinson Volquez received from the Marlins on Dec. 1, the third-largest free-agent contract for a starting pitcher this offseason. The Wasserman Media Group negotiated both deals. Another free-agent agreement that appears rather prescient from the player’s perspective is the three-year, $19 million deal that left-handed reliever Mike Dunn secured from the Rockies. Two comparable lefties, Jerry Blevins and Boone Logan, seem unlikely to match those terms, which were negotiated by Tom O’Connell. CAA certainly did well to get $110 million for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and $70 million for Ian Desmond, the largest and fifth-largest free- agent contracts of the offseason. But one club executive said, unsolicited, that ACES, the agency operated by Sam and Seth Levinson, “quietly did the best work of any agency this offseason … they read the market better than anyone.” The exec specifically cited ACES’ four-year, $52 million deal for with the Astros, its four-year, $30.5 million deal with a full no- trade clause for Brett Cecil with the Cardinals and its two-year, $12 million deal for Brandon Moss with the Royals. The Moss deal became official Wednesday, at a late stage of the offseason when multi-year commitments are difficult to secure. ACES also negotiated the largest free-agent contract in a weak class for starting pitchers, a three-year, $48 million deal for . And even some of the agency’s lesser agreements compare favorably to others in the market. Catcher Welington Castillo got non-tendered by the Diamondbacks, then signed a deal that could be worth $13 million over two years with the Orioles if he exercises his player option. Right-hander Jeff Locke got non-tendered by the Pirates, then went for $3.025 million to the Marlins, the same salary he made last season. Reliever Joaquin Benoit secured a one-year, $7.5 million contract with the Phillies at age 39. Catcher A.J. Ellis landed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Marlins when catchers such as Chris Iannetta and Kurt Suzuki went for $1.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively. ACES also negotiated one of the biggest extensions of the offseason — Danny Duffy’s five-year, $65 million deal with the Royals. SOME O’s EMPLOYEES STILL IN LIMBO A problem that seemingly was resolved for some who work for the Orioles continues to fester. On Jan. 9, I reported that more than 70 of the team’s employees were without contracts for 2017, according to major-league sources. The group consisted of a cross-section of staffers in baseball operations: Major- and minor-league coaches; professional, amateur and international scouts; player-development officials; even front-office executives. The decisions on the contracts rested with owner said, sources said. On Jan. 12, I followed up with seemingly good news: Angelos had signed the contracts, ensuring that the employees would be paid on Jan. 15. But on Wednesday, I received an email from an employee who did not identify himself, but said that ownership had reversed course on about 25 employees, telling them that their contracts needed to be reviewed again for approval. “I’m not sure what’s going on,” the employee said. “All I know is that since it is Feb. 1, I will not be paid.” A source said that the number of employees in limbo is closer to 30, and added that others in the original group who had been told they were getting raises were still being paid at last year’s rate. AROUND THE HORN — The lag in the free-agent market has hampered the Pirates in their efforts to trade left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo and clear money for perhaps another acquisition, according t0 major-league sources. Bastardo is earning $6.5 million next season, and Jerry Blevins, Boone Logan and Craig Breslow are among the lefty relievers still available on the free-agent market. — Speaking of lefty relievers, the Padres have drawn consistent trade interest in Brad Hand and Ryan Buchter, both of whom were highly successful against left-handed hitters last season. Both pitchers, though, are under long-term control — Hand for three years, Buchter for five. The Padres would not trade either unless they received legitimate prospects in return, sources say. The Pads also wants to keep their bullpen as strong as possible to protect their suspect rotation, and could always move Hand and/or Buchter at the deadline or some other point in the future. — Free-agent right-hander Jake Peavy still wants to rejoin the Padres, but the team is not sure it wants to give him the innings that could go to another starter, sources say. The Pads have a number of candidates for their rotation — Jhoulys Chacin, Clayton Richard, , Luis Perdomo, Jarred Cosart, Christian Friedrich, Paul Clemens. Peavy, 35, had a 5.54 ERA in 118 2/3 innings for the Giants last season.