Truck Day marks beginning of journey for Tribe Indians' longtime driver Fisher has trip down to science to help team prepare for By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | February 3rd, 2017 CLEVELAND -- Ed Fisher looks forward to this day every offseason. The Indians' longtime driver knows that when he pulls out of , his truck emblazoned with Cleveland's logo on the trailer packed to the gills with equipment and more, his journey to Arizona marks the beginning of the Tribe's journey through the season. "I like being a part of it," Fisher said. "I really do." On Friday morning, Fisher and his crew were busy in the bowels of the ballpark, stuffing a pair of 53-foot trucks with items that the Indians require for Spring Training. The trucks were set to embark on the three-day trek to Goodyear, Ariz., where the Tribe's staff is aiming to unload the semis on Tuesday to help the players get started out in the desert. The trucks are filled with bikes, weight-room equipment, personal belongings of players and staff, sunflower seeds, bottled water and much more. There was one pallet of gum, which may or may not have been only for Cleveland manager . When the trucks were nearly full, Francona did have one very important item rolled into the back of one of the trailers. "We need the scooter!" yelled an Indians clubhouse worker. A few minutes later, another team employee zipped through the tunnel on Tito's black moped.

Things have changed a lot for the Tribe's clubhouse crew since the days when the team trained in Winter Haven, Fla. The facility in Arizona is modernized and operational year round. That allows the Indians to ship items -- such as the 1,500 needed for the preseason -- directly to the complex in Goodyear. That creates more space on the trucks for Tony Amato, Cleveland's home clubhouse and equipment manager, to fit items requested by the players and staff. Typically, Amato and his workers begin the process in October, but the Indians' deep 2016 postseason run added a wrinkle to the usual program. Within 48 hours of the Indians' loss in the World Series, Amato was working on the long to-do list in preparation of Spring Training. "[Truck Day came] a lot quicker, and [there were] a lot more challenges," Amato said. "From a logistics standpoint, as soon as the season was over, it rolled right into budgeting and ordering within two days from when the season ended. From that end, it was a lot more challenging from our end. But we got through it." What is Amato's biggest challenge every year? "Just making sure we have everything," Amato said. "There's stuff in the offices we have to grab. There's stuff in the weight room, from the trainer's room, people even bring ballpark mustard down here, to merchandising. We have to coordinate all that stuff. Scoreboard shoots. There's always stuff left behind." Fisher, who has been driving the trucks to Spring Training for the Tribe for a decade now, called this "the best day of my life every year." With nearly 3 million miles driven in his career, Fisher has this trip down to a science. He averages between 600-650 miles per day and plans out his stops in advance. With the Indians' logo on the side of his truck, Fisher hears his share of honking horns and shouts throughout his journey. And when he finally pulls into the Tribe's headquarters in Arizona? "I love it," Fisher said. "It's great. And it's a beautiful complex." If the Indians win the World Series this year, Fisher will feel like he played a role. "I feel like I've had a hand in it every year," said Fisher, who then let out a hearty laugh. "How are they going to do Spring Training without me? I've got all their stuff." Jordan Bastian has covered the Indians for MLB.com since 2011, and previously covered the Blue Jays from 2006-10. Read his blog,

Source: Indians further bolster bullpen with Logan By Jason Beck / MLB.com | @beckjason | February 3rd, 2017 The Indians, already boasting one of the most reliable bullpens in baseball, added to it Thursday with Boone Logan. The veteran lefty agreed to terms on a one-year contract with a club option for a second year, pending a physical, MLB.com has learned. MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal first reported the agreement. The club has not announced the deal. The 32-year-old Logan becomes a second lefty for manager Terry Francona, but he'll be used in a different fashion than workhorse southpaw Andrew Miller. Logan is a more traditional lefty reliever, notoriously tough on left-handed batters. They hit just .142 (15-for-106) with 40 against him last year with Colorado, where he spent the past three seasons. Right-handed batters didn't fare much better off him, batting just .211 (12-for-57), but in far fewer at-bats. Add up the matchups, and Logan went 2-3 with a 3.69 ERA, one save and 27 holds, allowing just 27 hits over 46 1/3 innings with 20 walks and 57 strikeouts. Francona hinted at such an addition during TribeFest last month, hoping to ease Miller's workload. "Having a second lefty would be great," Francona told reporters, "but it also has to be a guy that can do what's asked when asked. In a perfect world, you have one, because then you potentially let Andrew not get up as much." Logan, an 11-year Major League veteran, began his career in the , spending three seasons in the White Sox bullpen. He returns to a division with different left-handed hitters to confront, including Royals sluggers Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Alex Gordon, along with familiar Twins star Joe Mauer. Jason Beck has covered baseball for MLB.com since 2002. Read Beck's Blog, follow him on Twitter @beckjason and listen to his podcast.

Lindsay Berra Kluber a workhorse even in offseason Ace training hard, hoping Indians can 'finish it off' in 2017 By Lindsay Berra / MLB.com | @lindsayberra | February 3rd, 2017 HUDSON, Mass. -- There is a quote painted on the wall at Cressey Sports Performance in big, bold red letters that no one can miss. It reads: "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." Underneath it, on this overcast and frozen first day of February, Corey Kluber is putting in his work. There is no disputing the talent. The lanky right-hander -- who features a breaking ball so tricky no one knows if it's a curve or a slider, plus a two-seamer to make Greg Maddux drool -- won the 2014 American League Cy Young Award and won two games against the Cubs in the . But there are no accolades without the everydays, and today, Kluber will put in a three-and-a-half-hour training session, which I had the opportunity to participate in. "Corey understands that what we do in the weight room is a means to an end," says Eric Cressey of Cressey Performance, who has been training Kluber in the offseason since 2010. "It's not just about lifting heavy weight or trying to impress people on social media or randomly putting a number out there that you want to hit." Kluber has made more than 30 starts and pitched more than 215 innings in each of the past three seasons. In 2016, he added six more starts and 34 1/3 more innings in the postseason. Kluber attributes his durability, at least in part, to the offseason training he does with weighted baseballs. Though weighted balls are viewed by some as a controversial training tool, Kluber has been using them with Cressey from the get- go. "Training with the weighted balls helps me build a solid base for my arm and shoulder strength, and it helps me to be ready and where I need to be when Spring Training comes around, so I'm not caught playing catchup," Kluber says. "The day after throwing for the first month of the offseason was always pretty tough, and I feel like my recovery from throwing is easier when I'm using the weighted balls as opposed to when I wasn't. They also keep me from getting too long with my arm action and help me to find my natural arm slot. The weighted balls just really help me to get ready for the year." Kluber warms up his shoulder with a 32-ounce ball. Then, he does walking windup drills with an 8-ounce ball before doing most of his throwing work -- 75 or so tosses -- with a standard 5-ounce ball. His throwing partner is Royals pitching prospect Luke Farrell, son of Red Sox manager John Farrell. Following that throwing session, Kluber goes back to the weighted balls for some more aggressive work with balls from 6 to 9 ounces, as well as an underweight 4-ounce ball. "Just because we're making some throws with an 8- or 9-ounce ball, you can't lose sight of the fact that Corey will be making the bulk of his throws with a standard 5-ounce ball," Cressey says. "The weighted balls get all the love because they're controversial, but in reality, we still throw the 5-ounce ball more than anything else." Afterwards, Kluber continues his training session with a workout designed by Cressey to build general athleticism; the goal is to teach the body to move efficiently, build strength, then layer power on top of that before focusing on specific, baseball-related skills. "Every offseason, the No. 1 goal is to get things moving the way you want them to," Kluber says. "The wear and tear of the season takes its toll on your body and things get out of whack, so it's always the first goal to try to realign my body the way it's supposed to be. And once you have that, you can start working on strength and power." Kluber is now in the third phase of his offseason program, and his workout now features exercises designed to develop power. One session featured a plyometric set that included single-leg hurdle hops; broad, vertical and skater jumps; side shuffles; and sprints. Other exercises included explosive medicine-ball throws, Turkish get-ups, inverted rows on the TRX with chains to add a little extra weight, lateral goblet lunges, several rotational exercises with cables and a particularly nasty pushup done on a slide board and known as the bodysaw. Kluber finished his workout with manual resistance shoulder exercises done with Cressey. This offseason, for a variety of reasons, Kluber and Cressey opted to drop Kluber's lifting program from four days a week to three, with two days of sprints outside the gym and a day of arm care. Kluber is 30 years old now, and he jokes that he "feels old," but it was the extra innings he threw in 2016 that directly led to the decrease in volume. To boot, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Kluber has a tendency to get super lean, and in a world where bodyweight is somewhat predictive of pitching velocity and durability, Cressey monitors Kluber's workout volume and calorie consumption to ensure he maintains a good weight. Once the season starts, Kluber's training volume will again drop. He typically lifts the day after a start and the day after his bullpen session, within the five-day rotation. That translates to two or three lifts per week, focusing on what Kluber calls the "money-maker" exercises: compound multijoint movements like trap-bar deadlifts and single-leg exercises such as weighted reverse lunges. The goal is to maintain the strength and power developed in the offseason, with an eye on the bigger goal: to win the World Series. "Last year was a great year," Kluber says. "We were a game away from doing that, and now we're hoping to finish it off. Last year gave us more confidence, but now we have a target on our backs, and I don't think that's something to run away from. I think it's something to embrace. We need to go out there and work just as hard as we did to get to that point last year." And for Kluber, that hard work started in November, here in the gym. Lindsay Berra has covered a variety of sports, from baseball and hockey to tennis and the Olympics, since 1999. She joined MLB.com in

Indians lose Triple-A homer champ Aguilar to Brewers By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com | @AdamMcCalvy | February 2nd, 2017 MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers added the reigning Triple-A king on Thursday when they claimed first baseman Jesus Aguilar off waivers from the Indians. Aguilar could provide the Brewers some thump off the bench and serve as a right-handed backup at first base to Eric Thames, a left-handed hitter whom the Brewers signed to a three-year deal after three big seasons in South Korea. Aguilar led the last season with 30 home runs and 92 RBIs, tying two players in the Pacific Coast League for the home run title throughout the Triple-A level. To make room on the 40-man roster for Aguilar, who is out of Minor League options, the Brewers designated infielder Ehire Adrianza for assignment, two days after claiming him off waivers from the Giants. The Brewers, with mixed success, have employed a similarly quick hook for a number of waiver claims over the past year, hoping he slips through waivers and remains in the organization. That appears the hope with Adrianza, a 27-year-old switch hitter known for his solid defense, who could help provide a backup to second-year shortstop Orlando Arcia. Aguilar is 26 and has made brief appearances in the Major Leagues for the Indians in each of the past three seasons, hitting .172/.234/.190 in 64 plate appearances. He is still seeking his first big league home run. In parts of nine Minor League seasons since signing with the Indians out of Venezuela, Aguilar is a .271/.348/.454 hitter with 140 home runs. He most recently played in the Venezuelan Winter League, hitting .314 with 10 home runs and a 1.018 OPS in 42 games. Adam McCalvy has covered the Brewers for MLB.com since 2001. Follow him on Twitter @AdamMcCalvy, like

Former Cleveland Indians Justin Masterson, Jesus Aguilar look to re-ignite careers Paul Hoynes CLEVELAND, Ohio - Free agent Justin Masterson, former ace of the Indians pitching staff, is headed to the Arizona desert to try and restart his career. Jesus Aguilar, meanwhile, is getting a fresh start after showing power for the Indians at every level but the big leagues. Masterson, 32 on March 22, is scheduled to arrive in Arizona next week to start a throwing program. Randy Rowley, Masterson's agent, said he should be ready to throw for teams by the end of February. Rowley said 10 to 12 teams are expected to watch Masterson throw. The Indians are expected to be attend. Masterson, 6-6 and 260 pounds, has not pitched in the big leagues since 2015 when he went 4-2 with a 5.61 ERA in 18 games, including nine starts, for Boston. He was released in August of that season and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in September. He pitched in Pittsburgh's minor-league system last year going a combined 3-2 with a 4.86 ERA in 26 games, including six starts, at Bradenton and Class AAA Indianapolis. Masterson spent parts of six seasons with the Indians from 2009-14. He was at his best from 2011-13, going 37-35 with a 3.96 ERA in 97 starts and 100 appearances. Masterson, in that stretch, struck out 512 batters in 615 1/3 innings. In 2014 Masterson and the Indians couldn't come to terms on a multiyear deal. Masterson, in his walk year, struggled with a drop in velocity and was traded to St. Louis at the July trading deadline. Aguilar, 26, was designated for assignment by the Indians on Jan. 26 to make room for infielder Richie Shaffer. The Indians, who claimed Shaffer on waivers from Cincinnati, dropped him on Jan. 30 after acquiring right-hander Carlos Frias in a trade with the Dodgers. Last season Aguilar led the International League with 30 homers and 92 RBI for Class AAA Columbus. Over his last three years at Columbus, he hit 68 homers and drove in 262 runs. The Indians signed Aguilar as a free agent in Venezuela in 2007. He hit 140 homers in the minors, but not one in the big leagues. Aguilar, who is out of options, played parts of three seasons with the Indians from 2015-16. The 6-3, 250-pound Aguilar received only 58 at-bats in that time. Brewers GM David Stearns told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Aguilar will have a chance to make the club as a bench player. Eric Thames, a left-handed hitter who spent the last three years in Korea, is scheduled to be the starting first baseman. "We see (Aguilar) competing for a right-handed role off the bench," said Stearns. "There are a number of ways we can formulate our roster. So, he'll come to camp and compete for a job. "His calling card is big right-handed power. He also controls the strike zone relatively well and we're excited to see what he can do for us in spring training." Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 02.04.2017 Cleveland Indians Truck Day: The annual tradition signals the dawn of a new season By Zack Meisel CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's the same, annual song and dance -- the tubs of bubble gum, the crates of water bottles, Terry Francona's scooter. This year, though, Truck Day arrived quickly. That's a result of the Indians playing into November and spring training starting a bit earlier because of the World Baseball Classic. No one's complaining. It's a yearly rite of spring, and a sign that a new baseball season is on deck. A pair of semi trucks, each carrying somewhere between 17,000-20,000 pounds of equipment, apparel and other personal items, were scheduled to depart the Progressive Field loading docks around lunchtime on Friday. They'll reach the Indians' complex in Goodyear, Arizona, and be unloaded sometime Tuesday. and catchers are scheduled to report to the spring training facility on Feb. 12. The rest of the squad reports on Feb. 16. The Indians' clubhouse staff initiated the budgeting and ordering process within two days of the conclusion of the World Series. "It brought many more challenges, from a logistics standpoint," said clubhouse manager Tony Amato. "It's just making sure we have everything. There's stuff from the offices we have to grab, stuff from the weight room, the trainer's room. People bring Ballpark Mustard down here. Merchandising. The scoreboard." Cleveland Indians Truck Day 2017: Equipment Manager Tony Amato The trucks will haul golf clubs, video equipment, baseball equipment, workout machines, sunflower seeds, water, mustard, about 15 bicycles and a slew of new TVs for the complex. The staff already shipped bats and 1,500 dozen baseballs directly to Goodyear. "There's an eagerness," said Amato, who has worked on the staff since 1988 and in his current role since 2002. "Once you start getting into the workload, you're right back into it. You forget about how [last season] ended and you go right into 2017." Ed Fisher will drive one of the two trucks for the 10th consecutive year. He'll drive about 650 miles per day, with stops somewhere near Brazil, Indiana, or Effingham, Illinois; somewhere near Oklahoma City and somewhere near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fisher has worked as a driver for more than 40 years. He said he's racked up nearly 3 million miles on the road. "This is the best day of my life, every year," Fisher said. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 02.04.2017 Should Cleveland Indians be concerned about Andrew Miller pitching in WBC? Hey, Hoynsie By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com Hey, Sarah: Anytime a team has as much money invested in Miller ($18 million over two years) as the Indians do there is a reason for concern when he leaves them in spring training to train with another team. The World Baseball Classic is MLB's baby and its teams are expected to participate in the tournament. Miller has made it clear, despite a heavy workload last year, that he'd like to pitch for Team USA and his first big-league manager, Jim Leyland. All the Indians can do is try to prepare him and their other WBC participants as best they can to play in high-level games before they normally do at this time of year. Hey, Hoynsie: I really like Jose Ramirez, just not necessarily as a starting third baseman. Is there anyone in the pipeline? It looks like Giovanny Urshela's plate discipline will never develop, so I'm hoping there are other possibilities down on the farm. - Mark Lasher, Bangor, Pa. Hey, Mark: Are you telling me that if Ramirez comes close to repeating his production from last season you wouldn't be happy with him as your starting third baseman? All he did was hit .312 (176-for-565) with 84 runs, 46 doubles, 11 homers and 76 RBI. Plus he hit .355 (50-for-141) with runners in scoring position. But if you're going to be that way, Yandy Diaz played some third base last year and Urshela hit .337 (57-for-169) with 33 RBI and a .837 OPS for Zulia in Venezuela this winter. Regarding the longer view, Nolan Jones, a second round pick in last year's draft, could be an option in a few years. Hey, 216 Nation: I was thinking about hijacking Terry Francona's scooter, but thought better of it. Hey, Hoynsie: I read with interest your answer to the reader who asked about Edwin Encarnacion's stats at Progressive Field. A .275 average is good, but two homers and 11 RBI in 91 at-bats are not. Hopefully, the sample size is too small to get the true picture of his abilities. - Bob Gersna, Westlake. Hey, Bob: Your comment about a small sample size makes sense. Encarnacion has played parts of 12 seasons in the big leagues covering 1,513 games. He's played only 22 of those games at Progressive Field. Why don't we let him get used to his new surroundings before raising any red flags. Hey, Kerry: If the starters leave spring training healthy, I think the rotation is still the best part of the team with the bullpen and lineup right behind. Still, what's not to like about the Tribe? They added Encarnacion to the lineup and Boone Logan to the bullpen in addition to having Miller for a full season. In the rotation, all reports say that Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar are 100 percent. It's dangerous for a team to get ahead of itself, but by anyone's projections the Tribe is positioned for a big season. Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think Ryan Merritt will make the club out of spring training? Seems after his great performance in the ALCS, he didn't get much of a chance in the rest of the postseason. - Tom Goodsite, Ocean Springs, Miss. Hey, Tom: Unless something unforeseen happens, such as an injury or trade, I don't see Merritt making the team out of spring training. But based on his start in Game 5 of the ALCS against Toronto, and his work last season at Class AAA Columbus (11-8, 3.70 ERA in 24 starts), I think he'd be one of the first pitchers recalled from the minors if the Indians need help this season. Hey, Andy: If Michael Brantley is ready to hit anywhere in the lineup come April, the Indians will be celebrating. Hey, Hoynsie: This is the first season in a long time where it seems like the Indians' rotation is set in stone. Do you see anyone challenging for a spot among the top five starters? If so, who? - Nick Baker, Lakewood. Hey, Nick: The same five starters went to spring training last year and Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, and all seemed to be guaranteed jobs. But when the season started, Cody Anderson had the No.4 spot, Tomlin was the No. 5 starter and Bauer was in the bullpen. Anderson took a step backward last season and underwent right elbow surgery at the end of the year so a repeat of 2017 almost assuredly won't happen. But someone else could surface. It's not likely, but such things do happen. Hey, Mr. Drum: No, but I do tap my foot at times. Hey, Jason: I think Tyler Naquin has a great chance to help the Indians this season at the plate and on defense. He had a fine rookie season offensively. Defensively, he had some stops and starts, but there's no reason to think he can't improve. I am interested to see what veteran center fielder Austin Jackson does this spring. The Indians didn't sign him by accident. Hey, Steven: Manship will pitch this year at 32. A lot of players at his stage of their careers are thinking about their financial futures. I'm assuming Korea was offering him guaranteed money as opposed to him going to camp on a make-good, minor-league deal with a big league club. The Indians non-tendered him because they obviously felt they had better options. After bouncing between the minors and big leagues for 11 years, maybe Manship felt it was time get some security in an unsecure profession. He did a nice job for the Indians and I wish him well. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 02.05.2017 Cleveland Indians have Terry Talkin' Boone Logan, ownership spending -- Terry Pluto By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians just committed $6.5 million to sign a situational left-handed reliever. I'm not criticizing the contract given Boone Logan. In fact, it's cheap by the ridiculous deals given so many relievers in this off-season. Logan was a $5.5 million deal for 2017. He has a $7 million deal in 2018, with $1 million guaranteed. Just when I thought the Indians were done spending, they made one more significant move. As Tribe president recently told me, it's another sign of ownership's determination to put the best possible team on the field. Team owner and John Sherman obviously loved last season's surprising sprint to the World Series. General manager and Antonetti entered the off-season looking for two things: 1. A right-handed power hitter who also can play first base. Edwin Encarnacion was at the top of their wish list. They thought their chances were remote. But the market was not as kind to Encarnacion as expected. The Tribe signed him to what is basically a three-year, $60 million deal. He averaged 39 HR and 110 RBI over the last five seasons. 2. A lefty reliever was the next goal. Logan held lefties to a .142 batting average (15-of-106) in 2016. As USA Today's veteran baseball writer Bob Nightengale tweeted after the Logan signing: "No one took more advantage of the free agent market than the Cleveland Indians." He's not a Cleveland media member or a Cleveland guy. He was just looking at it from the outside, and he came to the same conclusion many of us here have reached -- the Indians, backed by ownership, have had a strong winter. By the end of last season, the Tribe's payroll approached $100 million. They added about $5 million with in-season trades for Andrew Miller, Coco Crisp and Brandon Guyer. Miller also is paid $9 million annually in 2017 and 2018. If Miller hit the free agent market today, he'd probably receive close to $100 million over five years. Aroldis Chapman signed a five-year, $86 million deal with the Yankees. Chapman is gifted, but has had some serious off-field issues. He also is not nearly as willing to pitch more than one inning, something Miller has often done. So the spending started in the middle of last season, and has continued. The payroll for this season will be a franchise record of about $135 million. Logan was with the Yankees from 2010-13, compiling a 19-7 record and 3.38 ERA. That led to a three-year, $16.5 deal from the . Even the Yankees thought that was too expensive. A few points on Logan: 1. In three years with the Rockies, Logan was 4-11 with a 4.64 ERA. Like a lot of relievers, he has up-and-down seasons. He also has had a few minor injuries. 2. But in those three seasons pitching in a very hitter-friendly park, Logan held lefties to a .204 average (.611 OPS) compared to .286 (.854 OPS) vs. righties. 3. Logan was 2-5 with a 3.69 ERA for the Rockies in 2016 with that .142 batting average vs. lefties. Meanwhile, the free agent market exploded for lefty relievers (not just closers) this winter: 1. Former Indian Marc Rzepczynski signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Seattle Mariners. The man called "Zep" was 1-0 with a 2.64 ERA. But in 2015, he was 2-4 with a 5.66 ERA. At midseason, the Indians traded him to the Padres for Abraham Almonte. 2. signed a three-year, $19 million deal with Colorado. He was 6-1 with a 3.40 ERA for the Miami Marlins last season. For his career, Dunn is 28-25 with a 3.54 ERA. 3. Brett Cecil signed a four-year, $30 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. Cecil was 1-7 with a 3.93 ERA for Toronto. His career mark is 41- 42 with a 4.20 ERA. 4. After those deals, Logan thought he'd be in line for a multiyear contract. It didn't happen. The Indians waited and waited and waited with their basic one-year offer, plus the option. Spring training for the Tribe opens on Feb. 12. When the calendar turned to February, Logan had several similar offers. I hear the Mets and Blue Jays were two of the teams. He picked the Tribe, partly because manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Mickey Callaway have a strong reputation for handling their relievers very well. The guys pitch a lot, but seldom suffer injuries. That's because the Indians rarely warm up their key relievers unless their plan is to bring that into the game. Who knows if Logan will pitch effectively? Odds are he will continue to be very good against lefties. But like most relievers, they tend not to remain consistent from one year to the next. That's why the Indians usually stay away from long-term deals with bullpen pitchers. ABOUT THE INDIANS 1. The Indians will enter spring training with six bullpen spots set: Cody Allen, Miller, Bryan Shaw, Logan, Dan Otero and Zach McAllister. They will carry seven relievers, so there's lots of competition for that last spot. Mike Clevinger will train as a starter, but the Indians also will look at him. 2. The signing of Logan provides the Tribe with another lefty reliever other than Miller. A concern is not pitching Miller too much in 2017, especially after the heavy load he carried in the 2016 postseason. 3. Someone always gets hurt -- that's how teams need to view their roster. The rotation appears to be set with Corey Kluber, Josh Tomlin, Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer. But most years, a team needs at least eight starters. So Ryan Merritt, Cody Anderson, and Shawn Morimando along with Clevinger will be prepared to start. Most will be in the rotation at Class AAA Columbus. 4. The Indians bringing Wily Mo Pena to minor-league camp is simply a favor to Encarnacion. Pena has not been in the majors since 2011. He has 84 HR in his big league career. Most recently, he played in Japan (2012-15), but was out of baseball last year. It would be a shock if he makes the team. 5. Remember Brandon Moss, who was with the Tribe briefly in 2015? He hit .217 (.695 OPS) with 15 HR and 50 RBI. He was traded to St. Louis late in July. Moss is now with Kansas City, having signed a two-year, $12 million deal. He hit .225 (.784 OPS) with 28 HR and 67 RBI for the Cardinals in 2016. He also struck out 141 times in 464 plate appearances. 6. The Indians received lefty in exchange for Moss. The former Cardinal first-round pick in 2013 is a prospect. The lefty was 11-7 with a 3.28 ERA at Class AA Akron last season. He's only 22. He had some mild arm problems early in the season. His ERA was 2.29 after the All-Star break. 7. It's surprising to see Jeff Manship sign to pitch in Korea. Manship was 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA for the Tribe last season. He was looking for a big league contract, but had no offers. The Indians like some of their relievers much better -- Shawn Armstrong, Perci Garner, Austin Adams, Joe Colon and Nicky Goody -- all right-handers. 8. Milwaukee claimed Jesus Aguilar after the Tribe put him on waivers. Aguilar is 26 and batted .247 (.791 OPS) with 30 HR and 92 RBI at Class AAA Columbus. He has spent the last three years at Columbus, averaging 23 HR and 87 RBI. 9. The Indians never warmed to Aguilar, who struggled in short major-league stints. He hit .172 in 64 at-bats, with 21 strikeouts and without a homer over three seasons. Perhaps Aguilar will hit. But he reminds me of the late Andy Marte, a big right-handed batter with a long, slow swing that worked only in the minors. 10. That said, I hope the Brewers give Aguilar a chance. He has worked hard in his nine years in the Tribe farm system. The Brewers have Eric Thames slated for first base. He hit a ton of homers in Korea the last three years. They also have Kent State product Travis Shaw, who is a natural third baseman. But Shaw also can play first. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 02.05.2017 Plenty of losers in St. Louis Cardinals- hacking case: Rant of the week By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - The biggest loser in the St. Louis Cardinal-Houston Astros hacking case is Chris Correa. No question about it. In July a federal judge sentenced Correa, former scouting director for the Cardinals, to 46 months in prison for stealing information from Houston's internal database. He was ordered to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution. Last week he was placed on baseball's permanently ineligible list just like Pete Rose and members of the 1919 Black Sox. There were other losers, mostly the Cardinals. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred fined St. Louis $2 million and stripped it of its second and third picks in the June draft. Manfred awarded the $2 million, the two picks and the $1.8 million in cap money attached to the picks to Houston. There is a feeling among some teams that in doing so, Manfred widened the loser pool in this unprecedented case. Those losers would include Houston's American League rivals, especially Seattle, Oakland, the Angels and Texas, who will compete with the Astros in the AL West. It appears the Cardinals, although wounded by Manfred's decision, did a nice job of damage control. They signed free agent outfielder Dexter Fowler in December to a five-year $82.5 million deal. By doing so, the Cardinals forfeited their No.1 draft pick because Fowler had received a qualifying offer from the Cubs, his old team. When Manfred penalized the Cardinals, he could not strip them of their No.1 pick because it was already gone. Would he have done so if the Cardinals still possessed the pick or is that just something we should take for granted? The Astros will have five of the first 91 picks in the draft - Nos. 15, 53, 56, 75 and 91. The Cardinals' picks were No.56 and 75. Would Manfred and the AL have been better served if he had awarded just one of the two picks to the Astros? Or perhaps limited the draft pick portion of the penalty to a future No.1 pick of the Cardinals? If this is the reward for having one's computer base hacked, you have to wonder how many general managers would volunteer to accidentally on purpose slip their password to a cyberspace pirate? A second and third pick, along with a $2 million fine and bonus pool money, might not pay immediate dividends, but it could certainly help a team in the not too distant future. Manfred was faced with a tough decision, while working in uncharted territory. MLB conducted its own investigation, while waiting for the court to hand down its ruling. The $2 million fine was the harshest the commission could hand out. The penalty, including the draft picks, is reportedly the stiffest ever given to a MLB team. It might have been stronger if it was proven that Correa acted in collaboration with other members of the Cardinals' front office, but that was never proven. But there was collateral damage. Teams that will compete with Houston for the AL pennant could only stand by and watch as it received a redistribution of assets that was not available to them.

Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 02.05.2017 Cleveland Indians, pending physical, land lefty reliever Boone Logan Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - If Boone Logan passes a physical, the Indians have found their second left-hander for the bullpen. The Indians have been searching for a lefty reliever this winter and they have apparently found one in Logan just in time for the start of spring training. They have agreed on a one-year big-league deal with a club option for 2018. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports was first to report the agreement. If Logan passes the physical, he'll make a base salary of $5.5 million this year with a club option for 2018 worth $7 million or a $1 million buyout. The Tribe's equipment trucks leave for Goodyear, Ariz., on Friday. Indians pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 12. Logan, 32, has been on the Indians' radar for a while. They were interested in him last winter as a trade possibility, but nothing happened. Last season Logan, who just finished a three-year, $16.5 million deal with the Rockies, limited left-handed hitters to .142 (15-for-106) batting average with 40 strikeouts and nine walks. He limited right-handers to a .211 (12-for-57) average with 11 walks and 17 strikeouts. In 60 appearances for the Rockies, Logan struck out 57 and walked 20 in 46 1/3 innings. Overall he was 2-5 with a 3.69 ERA and one save. ADVERTISING The 6-5, 215-pound left-hander spent the first three years of his MLB career (2006-08) pitching for the White Sox, so he's no stranger to the Indians or the AL Central. Besides the White Sox and Colorado, Logan has also pitched for Atlanta and the Yankees. The addition of Logan gives the Indians a second lefty to go along with ALCS MVP Andrew Miller. Before the Indians acquired Miller from the Yankees last year at the trading deadline, they struggled to find an effective lefty out of the bullpen. Kyle Crockett, Ross Detwiler, Tom Gorzelanny, TJ House, Shawn Morimando and Ryan Merritt all made appearances, but didn't do enough to earn a full-time relief job. Logan and Miller should end that search. Manager Terry Francona, when asked last weekend during TribeFest about adding a second lefty reliever, said he didn't want to do it just for show. Francona said the second lefty would have to be able to get batters out in the required situation at a better rate than one of his established right-handed relievers. In his career, Logan has held lefties to a .233 (200-for-858) batting average, while righties have hit .294 (214-for-728). Lefties are hitting .204 (45-for-221) against Logan over the last three years. The White Sox drafted Logan with the 20th round in the 2002 draft.

Cleveland Indians invite Wily Mo Pena to camp at suggestion of Edwin Encarnacion Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - Yes, the Indians have invited Wily Mo Pena to spring training. No, he will not be reporting to big-league camp. Yes, he will be reporting with the organization's minor leaguers. So just why is Pena, 35, a veteran of eight big-league seasons coming to camp at all? Well, it seems the Indians are doing Edwin Encarnacion a favor. Encarnacion and Pena are friends. Encarnacion, who signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Indians in December, asked if they'd go to the Dominican Republic and take a look at Pena and some other players he's been working out with this winter. The Indians agreed and decided to invite Pena to Goodyear, Ariz. Pena, listed at 6-3 and 260 pounds, has not played in the big leagues since 2011 when he hit .204 (23-for-113) with seven homers and 15 RBI with Seattle and Arizona. He spent the next four years playing in Japan. In 2015, Pena, playing for the Rakuten Golden Eagles, hit .268 (109- for-406) with 17 homers, 40 RBI and a .845 OPS. There is no record of Pena playing at any level last season. In 2004, the 22-year-old Pena hit .259 (87-for-336) with 26 homers, 66 RBI and a .843 OPS for the Reds. He played all three outfield positions that year. Including every stop in his career, Pena has hit 275 homers. He hit 84 in the big leagues.

Arizona’s Cactus League gives Cleveland Indians fans a reason to head west in March By Mark Meszoros, The News-Herald and The Morning Journal Tickets for Cactus Leagues can vary greatly, according to the folks at Visit Phoenix. For example, tickets at Goodyear Park can range from about $8 to $31. If you have your heart set on going to a specific game, it would be a good idea to buy in advance. To plan a Cactus League trip, start by visiting a couple of web pages. Visit Phoenix’s Cactus League page: visitphoenix.com/events/cactus-league. Official Cactus League page: cactusleague.com. Map of Cactus League’s stadiums: cactusleague.com/map.php. Here is more information on stadiums featured in this story. Salt River Fields at Talking Stick: Home to the Rockies and Diamondbacks, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, Arizona, 480-270- 5000, saltriverfields.com. Peoria Sports Complex: Home to the Mariners and Padres, 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria, Arizona, 623-773-8700, peoriasportscomplex.com. : Home to the Indians and Reds, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear, Arizona, 623-882-3120, goodyearbp.com. Sloan Park: Home to the Cubs, 2330 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa, 480-668-0500, mlb.mlb.com/chc/mesa. Tempe Diablo Stadium: Home to the Angels, 2200 W. Alameda Drive, Tempe, Arizona, 480-350- 5205, losangeles.angels.mlb.com/ana/spring_training/ballpark. Since taking the to a seventh game in the 2016 World Series, the Cleveland Indians have added big-ticket free agent Edwin Encarnacion to their lineup. A lot of baseball fans and experts will be penciling in the Tribe for a return to the fall classic. Their attempted journey to that October dance will begin many months earlier, and many miles away, in Arizona, where visitors can also enjoy many outdoor-recreational and dining options and stay at large resorts. (More on that in a future travel story.) The Indians are one of several teams that conduct their spring training in cities surrounding Phoenix, such as Tempe, Glendale and Scottsdale. The Wahoo warriors share Goodyear Ballpark, in Goodyear, Arizona, with the . This year, the Cactus League will put on more than 200 games from Feb. 24 through April 1. Advertisement I visited a handful of Cactus League stadiums — including Goodyear, unfortunately for a Reds game — during a media trip to Greater Phoenix in March 2016. >> Photos: Sights from a trip to Cactus League spring training baseball in Arizona “Keep in mind, the beer is very cold today,” said a vendor at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, where the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks were taking on the hosting Colorado Rockies. (This home-away situation was all semantics, as those two teams share that stadium.) As public-service announcements go, the beer guy’s was most welcome, given the record 90-degree heat that had befallen the region that week. The relatively large Salt River Fields, near Talking Stick Resort and Casino, is one of the newer stadiums. With lovely views of the surrounding mountains and modern stadium amenities, I’d consider it a must. The next day I found myself at Peoria Sports Complex, in Peoria, the home of both the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres. The 150,000-person suburb of Phoenix boasts the restaurant-loaded Peoria Eighty Three Entertainment District — P83 for short — where the stadium also resides. Opened in 1994, it is a simple but nice stadium offering an affordable and fun afternoon of baseball. “I do sincerely believe we’re the fan-friendliest (stadium),” said Blake Englert, superintendent-operations, pointing out that its dynamically priced lawn tickets are as low as $5 for certain games. “Our baseline is, ‘What’s everybody else doing? And let’s stay a hair under that.’” By the way, outfield lawn areas were at every stadium I visited and appeared to be a great place for a family to enjoy a game, spread out on a blanket. You can walk into the lawn areas with any ticket, and I enjoyed catching a few random innings in the grass. Next was Goodyear Ballpark, where the Reds were hosting the , which sits on land that once was part of Wood Ranch. In truth, the game served as a backdrop as I caught up with a buddy from our college days who lives in the area, but we did walk around and took note of the amenities, including stands selling BBQ, fancy burgers and funnel cakes, as well as a lawn area where several folks were playing cornhole instead of watching the game. I also met a couple decked out in Tribe gear — the guy was wearing a No. 99 Vaughn jersey from “Major League,” which I appreciated — so I felt less weird about buying an Indians “2016 Spring Training” cap despite not seeing one inning of the team’s preseason. It wasn’t until the fourth day of baseball that I visited a park home to only one team. And by the looks of the crowd in and around Sloan Park in Mesa, the aforementioned Cubs are quite the draw all on their own. I had been told the park basically was Wrigley Field West, and while I enjoyed a few glasses of Chicago’s Goose Island beer, I never could find the alleged stand selling Chicago deep-dish pizza. There was, however, a vendor selling Maine lobster, as well as the popular Windy City Dogs concession offering. The stands weren’t always full, but the lawn was packed, and the line to get into the team shop was long. And many of the younger fans were playing a game on their own in the small field in the Kids Zone. The high temps from the fiery sun had something to say about how long folks could stay in their seats for a stretch. The next day — before being completely baseballed out — I caught a few innings at Tempe Diablo Stadium, home the the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who were hosting the Kansas City Royals. Honestly, not much stood out to me about this packed stadium aside from the Tempe Tap Room, a big area offering a handful of local and other craft beers on draft. For a bigger baseball fan than I, I think Cactus League baseball would be Nirvana. The stadiums have more intimacy than Major League parks such as Cleveland’s Progressive Field — the seats are all pretty close to the field and it’s easy to walk over to a bullpen area and call down to the players there — but there is a lot of big-league talent on display. If you go this year, say hi to Edwin Encarnacion and wish him a great season when he gets to Cleveland. TRAVELERS’ CHECKS Tickets for Cactus Leagues can vary greatly, according to the folks at Visit Phoenix. For example, tickets at Goodyear Park can range from about $8 to $31. If you have your heart set on going to a specific game, it would be a good idea to buy in advance. >> Map: Cactus Leauge stadiums To plan a Cactus League trip, start by visiting a couple of web pages. Visit Phoenix’s Cactus League page: visitphoenix.com/events/cactus-league. Official Cactus League page: cactusleague.com. Map of Cactus League’s stadiums: cactusleague.com/map.php. Here is more information on stadiums featured in this story. Salt River Fields at Talking Stick: Home to the Rockies and Diamondbacks, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, Arizona, 480-270- 5000, saltriverfields.com. Peoria Sports Complex: Home to the Mariners and Padres, 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria, Arizona, 623-773-8700, peoriasportscomplex.com. Goodyear Ballpark: Home to the Indians and Reds, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear, Arizona, 623-882-3120, goodyearbp.com. Sloan Park: Home to the Cubs, 2330 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa, 480-668-0500, mlb.mlb.com/chc/mesa. Tempe Diablo Stadium: Home to the Angels, 2200 W. Alameda Drive, Tempe, Arizona, 480-350-5205,

New RubberDucks manager Mark Budzinski meets fans at Hot Stove banquet, excited about future Akron Aeros RubberDucks manager Mark Budzinski was on hand at the Hilton Garden Inn in Akron for the team’s inaugural Hot Stove Banquet on Friday. While it was more a chance to meet the public on a great night that included cocktails, dinner, a silent auction and a question-and-answer session with former Indians All-Star Carlos Baerga, it was essentially Day 1 on the job for the new skipper. Budzinski, 43, was formally named the team’s manager on Jan. 17, but Friday was the beginning of what should be a busy two months leading up to the April 6 season opener at home for the RubberDucks. Not that the former Aeros outfielder is worried about the mountain he has to climb over the next nine weeks. Budzinski, who replaced Dave Wallace, was used to it as manager of the low Class-A runner-up in 2014. The last two seasons, he took the to the high Class-A playoffs, finishing second last year. “There’s no difference from our rookie level to our Double A level,” Indians assistant general manager Carter Hawkins said. “The players are a little bit closer to the major leagues, so the impact is felt a little bit sooner. That being said, the leaders of the staffs of those teams have to deal with different types of players at the upper levels.” “There’s so much more information. The players know more. There’s so much more scrutiny, so you have to be so much more prepared and more thorough in the process to key the culture the clubhouse. Bud is remarkable in that area. He cares so much about his players and the process.” That showed Friday when he got a chance to meet RubberDucks general manager Jim Pfander and owner Ken Babby for the first time. He toured Canal Park and reacquainted himself with the nuances of the stadium and sat down to discuss his vision for the future. “He came to us and asked, ‘What are your objectives? How can I help you?’ௗ” Pfander said. “You never see that. Their job is to develop talent for the Cleveland Indians, develop guys to get ready to play in the big leagues.” “Tip of the hat to the Cleveland Indians for who they bring in and who they trust with their young kids. How cool was that for him to say, ‘What do you need from me?’ௗ” The next step for Budzinski is to find out what he needs to do to get his players to the next level. The Henrico, Va., resident will leave for Goodyear, Ariz., next weekend and help Indians manager Terry Francona the first few weeks in the big league camp before breaking to the minor league camp. It should be a camp filled with many familiar faces as some holdovers from the 2016 Eastern League champion played for Budzinski at the lower level. Likewise, some promotions will probably come from Lynchburg as well. “Anytime you have an idea of how guys play the game and have been there day in and day out, it’s certainly an advantage,” Budzinski said. “We’re here at the Double A level to help them get better and realize their dreams, so they can help us win a championship at the big league level.” “I’m just trying to do what I can do to help our guys. Hopefully, we’re as successful as Wally was here with his staff. At the end of the day, we always want to win. The biggest job we have is to get guys ready to compete and help [the Indians] win games.” While it’s a big task, first impressions were off the charts from everyone in the organization Friday. “Just like the players are developing for the next level, the same thing is true for coaches and managers,” Babby said. “He’s now at the next level of that. We’re really lucky to have him here.”

AP source: Indians, Boone Logan agree to 1-year contract TOM WITHERS (AP Sports Writer) CLEVELAND (AP) -- A person familiar with the negotiations says free agent left-hander Boone Logan and the Cleveland Indians have agreed to a one-year contract. Logan's deal includes a 2018 club option, the person told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the pitcher still has to undergo a medical exam before the deal can be finalized. The 32-year-old Logan pitched for Colorado last season, going 2-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 66 appearances for the Rockies. Logan has previously pitched for the , and . The Indians have been interested in adding another veteran lefty to their strong bullpen. Cleveland acquired Andrew Miller from the Yankees at last summer's trade deadline deal, a move that helped the Indians win an AL pennant. Logan has a 28-23 career record.

Ken Davidoff / Rob Manfred opens up on how MLB is trying to shorten games By Ken Davidoff February 4, 2017 | 9:00pm Major League Baseball is speaking with the Players Association about playing-rule changes, as it does annually. Those changes “almost exclusively” concern pace-of-play issues, commissioner Rob Manfred said this past week in a telephone interview. One proposal being discussed — with “still a ways to go,” a person in the loop cautioned — is limiting mound visits at least by teammates, if not by coaches and managers as well. The players understandably have been more hesitant to disrupt the pace to which they have become accustomed, and just as they negotiated the terms for when a player can legally exit the batter’s box during an at-bat, concepts are being exchanged for when a pitcher can receive a visitor. For instance, there is a desire to see an exception made for when a pitcher and catcher are confused on signs. Though officials have been encouraged by the institution of a pitch clock at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, as well as the Arizona Fall League, Players Association executive director Tony Clark steadfastly has opposed that in public, and that does not appear to be a serious consideration for major league installation. It seems like the best scenario there calls for pitchers to get used to working efficiently in the minors as they adhere to the pitch clock then retain that mindset as they graduate to the majors. Baseball’s average regular-season, nine-inning game in 2016 lasted 3:00:42 according to MLB, up from 2:56:14 in 2015. The 2014 season registered an all-time high average time of 3:02:21. That is why Manfred repeatedly lamented last year that focus on the issue had been lost, and that is why you can expect some changes, however incremental, to be in place by . As Manfred prepares for his third season atop the sport, with spring training opening next week and Sunday’s Super Bowl winding up a football season that saw TV ratings drop universally, growing and diversifying baseball’s fan base remains his top priority. In that broad initiative, “There are probably 10 things that matter. Pace of play is one of those 10,” Manfred said. “I don’t think it’s at the top of the list, but it is a factor that people continue to focus on.” The focus of the country has changed since the Cubs outlasted the Indians in an epic World Series, and I asked Manfred how he saw these most interesting times impacting his primary goal. “We see baseball as one of those fundamentally unifying American institutions,” he said. “I think that we need to go out there and put the best baseball product we can put on the field. That’s the single best contribution that we can make to American society.” Of course, the game might not unify everyone if its competitors, managers and front-office folks follow the lead of many NBA players and coaches and speak out against President Trump. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein got the ball rolling this past week by challenging some of Trump’s comments about crime in Chicago. Manfred can silence team officials if he feels anyone crosses a line. It is not as simple when it comes to players. “I don’t know what to expect in that regard, because it’s such a unique period of time,” Manfred said, when I asked him if he expected baseball people to speak out. “We’ve never tried to muzzle our players as long as they’re not inappropriate like John Rocker [who drew a 14-game suspension in 2000 for hurling a bunch of bigotry in a Sports Illustrated interview]. Players have a right to express their political views, just like anyone else in the United States.” Any such storms would challenge what has been arguably Manfred’s greatest attribute as commissioner: He has proven quite skilled at defusing controversies, many of which occurred without precedent. He welcomed Alex Rodriguez back into the fold following A-Rod’s nasty legal battle that concluded with a yearlong suspension for illegal performance-enhancing drug usage. Manfred secured sizable suspensions for Aroldis Chapman and Jose Reyes, and appears on track to do the same for Jeurys Familia, for their violations of the game’s domestic-violence program even though none of the three faced criminal charges that stuck. The Cardinals will have to pay up — in dollars... Just this past week, Manfred resolved the long-running case involving former Cardinals employee Chris Correa’s hacking of the Astros’ proprietary database. Though you might not have agreed with Manfred’s specific decision to permanently ban Correa, penalize the Cardinals $2 million and give their top two 2017 amateur draft picks (56th and 75th overall) to the Astros — I would’ve liked to see the Cardinals, who already sacrificed this year’s first-round pick as compensation for signing Dexter Fowler, lose their first-round pick in 2018 — you have to respect his process. Manfred released his full report issued to the two teams, with findings and conclusions. The Astros already have accepted the results. This, like the others, will pass because Manfred dealt with it substantively and without emotions. “People like to make fun of lawyers,” said Manfred, who rose through MLB as a labor attorney. “I actually think being a lawyer is an advantage. … Did I want to put the St. Louis-Houston thing behind us more quickly? Of course. Who wants controversy in their sport? But we have a really good investigative team, and we waited until the federal government completed its work, and with all of our facts, we made a disciplined decision. “We’d been working with both clubs on the development of the facts, so the clubs were not surprised by results. The process gets us to results.” Given that a primary storyline of this Super Bowl is whether the NFL’s wormy commissioner Roger Goodell will have to face his nemesis Tom Brady (after avoiding him for two years) at the postgame celebration, such a process and results carry great value. Manfred mustn’t get distracted from his mandate to inflate his product’s following. It is worth seeing whether shaving a few minutes from the only game without a clock will help. NY Post LOADED: 02.05.2017 MLB Which rookies will shine in 2017? You can start with Andrew Benintendi By Nick Cafardo GLOBE STAFF One fun aspect of any baseball season is watching players be introduced to the majors. Some will compete for Rookie of the Year, while others will struggle as they get their feet wet and acclimate to the speed of the game. Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez had no such problem last season as he took the majors by storm, hitting 20 homers and knocking in 42 runs with a .299 batting average and 1.032 OPS in just 229 plate appearances. Sanchez was soundly beaten in American League ROY voting by Tigers righthander Michael Fulmer, likely penalized by voters for not coming up until early August. You can start with Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi. We asked executives, coaches, managers, and scouts around baseball for their rookies to watch, and many had Benintendi at the top of their list. “The one thing we’re all wondering about is his power and where he can go with it,” said one AL scout. “He’s a plus defender, a decent arm, a good contact hitter who has power to the gaps, but as he gets stronger and his body fills out, we might see some unexpected power emerge. We certainly saw that with Mookie Betts. This kid could emerge similarly.” Aaron Judge had a .179 average and 42 strikeouts in 84 at-bats in 2016. 1. Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees — He needs to cut down on his swing. At 6 feet 7 inches, he has a long swing, something a lot of tall sluggers have struggled with early in their careers, including and Mark McGwire. Judge’s foray into the majors last year (.179 average, 42 strikeouts in 84 at-bats) was far different than Sanchez’s, but the Yankees are committing to Judge at least for the start of the season. 2. Moncada, 2B, White Sox — The feeling is Moncada will start at Triple A and be in Chicago by the summer. He was injured in the Arizona Fall League, and that slowed his offseason development. The Red Sox brought up Moncada in September to be their everyday third baseman, only to watch him get overwhelmed. Our group, for the most part, sees Moncada as a “can’t-miss” player and eventual All-Star. The White Sox envision him as a second baseman. 3. , SS, Braves — Swanson, like Benintendi, had an impressive debut in 2016, hitting .302 in 38 games. He’s still eligible for ROY honors in the National League and our group believes the former No. 1 overall draft pick has a great chance to contend. “Looks like he belongs with no fear of the stage he’s on,” said one NL executive. 4. Alex Reyes, RHP, Cardinals — When he went 2-0 with a 2.20 ERA in five starts late last season, all of baseball was impressed that the Cardinals had found another gem. Reyes’s season didn’t begin until May because of a 50-game suspension for a marijuana violation. 5. Manuel Margot, CF, Padres — Some executives, Yankees GM Brian Cashman among them, have said they think Margot, who was part of the Craig Kimbrel deal with the Red Sox, has a chance to be a star in the big leagues. Margot hit .304 with 30 steals at Triple A El Paso last season and played a great center field. “Like any young player, he needs big league reps. Smooth in so many ways and also rough in others, but the upside is undeniable,” said an NL scout. 6. Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves — Albies, 20, is working his way back from a fractured elbow. A double play combo of Swanson and Albies is evoking memories of Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker, as a keystone combo that could be together for a long time. 7. Josh Bell, 1B, Pirates — Everyone seems to like the switch-hitting Bell, who had knee surgery last week and is likely to miss all of spring training. Bell managed a .775 OPS in 152 plate appearances with the Pirates last season, hitting all three of his homers from the left side. 8. , 1B/DH, Orioles — Scouts are intrigued by his righthanded power and he showed it in limited time at Camden Yards last season. The Orioles re-signed Mark Trumbo, but GM Dan Duquette believes Mancini will be a factor at some point this season. 9. Lucas Giolito, RHP, White Sox — Giolito, acquired in the Adam Eaton deal, will get every opportunity to make the rotation. The tall righty has had some command issues because of mechanical problems in repeating his delivery, but he’s now got a great teacher in White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper, so we should see a better pitcher. 10. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pirates — Another hard thrower with command issues, but once those are corrected Glasnow has a chance to be a top-of-the-rotation type, according to scouts whose expertise is in pitching. It may not happen this season, but our group thinks Glasnow will eventually get there. 11. Yulieski Gurriel, 3B, Astros — OK, he’s 32. But this will be the Cuban’s first full season in the majors after signing a $47.5 million contract last July. Gurriel hit .262 with three homers in 36 games with Houston, so he has shown promise of being an impact player. 12. Jharel Cotton, RHP, Athletics — Our group really likes this kid, who was acquired from the Dodgers in the Rich Hill/Josh Reddick deal last July. Cotton, 25, features a among his four pitches. In five starts for the A’s last year he had a 2.15 ERA and walked only four in 29ѿ innings. “He’s a pitcher,” said one evaluator. “He’s not a thrower. So there’s a lot to work with there.” We’ve reported on ’s quest to return to the majors after a two-year absence because of elbow and shoulder problems. Arroyo is expected to sign with the Reds soon. But what about the guy the Red Sox got from Cincinnati in exchange for Arroyo in 2006? Remember Wily Mo Pena? Pena, 35, hasn’t played in the majors since 2011, but according to several reports he signed a minor league deal with the Indians. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Pena was recommended by new Tribe slugger Edwin Encarnacion, a fellow Dominican and friend of Pena’s. Pena has hit some of the longest home runs in major league history. He’s 6-3 and weighs about 260 pounds, and he’ll get a shot at making the major league roster. The Indians also signed Chris Colabello, so they will have some power in their spring training lineups. Starting in 2012, Pena spent four seasons playing in Japan. He took last season off but played winter ball in the Dominican. In 2001, the Yankees traded Pena to the Reds for fellow prospects Michael Coleman and Drew Henson. Five years later, former Reds GM Wayne Krivsky traded Pena to the Red Sox for Arroyo and cash. It turned out to be a major coup for the Reds, who over eight years watched Arroyo perform as one of the league’s most durable and consistent starters. Then-Red Sox GM Theo Epstein traded Pena to the Nationals after just a year and a half, and Pena hit just 17 more homers in the big leagues before leaving for Japan. Nearly 11 years after they were traded for one another, Arroyo and Pena are giving it one more shot in the majors. It may be a long shot for both, but after all these years, they hang around for the love of the game. The PawSox have played at McCoy Stadium since 1970. 1. I have received a lot of correspondence from fans who don’t want the Pawtucket Red Sox to move from McCoy Stadium. A recent feasibility study gives rise to the probability that the team will move to a new Pawtucket location. But some fans feel strongly that McCoy is the minor league version of Fenway Park, and they’d prefer the PawSox to renovate McCoy. According to the feasibility study, a renovation would cost about $68 million and a new stadium about $78 million. It looks as if a new facility may win out. 2. What a mess the St. Louis/Houston cybercrime turned out to be. The Astros were awarded the Cardinals’ top two draft picks in 2017 and $2 million in punishment handed down by commissioner Rob Manfred. Former Cardinals executive Chris Correa is serving a 46-month prison sentence in the hacking scandal, but he recently said in a statement that the Astros hacked the Cardinals data in 2011 and that Houston benefited from that information for a three-year period. MLB said it would be willing to meet with Correa regarding those allegations. 3. Some Red Sox personnel think Brandon Workman could be an interesting pitcher to watch in camp. Workman hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2014 following Tommy John surgery. He had a strong rookie season in 2013, making seven scoreless postseason appearances during the Sox’ championship run. 4. The Royals could be a surprise team in the AL. They have hungry players in free-agents-to-be Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, and Eric Hosmer. Lefty Danny Duffy was given a five-year extension and will be counted on to front a rotation that tragically lost Yordano Ventura. They’ve added breakout candidate Jorge Soler and power-hitting Brandon Moss. The feeling is the Royals will re-sign at least one of their key hitters, likely Hosmer. If they’re out of the hunt at the trade deadline, however, look for a major fire sale. Updates on nine 1. Jung Ho Kang, INF, Pirates — Kang has turned out to be a PR nightmare for the Pirates. He picked up his third DUI arrest in South Korea in December and was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, and has a sexual assault case pending in Chicago. Kang has performed on the field, but off the field it has been an entirely different story. The Pirates expect Kang in training camp, but MLB has yet to weigh in on his situation. 2. Jose Quintana, LHP, White Sox — White Sox GM Rick Hahn has held his ground on what he needs in return for Quintana in a deal. Hahn is under no pressure to trade the All-Star now and could hold on to him until the trade deadline, when teams feel more urgency to make a deal. But Hahn will move Quintana sooner if he gets a package similar to what he got for Chris Sale. Prospect-rich organizations such as the Astros, Braves, Dodgers, Rangers, Phillies, Yankees, and Brewers are possible destinations. The Astros, who now have two extra high draft picks to add to their farm system (as a result of the Cardinals’ hacking punishment), are seen as the front-runners. 3. Jason Hammel, RHP, free agent — He’s the best available starting pitcher on the market, and Kansas City could use him, but Hammel believes he should receive at least a three-year deal following a 15-win season, even though the market hasn’t supported that. The Royals are also looking at Doug Fister, who would come cheaper. Hammel had a one-year offer from Seattle with an option for $10 million very early in free agency, but that appears to be off the table. 4. Josh Hamilton, OF/1B/DH, Rangers — Hamilton, 35, will get a look in camp. According to one major league source, his success will depend on how much his balky knees affect his swing. “Listen, Hamilton’s one of those guys who can roll out of bed after five years and hit a double off the fence, but if his knees don’t allow him to get any power behind that swing, that will be the key issue,” said an AL assistant GM. Injuries have taken a toll on Hamilton, once a five-tool player and one of the best players in the game. The Rangers are hoping he can be at least a platoon player and productive bat in the middle of the order. 5. Ellis Burks, special assistant, Giants — Burks joined the Giants this offseason after being a special assistant with the Rockies. He’ll be a guest instructor in spring training. Burks had great success as a player with San Francisco, and Giants GM Bobby Evans was a Red Sox front office intern when Burks played for the Red Sox in 1989. 6. Shane Victorino, OF, free agent — Victorino was planning to get back into baseball on a minor league deal, but the 36-year-old had to put those plans on hold after having minor surgery to remove a cyst under his arm. 7. Chris Carter, 1B/DH, free agent — Some people around the league thought the Rays would take a shot on Carter, but they opted to re-sign Logan Morrison, who had a .733 OPS last season. It’s strange that there hasn’t been much interest in Carter, who led the NL with 41 homers last season. The Rangers could be an option, but they still seem to be leaning toward Mike Napoli. 8. Michael Bourn, OF, free agent — It’s possible Bourn could return to the Orioles, who are looking for a lefthanded hitter, preferably an outfielder. 9. Joe Blanton, RHP, free agent — Week after week we wonder how this guy remains available after making 75 appearances for the Dodgers last year. One NL executive feels asking for multiple years has turned a number of teams off, but Blanton is expected to accept something soon. Extra innings From the Bill Chuck files — “The last Red Sox DH with more than 300 at-bats in a season not named David Ortiz was Reggie Jefferson, who went 156 for 489 (.319) in 1997.” . . . Also, “Last season, five players had fewer than 100 hits and 25-plus homers: Giancarlo Stanton (99 hits, 27 HRs), Jedd Gyorko (97 hits, 30 HRs), Brandon Moss (93 hits, 28 HRs), Yasmani Grandal (89 hits, 27 HRs), and Ryan Howard (65 hits, 25 HRs).” . . . Happy birthday, Vic Correll (71) and Lee Thomas (81). Just winning, baby The Yankees have made only one playoff trip — a wild-card loss in 2015 — in the last four seasons, but still, no one can call them losers. New York will try to extend its streak of winning seasons to 25 in 2017, the second-longest streak in baseball history, behind only the Yankees’ 39- year reign from 1926-64. Joe Girardi, the third manager during the current streak, will try to keep it going this season. Nick Cafardo Boston Globe LOADED: 02.05.2017