Cabrera gets $4.55 million for one year, avoids arbitration
--SS Asdrubal Cabrera agreed to a one-year $4.55 million contract, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing. Cabrera filed for arbitration seeking $5.2 million. The Indians had offered $3.75 million. Last year, when Cabrera set an Indians record for home runs by a shortstop with 25, and was the first Indians shortstop in 63 years to start the All-Star game, he made $2.025 million. "Asdrubal has been a key player on our team for the last few years, and we're looking forward to seeing him continue to mature and develop as a player," general manager Chris Antonetti said.
--C/1B Carlos Santana last year started 88 games at catcher and 63 games at first base. That ratio seemingly might tilt a little heavier towards catching, now that the Indians have signed free agent 1B Casey Kotchman. However, general manager Chris Antonetti said the club isn't going into spring training with any pre-conceived notions about how many starts Santana will make at first base. "It depends on how (backup catcher) Lou Marson does, and how Casey does against left-handed pitching," Antonetti said. Santana, a switch-hitter, is expected to get most of his starts at first base on days the opposing team starts a left-handed pitcher, which would take the left-handed hitting Kotchman out of the lineup and insert the right-handed hitting Marson.
--OF Michael Brantley will go to training camp as the starter in left field, according to manager Manny Acta. Brantley finished the 2011 season on the disabled list because of a hand injury that resulted in surgery on Aug. 23 to remove a broken hamate bone in his right hand. Acta said Brantley will be ready to resume baseball activities in spring training. In 451 at bats last year, Brantley batted .266 with seven home runs, 46 RBI and 13 stolen bases.
--1B Casey Kotchman, recently signed as a free agent, gives the Indians another left-handed hitter in their starting lineup. Seven of their nine projected position starters are left-handed hitters, and the other two are switch hitters. Manager Manny Acta said he isn't overly concerned by the Indians' lefty-dominant lineup. "Ideally you'd like to have a balanced lineup, but what you want most is guys who can hit, no matter which side they hit from," Acta said.
--RHP Jeanmar Gomez could challenge RHP Kevin Slowey for the spot in the rotation vacated by RHP Fausto Carmona, who is on the restricted list. Gomez finished strong at the end of the 2011 season. In a five-start span from Aug. 30 to Sept. 22, Gomez was 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA.
BY THE NUMBERS
29 -- Number of pitchers that will be in the Indians' spring training camp. Twenty-two of the 29 are right-handers.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We've accomplished a lot, but we're still looking to improve our team." -- General manager Chris Antonetti, on the Indians' off-season activity.
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