Indians manager Terry Francona announced some pitching plans on Sunday morning:
Indians have informed RHP Zach McAllister that he has a spot on the rotation. LHP David Huff told he's now competing for bullpen job.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 10, 2013
McAllister, 25, went 6-8 with a 4.24 ERA in 22 starts for the Indians last summer. He made four ineffective starts for the team in 2011 and was originally acquired from the Yankees as a player to be named later in the Austin Kearns trade at the 2010 deadline.
Huff, 28, owns a 5.30 ERA in 285 1/3 big league innings over the last four seasons. The left-hander is out of minor-league options and can't be sent to Triple-A without first passing through waivers, so it's bullpen or bust or him. Nick Hagadone is the team's top lefty reliever.
The Indians still have four pitchers competing for the fifth starter's spot: lefty Scott Kazmir and righties Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Among those competing for bullpen spots are lefty Rich Hill and righties Bryan Shaw, Blake Wood and Matt Capps.
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