The Indians' continuing concern about their bullpen depth was evident by the fact that they were still adding bullpen arms even after the start of training camp.
The latest pickup was right-hander Juan Salas, acquired from Tampa Bay in exchange for minor league infielder Isaias Velasquez. The 30-year-old Salas joins a growing inventory of bullpen arms for the Indians, who opened training camp with only one opening in their seven-man bullpen.
However, because the bullpen was such a problem area last year, club officials seem determined to acquire as many options for 2009 as possible.
Highly regarded Adam Miller, one of the top prospects in the Indians' system when healthy, appears to be the leading candidate to win the one open spot in the Indians bullpen.
However, Miller has a long history of injuries, so Indians officials have lined up several other candidates to compete for that spot.
Salas, who was 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA in 34 relief appearances for the Rays in 2007, is the latest. Salas joins a group that includes Zach Jackson, John Meloan, Edward Mujica, Rich Rundles, Greg Aquino, Jack Cassel, Matt Herges, Tomo Ohka, and Kirk Saarloos as candidates for the bullpen at some point in the 2009 season.
Barring injury, the first six spots in the bullpen belong to closer Kerry Wood, Rafael Betancourt, Rafael Perez, Jensen Lewis, Masa Kobayashi, and Joe Smith.
Indians officials hope to stock Class AAA Columbus with as many surplus bullpen arms as possible, as a hedge against injuries and poor performance by the major league bullpen in 2009.
WHERE, WHEN: Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, Ariz. First exhibition game is Feb. 25 against San Francisco.
TOP CANDIDATE TO SURPRISE: RHP Carl Pavano's reputation took a beating in his four years as a member of the Yankees. After he signed a four-year, $39.5 million contract as a free agent, a series of injuries limited him to an average of fewer than seven starts per season, he went a cumulative 9-8 in those four seasons in New York. Pavano signed a one-year deal with the Indians and hopes to rebuild his reputation and re-establish his market value. Nobody on the Indians roster has more of an incentive to have a big year in 2009.
TOP CANDIDATE TO DISAPPOINT: DH Travis Hafner hasn't hit over .300 or reached 25 home runs in three years. He missed most of last year because of a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. He will turn 32 in June. There is no shortage of reasons why it seems possible that Hafner's best years are behind him.
AUTHORITY FIGURES: Manager Eric Wedge is 496-476 in his six years with the Indians. He ranks fifth on the club's all-time list for wins by a manager. The only change on Wedge's coaching staff this year is Chuck Hernandez, replacing Luis Isaac as the bullpen coach.
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