--SS Jhonny Peralta remains the Indians' shortstop for now, although there is growing speculation he may wind up at third base by the start of the 2009 season.
Finding a third baseman is one of the Indians' offseason priorities. One of their options could be moving Peralta from short to third and 2B Asdrubal Cabrera from second base to shortstop, which is his more natural position, and adding a second baseman. "I do think at some point in time Jhonny is going to end up at third base. And at some point in time Asdrubal is going to end up at shortstop. But that may not be for three or four years. It may be next year. I don't know," manager Eric Wedge said.
--DH Travis Hafner has begun an offseason physical therapy and rehab program after undergoing surgery Oct. 14 to clean out his right shoulder joint. Dr. James Andrews performed the 45-minute arthroscopic procedure.
Hafner missed most of the 2008 season -- hitting just .197 in the 57 games he did play -- because of a strained right shoulder. Indians officials say they expect Hafner to be 100 percent by Opening Day of the 2009 season.
--OF Grady Sizemore in 2009 will attempt to lead the Indians in hits for the fifth consecutive season. If he's successful, it would be a franchise record. Sizemore is tied with Shoeless Joe Jackson for the club record for most consecutive seasons leading the Indians in hits.
Sizemore has led the Indians in hits every year since 2005. Jackson led the Indians in hits from 1911-14.
--LHP Cliff Lee, the favorite to win the American League Cy Young Award, has already started to collect hardware from his monster 2008 season. Lee was selected the American League Pitcher of the Year by the Major League Baseball Players Association and The Sporting News. He was chosen the American League's Comeback Player of the Year by The Sporting News and MLB.com, and he was the American League Pitcher of the Month in April and August.
Lee went 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA in 2008, leading the American League in wins and ERA.
--Manager Eric Wedge has been inducted into the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame. During his playing career, Wedge, as a member of the Colorado Rockies, played for the Tucson Javelinas in the 1993 Arizona Fall League.
--INF Jamey Carroll proved to be a versatile utility man for the Indians in 2008, so much so that the Indians have picked up his $2.5 million option for 2009.
Due to injuries and trades, Carroll got a lot more playing time than expected this year, and he responded by hitting .277 with 36 RBIs, 60 runs and seven stolen bases in 113 games. From May 18 through the end of the season, he hit .298.
BY THE NUMBERS: 50 -- Percent of the Indians' total of 77 stolen bases in 2008 that were swiped by OF Grady Sizemore. Sizemore led the club with 38 stolen bases. No other Indian had more than nine stolen bases.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm confident we'll get a championship, middle-of-the-order bat from Travis." -- Manager Eric Wedge, when asked what he expected in 2009 out of DH Travis Hafner, who missed most of 2008 with a strained right shoulder that eventually led to surgery in October.
