Valbuena, acquired from Seattle in December, is hitting .343 (23-for-67) with four doubles, two triples, two homers and 10 RBI at Class AAA Columbus. More importantly, Valbuena is playing solid defense at second, short and third base.

While the Indians have shown flashes of promise in the starting rotation, bullpen and at the plate, they have been consistently inconsistent on defense. Center fielder Grady Sizemore and second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera are probably the only two regulars who have played above-average defense.

Shortstop Jhonny Peralta and third baseman Mark DeRosa lead the Indians with three errors each. Valbuena, a natural second baseman, would allow the Indians to move Cabrera to short and choose between Peralta or DeRosa at third if they so desired.

LaPorta is hitting .381 (24-for-63) with three doubles, two triples, five homers and 14 RBI. He has six strikeouts and seven walks.

It does not appear the Indians are close to promoting Valbuena or LaPorta, but they have made their presence felt. Left fielder Ben Francisco, who has an option left, entered Tuesday night's game against Boston hitting .212 (11-for-52) with one homer, four RBI, 14 strikeouts and three walks. Francisco hit a three-run homer Tuesday against Boston.

Manager Eric Wedge tried hard to cool the expectations around LaPorta, acquired from Milwaukee last year in the CC Sabathia trade.

"You're happy to see guys produce at the Triple-A level," Wedge said. "Again, one player here or there isn't going to make a difference in us winning or losing ballgames. It's different areas of our club [that have to improve]."

Wedge said it was possible for a player like LaPorta to hit his way to the big leagues this early in the season.

"Sure it happens," he said, "but everything is magnified because it's the beginning of the season and we're off to the start we're off to. We have to make sure we don't get too emotional about what we're doing here day to day."

The Indians entered Tuesday night in last place in the AL Central with a 7-13 record.

"LaPorta is still young," Wedge said. "He made a good showing in spring training and it's good to see he's off to a good start down there. His day is going to come."

Headed for Cleveland: The first outfielder to arrive from Columbus will be David Dellucci, not LaPorta.

Wedge indicated that Dellucci, on a rehab assignment, could join the club this weekend in Detroit. Dellucci is hitting .458 (11-for-24) while recovering from a strained left calf suffered in spring training.

End of the season: Pitching prospect Adam Miller had surgery on his right middle finger Tuesday in Baltimore. It's the second operation in as many years that Dr. Thomas Graham has performed surgery on Miller's finger, and it could be career-ending.

The operation required a ligament to be transplanted into Miller's finger so a tendon can be reattached to the bone.

"Hopefully, he can come back from this," Wedge said. "I feel bad for him because he's had so many setbacks in such a short period of time."

Miller, until the Indians made the decision last week to have the operation, had been trying to alter his release point to take pressure off the injured finger.

Getting to know you: On Sunday, left fielder Trevor Crowe and Sizemore collided while chasing a fly ball in left-center field against the Twins. On Monday night, Crowe and Sizemore let a bloop single by Jeff Bailey fall between them.

"Trevor covers a little more ground than what Grady is used to," Wedge said. "They just have to get to know each other."

Finally: The temperature was 47 degrees for Tuesday's first pitch. It was 83 degrees for Monday's first pitch.

New arm on the way?

Wedge, GM Mark Shapiro, assistant GM Chris Antonetti and pitching coach Carl Willis met after Tuesday's 9-8 victory over Boston to discuss promoting another reliever.

The bullpen was taxed during the victory, pitching seven innings after starter Anthony Reyes was knocked out after two innings.

"We're going to talk about that some more," Wedge said to reporters.

Veterans Matt Herges, Kirk Saarloos and Jack Cassel are at Class AAA Columbus, but they'd have to be added to the 25-man roster. Prospects Ryan Edell and John Meloan have also been busy at Columbus as well.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158