Indians Start Offseason Overhaul: Make Two Roster Moves

Indians Start Offseason Overhaul: Make Two Roster Moves
Jojo Doria

Cleveland, OH

Though it is too early to determine who will make the roster for the 2012 season, the Cleveland Indians started their offseason with a pair of moves that vacated two spots on the team's roster.

The Tribe outrighted outfielder Jerad Head and pitcher Mitch Talbot, the team announced via Twitter.

Talbot, a minor league free agent, rejoined the Indians' rotation on Sept. 24 after addressing some mechanical issues at Triple-A Columbus.

Talbot, who went 0-5 with a 7.78 ERA over his final eight starts of the season for Cleveland, plummeted on the club's depth chart.

During the woeful stretch, the 28-year-old right-hander fanned 21 batters and issued 18 walks over 41 2-3 innings, while allowing opposing hitters to post a.360 average against him.

A lower back problem placed him on the Indians' disabled list. Talbot was outrighted to the minors in August.

Head, meanwhile, has the option to decline the outright assignment and elect free agency.

Head, 28, who made his MLB debut this year, failed to maintain his strong season with Triple-A Columbus as he struggled in his brief stint with the Indians. He hit just .125 (3-for-24) with two runs scored in a 10-game tour with the Tribe.

He spent most of the season in the minors, where he hit .284 with 24 home runs and 70 RBI in 463 plate appearances.

With the move, the Indians' 40-man roster count drops to 38, though Carlos Carrasco, Michael Brantley, Josh Tomlin and Shin-Soo Choo still need to be activated from the 60-day DL.

Cleveland's rotation candidates for 2012 include Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Tomlin and Fausto Carmona. The Indians are expected to be in the market for rotation help this offseason.

The projected starting rotation heading into 2012 will likely be adopted with the Indians expected to pick up Carmona's option. Carmona will likely be given another chance but could face pressure from David Huff, Jeanmar Gomez and Zach McAllister in contending for a roster spot.

As for the club's bullpen, the likely candidates for relievers include Chris Perez, the team's closer despite some rough spots, Vinnie Pestano, Tony Sipp, Joe Smith, Rafael Perez, Nick Hagadone. Frank Herrmann, meanwhile, could still get another chance in the bullpen.

Grady Sizemore will be part of the starting lineup if Cleveland picks up his option. Apart from Sizemore, other starting lineup candidates include Brantley, Jason Kipnis, Asdrubal Cabrera, Carlos Santana, Travis Hafner, Choo, Lonnie Chisenhall and Lou Marson.