Brantley's scheduled to take the field for a minor league game today.

Due to rules about use of the retroactive DL, it appears the decision on whether he starts the season with the big league club or on the DL but on minor league assignment must be made in about 10 days.

BA prospect highlights today:

Tyler Naquin, cf, Indians. Abraham Almonte's suspension and Michael Brantley's shoulder surgery opened things up in the Indians' outfield and Naquin——has put himself squarely in the mix. He's a superior defender to two other high-profile Indians outfielders—Bradley Zimmer and Clint Frazier—and he's 12-for-27 this spring.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – The Indians' outfield became a little more crowded Thursday night because veteran Marlon Byrd passed his physical. Byrd was at the team's training facility Thursday morning to take a physical after agreeing to a minor-league deal.

Word came down that Byrd passed the physical and will make a base salary of $1 million if he makes the opening day roster. He will join the Indians on Friday.

Last year, when Byrd hit .247 (125-for-506) with 25 doubles, 23 homers and 73 RBI with the Reds and Giants, he made $8 million. The Indians have signed Byrd and Will Venable, another outfielder, to minor-league deals since the start of spring training.

Now here is a signing that makes ALL kinds of sense.

A right handed hitting RIGHT fielder who hit 23 homers last year? Signed risk free???

Great signing.

Well on the downside of a career and his Ks were awful last year, but considering the competition he looks pretty solid.

A few more obvious cuts:



The Indians made moves in big league camp on Friday, when they optioned James Ramsey to Triple-A Columbus and reassigned four players to their Minor League camp. Michael Choice, Jeremy Lucas, Anthony Recker and Eric Stamets were all reassigned to Minor League camp.
Ramsey, the No. 27 prospect in Cleveland's organization according to MLBPipeline.com, spent all of last season with Columbus and batted .243 with 12 home runs. Ramsey, a first-round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2012 Draft, has batted .260 with 45 home runs in his Minor League career.

Ramsey was acquired by the Indians in July 2014 as part of a deal for Justin Masterson. The 26-year-old struck out 128 times in 126 games last year, and he has 408 career strikeouts in 389 games.

33 remain on the roster; about 15 more non-roster invitees. Walters, Ramsey and RHP Otero are leading candidates to be DFA'd if any of the non-roster guys are added [e.g. Byrd, Chamberlain, Gorzelanny]

Good post. Pretty much figure Walters is gone.

Too bad, flashed some potential that first season he came aboard.

Brantley with a homer tonight, and in his first at bat hit a 400 foot loud out.

All that talk about needing help hitting at 3B......Urshela and Ramirez have 7 HRs I think in games so far. And so it goes. Cowgill looks pretty bad do he have to keep him/pay him?

Cowgill's on a minor league contract. Easily and painlessly disposable.

Thank Goodness!

Lou,

I think we have to pay Cowgill. I don't know how much Byrd cost us but prior to his deal, we have 1 year contracts totalling close to $40,000,.000.00. I think we wasted $30,000,000.00 of those dollars. But......the organization is strapped for cash

Reading the code in Tribeland, seems Tomlin will be the 5th starter, with lots of off days. He's best suited to man the bullpen and make the occasional April start.

Meanwhile Cody, with options, goes to Columbus and gets regular starts.

joez wrote:Lou,

I think we have to pay Cowgill. I don't know how much Byrd cost us but prior to his deal, we have 1 year contracts totalling close to $40,000,.000.00. I think we wasted $30,000,000.00 of those dollars. But......the organization is strapped for cash

So one year contracts are bad now....What a whiner !