With about three weeks left until spring training one of the more interesting battles to watch will be the backup catcher position. For the last three years that’s a role that has been held by Lou Marson, but after the November trade that brought Yan Gomes into the fold it’s clear that the Indians intend to create competition for the job this spring. Michael Goodman breaks down the pluses and minuses of both after the jump...

The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with right-handed pitcher Luis DeJesus. He does not have the pure stuff some elite prospects might have, but he has a lot of intangibles and has proven to be a performer early on in his career. Tony breaks down why talent evaluators believe he has potential as a starting pitcher, his pluses and minuses, and lots more in this detailed scouting report.

While most of the Caribbean championship series have been decided or are still in action, the Australian Baseball League's regular season still has a day left. Brisbane's Andrew Campbell and Ryan Battaglia were in action on Friday while Quincy Latimore launched his third home run of the winter season. The IBI's Steve Orbanek recaps the action as he takes you Around the Farm.

It is one of the biggest questions leading into spring training for the Indians: who should lead off? With the departure of Shin-Soo Choo in a trade, the Indians lost their best lead off option, and the IBI's Jeff Ellis breaks down all the schools of thought with regard to what kind of player should hit lead off before finally settling on an obvious solution to this question.

With the Dominican Winter League Championship Series wrapped up, the championship action continues in the championship series of the Puerto Rican and Venezuelan winter leagues. A couple of Indians are still in action and hoping that they can help lead their team to the championship. The IBI's Steve Orbanek touches on those Indians and their performances in this week's edition of the Winter Ball Notebook.

The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with right-handed reliever Matt Langwell. Yesterday he received his first invite to Major League camp in spring training, a sign he is on the big league radar as a bullpen option for the Indians this season. A lot of fans probably do not know a lot about him, and Tony has all the details regarding his stuff, ability, potential and much more in this detailed scouting report.

The winter ball season continued to wind its way to an end Thursday night, with fewer and fewer Cleveland players still participating in the games. Luckily for you, the reader, there is still plenty to write about, like Ezequiel Carrera in Venezuela and Quincy Latimore and company in Australia. Plus, this leaves us some freedom to look at the ghosts of prospect past popping up around the winter leagues, as Jim Piascik takes you Around The Farm.

Today the Cleveland Indians announced that they have extended non-roster invitations to Major League spring training camp to first baseman Jesus Aguilar, right-handed pitcher Matt Langwell, right-handed pitcher Preston Guilmet, catcher Roberto Perez, and left-handed pitcher Giovanni Soto.

The IBI's Steve Orbanek returns with this week's edition of Then & Now, which looks at left-handed pitcher Scott Barnes. Barnes made his debut with the Indians last season and left a favorable impression, but what does the future hold? Last season, Barnes was a reliever, but could he possibly again be positioned to be a starter? Steve ponders after the jump.

The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with first baseman Mike McDade. The Indians picked up McDade this offseason in a waiver claim from the Blue Jays, and he is in the mix to make the big league roster this spring as a power bat off the bench or will serve as depth in Triple-A. Tony gives you the 411 on the new Indians prospect and what kind of hitter and defender he is, and how he can help the Indians in this detailed scouting report.

Ezequiel Carrera was the only Indian in action on Wednesday, though the left-handed hitter was competing in an important game as it was game one of the VWL Championship Series. Also, Carrera's teammate Carlos Zambrano was on the mound for Navegantes del Magallanes, and he could be an intriguing option for the Indians to explore as a possible minor league signing. The IBI's Steve Orbanek recaps all the action as he takes you Around the Farm.

The Indians turn the corner from Tribe Fest and head through the final three weeks of the offseason with a few questions yet to answer. With a time-share likely at DH with the current roster, can their numbers improve? Are there just too many questions with regards to Ubaldo Jimenez and the starting rotation for the Tribe to succeed? Jim Pete tackles these, as well as Kipnis, Chisenhall and much, much more...

Last week the IBI first mentioned that the Indians have been in talks with free agent slugger Jim Thome, and according to a report today from Jon Heyman of CBS Sports he says the Indians are considering a reunion with Thome and Travis Hafner.

The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with right-handed reliever Fabio Martinez. The Indians picked him up off of waivers from the Angels last August and then designated for him assignment this offseason but he cleared waivers and was outrighted to the minors. He is a project that has all sorts of command issues, but Tony talks about the potential of his stuff that is so intriguing. He also breaks down all the rest of the positives and negatives with him in this detailed report.

It was a quiet night in the winter leagues on Tuesday as only two Indians players were in action. Edward Paredes was playing in the Dominican Winter League Championship Series while Rob Bryson was in action in the Puerto Rican Winter League Championship Series. Was Bryson able to keep his perfect winter season intact? Find out as the IBI's Steve Orbanek takes you Around the Farm.

The Akron Aeros celebrated an Eastern League Championship win last fall, and with a new season on the loom, they’re looking to win over fans with some ballpark improvements. One is the installation of a new state-of-the-art HD video scoreboard. Stephanie Metzger shares the details.