Tony%20Lastoria Archive

The IBI's 2013 Indians top prospect countdown is here.....well....sort of. Tomorrow we kick things off with the first player in the on-line listing with #60, but today Tony sets us all up with a preview to help explain where the Indians' system is at the moment, the strengths and weaknesses of the system, the breakout candidates, who is eligible to be ranked, and all the guidelines for the ranking. Don't forget, the new 2013 book will soon be available and provide detailed profiles of over 180+ prospects in the Indians' system!

We continue with our 2013 prospect coverage here at the IBI with a look at the right-handed starters in the Indians system. There is no doubt that right-handed starting pitching is one of the Indians weakest positions in the entire organization, and is why they really targeted young upper level pitching in trades this offseason. Tony looks at what right-handed starting options are available to the Indians in the future and breaks down the future and potential for the likes of Austin Adams, Dylan Baker, Trevor Bauer, Mitch Brown, Luis DeJesus, Trey Haley, Dillon Howard, Kieran Lovegrove, Mason Radeke, Danny Salazar, and more. This is the final positional overview as the annual IBI Top Prospect countdown will commence on Thursday.

The playoffs in the various winter leagues raged on Monday night, but the big news was one of the Indians best prospects suffering an injury where he had to leave the game. Tony talks about that player and what happened, and also provides updates on all the rest of the Indians that were in action on the night.

What a fun offseason this has been for the Indians. They have made a few big trades, made some significant moves in free agency, and been in on lots of other players. But even though the Indians say they are probably done with their heavy lifting this offseason, Tony thinks they should take advantage of a unique opportunity this offseason to sign another big named free agent because it is an opportunity which may never present itself again. He also talks about the Hall of Fame voting issues, how Kenny Lofton got hosed, and lots more.

We continue with our 2013 prospect coverage here at the IBI with a look at the right-handed relievers in the Indians system. The Indians are overloaded with right-handed relief prospects and it is arguably the one position they are deepest at in the entire system. At the moment they have a Major League bullpen bursting at the seams with right-handed relievers, and that is the same thing for Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron. Tony looks at what right-handed relief options are available to the Indians in the future and breaks down the future and potential for the likes of Cody Allen, Shawn Armstrong, Rob Bryson, Preston Guilmet, Bryce Stowell, Grant Sides, Cody Penny and many others.

The Indians completed a trade today sending right-handed pitcher Jeanmar Gomez to the Pirates in exchange for outfielder Quincy Latimore. Gomez had been designated for assignment last Wednesday to make room on the roster for newly acquired free agent pitcher Brett Myers.

The BWAA announced the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame class on Wednesday, and for just the eighth time in the history of the voting and first time since 1996 no one was voted into Cooperstown. Former Indians fan favorites Sandy Alomar Jr. and Kenny Lofton were on the ballot for the first time, and the news was fatal for both.

Today the Indians announced that they have officially signed free agent left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir, right-handed pitcher Jerry Gil, and left-handed pitcher Edward Paredes to minor league contracts with non-roster invitations to Major League camp this spring. Tony quickly reviews each signing...

We continue with our 2013 prospect coverage here at the IBI with a look at the left-handed starters in the Indians system. The Indians have not had a suitable left-handed starting pitching option in their rotation since they traded Cliff Lee in July of 2009, and that is still the case as the Indians will likely go into the 2013 season with an all right-handed starting rotation. Tony looks at what left-handed starting options are available to the Indians in the future and breaks down the future and potential for the likes of Elvis Araujo, T.J. House, Luis Lugo, Ryan Merritt, Shawn Morimando, Matt Packer, Mike Rayl, Giovanni Soto, and several others.

The winter league playoffs continued in Venezuela and Puerto Rico last night, and Tony shares the details of how the Indians players did in both leagues. Outfielder Ezequiel Carrera continues to have a nice offseason, first baseman Jesus Aguilar is in a power groove, and more...

The Cleveland Indians annual Winter Development Program kicked off today at Progressive Field. Now in its 17th year, the Winter Development Program consists of a two week long program for fourteen players in the Indians minor league system. The program mostly involves players who are expected to make their Major League debut in the upcoming season, who have recently been acquired in a trade, or are a high level prospect nearing a big league opportunity.

Today the IBI unveils its first crack at the depth chart for the Cleveland Indians for the coming 2013 season. This depth chart includes the projected lineups, bench, starting rotations and bullpens for every team in the organization from Cleveland to Low-A Lake County, and even the players that should open the season in extended spring training.

Today we continue on with our eleventh batch of 2013 scouting videos. We shot tons of video of over 135 players this season, and in today's batch of videos we feature Enosil Tejeda, Jeremie Tice, Justin Toole, Giovanny Urshela, Ordomar Valdez, Francisco Valera, Charlie Valerio, Logan Vick, LeVon Washington, Joey Wendle, and Tony Wolters.

In one fell swoop this offseason the Indians have completely changed their organizational culture with the hiring of manager Terry Francona and the signing of outfielder Nick Swisher. Both should have a big impact on the team both on and off the field this season and seasons to come, and Tony talks about the culture change they should bring and the foundation the Indians have set in place with them. Tony also talks about the Myers signing and what money may be left to do anything else this offseason, explains the Russ Canzler roster move, looks at the Indians fourth outfielder situation, and more.

Today we continue on with our eleventh batch of 2013 scouting videos. We shot tons of video of over 135 players this season, and in today's batch of videos we feature Aaron Siliga, Jake Sisco, Jordan Smith, Giovanni Soto, Felix Sterling, Richard Stock, Jimmy Stokes, Davis Stoneburner, Bryce Stowell, and Tyler Sturdevant.

Free agent right-handed pitcher Brett Myers passed his physical this morning and the Indians officially announced his signing today. He has been signed to a one year $7 million deal and has a club option for 2014 that will pay him $8 million if the Indians pick it up after the season. To make room on the 40-man roster the Indians designated Russ Canzler for assignment.