Today the Cleveland Indians have announced that they have a new five-year agreement with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Cleveland for WTAM 1100 AM to remain the “Flagship Home of the Cleveland Indians” through 2017. The deal also includes WMMS 100.7 FM as they will become the “FM home of the Indians” with at least 144 simulcast broadcasts.
Around the Farm will say good bye for the offseason in the next few days, but will return in a few weeks once minor league spring games kick up in mid-March. Tony takes a look at the performance of Ezequiel Carrera whose team played in a very important Game 5 on Monday night in a best-of-seven series that was tied 2-2.
The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with right-handed reliever Bryce Stowell. He followed up a strange 2011 season with a lost season last year as he struggled with injuries once again. There is no doubt the stuff is still in there to be a high level prospect, but injuries every year and time is starting to creep up on him. Tony takes a look at this falling star and what has ailed him over his career, how his stuff has been affected, and what he may still offer as a pen prospect for the Indians going forward in this detailed scouting report.
The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with first baseman Chris McGuiness. The Indians picked him up in the Rule 5 Draft this past December, and he has a decent chance to make the opening day roster as the designated hitter and left-handed power bat off the bench. Tony has all the details on the Tribe newcomer and talks about his hitting, power, defense, versatility, and much more in this detailed scouting report.
We are now two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Goodyear for the start of spring training. The offseason is wrapping up, and Tony takes a look into two issues facing the Indians as they prepare to open spring training: what they should do at DH and who should leadoff. He notes how the use of the DH has changed over the last few seasons, and how the Indians may be wise to consider another option at leadoff other than Brantley. Tony also discusses Carlos Santana's value, what spring invites reveal, and much more.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with the first position player named do far: catcher Jake Lowery. Even though his prospect value slipped last season due to his performance offensively and high strikeout totals, he is still an interesting prospect going forward because of his power potential from the left side. Tony takes a look at the positives that he brings, why he struggled last season, and lots more in this detailed writeup.
The Venezuela Winter League wrapped up round robin play on Monday night, and has now joined the Dominican Winter League and Puerto Rico Winter League in the championship series round of league play. It was a thin night as far as Indians action goes, but there were a few players that played, and Tony recaps how they did after the jump...
The Indians continue to shore up their roster with more depth signings, and today they announced that they have officially signed infielder/outfielder Ryan Raburn and outfielder Ben Francisco to minor league contracts with an invite as non-roster payers to Major League spring training.
The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with right-handed reliever Rob Bryson. So far the IBI listing has been a run of interest right-handed pitchers, and Bryson is another in a long line of good right-handed relief prospects in the system. He continues to perform each year with impressive strikeout totals, and Tony goes in depth with a detailed report on what makes him so successful, but also what continues to hold him back and more.
The 2013 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider book featuring the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is now available. Also, previous editions from 2008-2012 are also available at a discounted rate. Just click on the book image for more information. Thanks again for all the support!
