Cleveland%2520Indians

The Championship Series matchups have been decided in the DWL and PWL, which means that the winter seasons have come to an end for a number of Indians, including the beloved Jose Ramirez. The IBI's Steve Orbanek touches on Ramirez and his fine winter season as well as many other Indians players still competing in winter ball in his latest edition of the Winter Ball Notebook.

Late Thursday night the Indians and outfielder Drew Stubbs agreed to a $2.825 million contract for the 2013 season, and it includes up to $50,000 in performance performances. Also, a source has told the IBI that the Indians have interest in free agent Jim Thome and that a contract has been offered.

The World Baseball Classic released the provisional rosters for all 16 teams in the tournament that will be played this March. Six Indians have been named to the rosters: Mike Aviles, Asdrubal Cabrera, Chris Perez, Vinne Pestano, Carlos Santana, and Giovanni Soto. Yan Gomes was expected to be on team Brazil, but was not listed.

A lot of the focus in the Ibig three way deal between the Indians, Reds and Diamondbacks consummated in mid-December was on Shin-Soo Choo and Trevor Bauer, but Michael Goodman says that the pickup of outfielder Drew Stubbs from the Reds should not be overlooked. A lot of people have harped on his high strikeout totals, but Michael explains why there is little risk with his pickup and why he has some considerable upside.

According to a report in a Japanese newspaper, free agent right-handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is considering a minor league offer from the Indians as well as the Miami Marlins and New York Mets. He has been limited the last two seasons because of elbow reconstruction surgery in 2011, but may be worth a flier.

The Indians new approach is obvious at the major league level, but how will it effect the minor league level going forward? Will prospects begin to move more quickly through the system, or will patience be at a premium? Will Terry Francona's new book that will be released next week give any indications towards why he really chose the Indians? The first excerpts released give some early clues. Join Jim Pete for another stroll around the Corner of Carnegie and Ontario.

Welcome to this week's IBI Power Poll. Each week the poll takes a look at a relevant topic of the time, an all-time list, or just something that we're talking about here at the IBI home offices. There's nothing like a list to spur a debate, so join us in our lively banter with our weekly polls! Today's poll focuses on last week's Baseball Hall of Fame vote, and gives the readers here at IBI a chance to vote in their own Hall candidates. Have your vote counted, after the jump...

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.

Currently, Major League Baseball is the only major professional sport without a salary cap. For years this has hurt small market clubs in their pursuit of quality players, and the big market clubs with the luxury of huge revenue streams could simply outspend small market teams. It was the classic example of the haves and have-nots. But new IBI contributor Will Joyce says that while more work needs to be done, that things are slowly changing and the new CBA that was adopted last year may be helping smaller revenue teams.

The playoffs continue in the Venezuelan, Dominican and Puerto Rican Winter Leagues, and a few Indians players have upped their game as they push forward for a chance at a league championship. In particular, Jesus Aguilar launched three home runs this past week, and Asdrubal Cabrera continues to impress at the plate. The IBI's Steve Orbanek recaps all the action and provides all of the winter statistics in this week's edition of the Winter Ball Notebook.

You may have noticed that the 2013 Hall of Fame results were released yesterday. If you realized that, you may have also realized that no players were elected this year, despite the presence of many deserving candidates on the ballot. The outrage has filled the internet over the last 24 hours, with plenty of people getting worked up over the results. Jim Piascik decided to join the fun, arguing that among plenty of unappealing options, voting no one in was the worst possible choice.

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...

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.

Welcome to the newest feature at Indians Baseball Insider, the IBI Power Poll. The Poll will take a look at a relevant topic of the time, an all-time list, or just something that we're talking about here at the IBI home offices. There's nothing like a list to spur a debate, so join us in our lively banter with our weekly polls! Today's poll focuses on the best Indians' second baseman of all time. Join Jim Pete after the jump...to find out the who made the cut...