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According to a report from Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, Cleveland Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo is not expected to play for his South Korea team in the World Baseball Classic this spring. Choo's agent Scott Boras says that Choo will use the opportunity to focus and prepare for his 2013 season.

Welcome to the newest feature at Indians Prospect Insider, the IPI 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 IPI 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' catcher of all time. Join Jim Pete after the jump...to find out his vote...

When you think of the Indians "window" that was supposed to begin in 2012, what's lacking is a solid core of players acquired via the MLB First-Player draft. Our resident draft expert Jeff Ellis explores the Tribe's drafts over the years, and focuses in on just how bad the Indians did during the early 2000's to set this team up to win. Check out Jeff's thoughts and more on what happened, after the jump...

The GM Meetings may have wrapped up out out in Indian Hills, California, but things are just starting to heat up on the hot stove this offseason. Rumors continue to swirl that the Indians may trade any or all of Asdrubal Cabrera, Shin-Shoo Choo, Justin Masterson, and Chris Perez, but they are also rumored to be in on some interesting free agents. So should the Indians be rebuilding or retooling this offseason? That's a question Tony tries to answer, plus he talks about the Indians 2013 payroll, how they should use their DH, and more.

Indians prospects continued to compete in winter leagues this past week, and a number of players have really started to heat up. Fresh off a brilliant 2012 campaign, Jose Ramirez seems to have picked up right where he left off, and catcher Alex Monsalve is now in the midst of a five-game hitting streak. Plus, promising left-hander Giovanni Soto makes his winter ball debut. The IPI's Steve Orbanek provides all the details in his latest Winter Ball Notebook.

There are only two months left in the year, which means that the holiday season is upon us. It also means it is time for the Transaction Rundown's Year In Review. Every Friday between today and December 21st, we will look back at the roster movement over the past season for one club in the Cleveland Indians organization. Today, we start with the big league club.

The Indians lost a long time member of their minor league system today as free agent third baseman/outfielder Jared Goedert agreed to a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, over the past few days they have added two players as they signed free agent infielder Luis Hernandez and resigned right-handed pitcher Hector Rondon, both to minor league deals.

The Indians have begun a long offseason in which they will try and compile a cost-effective group of new players to fill in several holes in the line-up. It's hard to know which direction the Indians will take going forward, but there are several name free agents that the Indians will likely target going forward. Here's a first look at those players...after the jump...

In Tony's second part to his two-part Tribe Happenings this week, he discusses the new approach the Indians have adopted to building their roster. There have been a lot of meetings over the past month and they have welcomed change, but will they put their new approach into motion or fall into old habits? Tony wonders about that, talks about how they have made significant changes in the past with their draft strategy that has worked, and also talks about how a Kevin Youkilis, Terry Francona and Indians marriage fits like a glove.

Social media has become a huge part of professional sports as it provides a quick, easy way for fans to follow their favorite teams and personalities. I thought it would be a good idea for all the Twitter users out there to have a listing of all the Indians' related Twitter accounts....everything from the front office to the Major League players to the minor league affiliates to the minor league players....so here you go.

The Indians traded Esmil Rogers to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, acquiring shortstop Mike Aviles and catcher/infielder Yan Gomes. The move wasn't earth-shattering by anyone's standards, but as a first trade in what should be an aggressive offseason for Chris Antonetti, it may be a sign as to the direction the front office will take. Check out the potential scenarios as Jim Pete analyzes...after the jump...

The offseason got started in a busy way with the Indians making a flurry of roster decisions last week. On Saturday they made their opening salvo in what is expected to be a busy offseason and traded Esmil Rogers to the Blue Jays for Mike Aviles and Yan Gomes. Tony recaps the trade and gives lot of insight on the variety of things the move may mean for the club, and also discusses all the other roster and coaching decisions from earlier in the week.

The Cleveland Indians made their first move of the offseason Saturday as they acquired Mike Aviles and Yan Gomes from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for right-handed reliever Esmil Rogers. Aviles appeared in 136 games for the Boston Red Sox last season and hit .250 with 13 home runs and 60 RBI.

The IPI's Steve Orbanek returns with the latest edition of his Winter Ball Notebook. Carlos Moncrief was removed from the taxi squad this week and should be performing regularly for the remainder of the AFL season. Plus, Steve touches on catcher Alex Monsalve and how he has started to heat up at the plate and first baseman Jesus Aguilar's surprising absence this past week in the VWL.

The IPI's Jim Piascik completes his final look at the Indians' roster in his year end quarterly rankings with the second half of his piece ranking the #1-24 players of the 48 that played in Cleveland this past season. Asdrubal Cabrera, Jason Kipnis, Carlos Santana, Shin-Soo Choo, Vinnie Pestano and others are all key members to the team, and see where they as well as others rank after the jump.

The IPI's Jeff Ellis is hunkered down in New York City in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, but that hasn't stopped him from looking at how the Indians can improve their roster this offseason. Earlier in the week he touched on President Mark Shapiro's use of WAR (wins above replacement) to evaluate the core players on the current roster, and this time around he looks at 12 free agents that the Indians might be able to sign this offseason using the same WAR approach.