DALLAS, Texas –News, notes and quotes from MLB’s winter meetings at the Anatole Hilton Hotel.

-Indians GM Chris Antonetti had no comment when asked if he was interested in signing Manny Ramirez. The former Indians outfielder is seeking reinstatement from MLB’s retirement list.

Ramirez, facing a 100-game suspension last season for violating MLB’s drug policy, retired early last season with the Rays. MLB has announced that Ramirez would only face a 50-game suspension if he can find work with a big league club.

Since 2008, Ramirez has played with Boston, the Dodgers, White Sox and Rays. He hit 37 homers in 2008, but only 28 since. Ramirez’s career numbers, without the two drug infractions, are Hall of Fame worthy at .312, 2,574 hits, 547 doubles, 555 homers and 1831 RBI.

He played with the Indians from 1993 through 2000.

-Ron Santo, the Cubs late third baseman, was elected to the Hall of Fame on Monday by a vote of the Golden Era Committee.

A player needed 12 votes to gain admission. Former Indian Minnie Minoso received nine. Louie Tiant, another former Indians, received fewer than three.

-The Indians have told catcher Carlos Santana that he cannot play winter ball. Santana, just over a year removed from surgery on his left knee, is coming off a season in which he led the Indians with 155 games played and finished second with 552 at-bats.

Santana, Fausto Carmona and Ubaldo Jimenez have been conditioning with Nelson Perez, Indians athletic trainer, in the Dominican Republic for the last five weeks. The Indians want Santana rested and healthy when he reports to spring training in February.

The switch-hitting Santana batted .239 (132-for-552) with 35 doubles, 27 homers and 79 RBI, 133 strikeouts and 97 walks. Santana’s 27 homers set a club record for switching hitters.

-Jimenez, who did not pitch winter ball last offseason, will make his first start for Licey on Dec. 15. Manager Manny Acta will be on hand to watch.

-ESPN is reporting that the Indians are one of nine teams interested in free agent outfielder Josh Willingham. No surprise there because they tried get him at the trading deadline in July.

Willingham, a right-handed hitter, hit .246 (120-for-480) with 26 doubles, 29 homers and 98 RBI for Oakland last season.

-Kosuke Fukudome did a nice job for the Indians after being acquired from the Cubs for the stretch run, but it’s unlikely they’ll re-sign the free agent outfielder. It may have been a different story if Fukudome hit right-handed instead of left-handed.

With the re-signing of free agent Grady Sizemore, the Indians are expecting to open the season with three left-handed hitting outfielders in Sizemore, Michael Brantley and Shin-Soo Choo.

-Right-hander Chad Durbin, the Indians other free agent, will not be back.

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Indians are one of nine teams interested in free agent Casey Blake.

Blake was the Indians regular third baseman from 2003 until he was traded to the Dodgers for Carlos Santana in 2008. The Indians see Blake, 38, as a role player who could help out at third, first and in right and left field. Blake’s right-handed bat could help to balance the Tribe’s left-handed heavy lineup.

The Dodgers did not exercise the Blake’s $6 million option for 2012. He played just 63 games last year because of various injuries. He had neck surgery at the end of the season. Jim McDowell, Blake’s agent, says his client will be at full strength for 2012.

The Indians have made inquiries about several right-handed hitting role players. They were interested Wily Mo Pena before he went to Japan. They have also checked the medical records, according to FOX Sports, on Mark DeRosa, who has been bothered by chronic left wrist problems for the last few years. DeRosa, like Blake, is a former Indian who can play first, third and some outfield.

Blake’s best season in Cleveland came in 2004 when he hit .271 with 36 doubles, 28 homers and 88 RBI. Last season with the Dodgers he hit .252 (51-for-202) with four homers and 26 RBI.

In six years with the Indians, Blake hit .266 with 116 homers and 417 RBI.

 

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Indians signed catcher Matt Pagnozzi to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., in February.

Pagnozzi, 29, spent time in the big leagues this year with Colorado and Pittsburgh. He played most of the year at Colorado Springs, the Rockies top farm club, hitting .275 (49-for-178) with 13 doubles, two triples, three homers and 29 RBI.

In 12 games with the Rockies and Pirates, the right-handed hitting Pagnozzi hit .276 (8-for-29) with three RBI. He played parts of the 2009 and 2010 seasons with St. Louis. The Pirates claimed him off waivers on Sept. 14.

In 2010, Pagnozzi hit .359 (14-for-39) in September for the Cardinals. He is the nephew of former big league catcher Tom Pagnozzi.

The Indians have two catchers on the 40-man roster in Carlos Santana and Lou Marson. Pagnozzi will offer depth and perhaps a more potent bat to push Marson when Santana is playing first.

Catchers Luke Carlin, Michel Hernandez and Chun Chen form the next line of depth in the system. Chen is not on the 40-man and is not eligible for the Rule 5 draft. Look for the Indians to invite him to big-league camp for the second straight year.

On the move: Former Indians right-hander Mitch Talbot is headed for Korea.

Talbot signed a one-year deal worth $300,000 with the Samsung Lions. The Indians removed him from the 40-man roster in October.

He opened last season in the starting rotation, but went on the disabled list in April with right elbow soreness. He went on the disabled list again in July with lower back pain.

Talbot went 2-6 with a 6.64 ERA in 12 starts. He was 4-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 13 appearances, including seven starts, at Class AAA Columbus.

In 2010, Talbot went 10-13 with a 4.41 ERA. The Indians acquired him from Tampa Bay for catcher Kelly Shoppach on Dec. 20, 2009.

 

 

Back on September 20, 2011 I wrote piece titled Fan’s view: Is Carlos Santana the answer to Indians’ 1B dilemma in 2012? In that story I discussed potential first base options for the Cleveland Indians moving forward into 2012.

It was obvious at that time that current first baseman Matt LaPorta(notes) was struggling to perform at the expectations set forth for him. Whether or not he will ever reach that potential is yet to be determined, but time is certainly running out.

Carlos Santana(notes) is definitely an option having spent a good portion of the season playing that position in addition to his regular catching duties. A bat like Santana’s needs to be in the lineup as often as possible, and often the regular catcher needs more time off than your traditional position player.

One option I called into question in that story was trading for Miami Marlins 1B/LF Logan Morrison(notes). What is interesting, is with the Winter Meetings scheduled to take place starting on December 5, Morrison trade rumors are starting to surface.

I figured why not revisit the idea of Morrison joining the Indians. Would he even be a fit?

With the trade for pitcher Derek Lowe(notes) and the free agent (re) signing of Grady Sizemore(notes), the Indians were able to fill the gap left by Carlos Carrasco(notes) in the starting rotation and retain their starting center fielder provided Sizemore stays healthy.

They still have a need for a right-handed bat, a first baseman, a utility outfielder, and possibly an additional arm in the bullpen.

Morrison bats left-handed but is the power hitting first baseman the Indians desperately need. He could also fill a utility role in the outfield to rest one of the starters or when Santana needs a break from behind the plate.

In 123 games with the Marlins last season, Morrison batted .247 with 23 home runs and 72 RBIs. His salary in 2011 was just under $500,000.

An issue that could be both a blessing and a curse is that Morrison told Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post that he may need surgery on his right knee but is confident he will be ready for spring training.

This revelation may inspire the Marlins to reconsider moving him, and who likes outfielders with knee issues more than the Cleveland Indians? A full time first base job may be just what he needs.

Months later after the thought had crossed my mind; I still like the idea of Morrison as a Cleveland Indian. Now it is up to Chris Antonetti to determine if it is a deal worth making, and at what price. Has it even crossed his mind?

More Cleveland Indians Commentary from this Contributor:

Indians showing very little change this offseason: A fan’s take

Grady Sizemore rejoins Cleveland Indians, team starting to take shape: A fan’s reaction

MLB gears up for major changes in 2013: A fan’s take

Cleveland Indians’ potential OF free-agent Targets: A fan’s look

Carlos Pena is not the Indians’ answer at 1B: A fan’s take

Sources:

All data provided by MLB.com

Palm Beach Post – Miami Marlins’ Logan Morrison is getting along with front office but is concerned about his right knee

Paul Rados is an avid Cleveland Indians fan and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook. For a complete look at his freelance work please visit his Blog.

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Jim Ingraham of The News-Herald gives us his analysis of the Cleveland Indians’ 2011 season.

Today is part one of his three-part series on the infield. He writes how the infield had to deal with so many changes. In fact,  20 players started games at the five infield positions. He also writes how the Indians used six second basemen, five third basemen, four first basemen, three shortstops and two catchers.

Catcher

Did any player in the majors have a more interesting stat line than Carlos Santana?

He led the team in home runs (27), doubles (35), sacrifice flies (seven) and walks (97), and was second on the team in hits (132), runs scored (84) and RBI (79). All that despite hitting .202 vs. right-handed pitchers, against whom nearly 70 percent of his total at-bats for the year came.

Third base

Like Kipnis at second, Lonnie Chisenhall looks like the real deal at third. The Indians will likely keep defensive specialist Jack Hannahan around for insurance, but Chisenhall showed steady progress offensively after being recalled.

 

Around the horn

Paul Hoynes writes on Cleveland.com how Grady Sizemore’s future is unclear following his knee surgery.

Asdrubal Cabrera is a candidate for the Hank Aaron award, as one of the game’s best all-around hitter.

Sizemore presents a $9 million dilemma for the Tribe.

The
past two seasons have offered Columbus baseball fans vivid April looks at the future possibilities
for the parent Cleveland Indians and Septembers that ended with International League and triple-A
championships for the Clippers.

Come April 5, 2012, another solid triple-A team should assemble in Huntington Park for the
season opener against the Louisville Bats. But a No. 1 organizational prospect such as catcher
Carlos Santana in 2010 and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall in ’11 doesn’t appear destined to wear a
Clippers uniform with the incoming group.

Here is a look at who might be back and who won’t.

Catcher

Veterans Paul Phillips, 34, and Luke Carlin, 30, were among the three players who spent the
entire season in Columbus. The pitching staff benefited from their presence, but both are free
agents. One could return, probably not both.

Chun Chen, 22, batted .262 in 113 games for double-A Akron with 16 home runs and 70 RBI. His
offense is ahead of his defense, so a veteran teammate to help with his development wouldn’t
hurt.

First base

Beau Mills, 25, resurrected his career after a midseason promotion from Akron. The 2007
first-round draft pick hit .269 with seven home runs and 18 RBI with Columbus.

Nick Johnson, 33, was a huge presence in the clubhouse but was limited on the field by a right
wrist injury for a second straight season. He could retire.

Second base

Jason Kipnis, 24 and the organization’s No. 3 prospect to start this season, is the favorite to
win the job with the Indians in spring training. That could push Cord Phelps, 24, back to the
Clippers.

Shortstop

Luis Valbuena, 25, was the most consistent hitter for the Clippers in ’11. He is out of options,
so his time in Columbus looks over.

Juan Diaz, 22, was called up from Akron to play in the postseason for the Clippers. He is a
6-foot-4 switch-hitter who looked ready for triple-A.

Third base

Chisenhall, 22, will receive a shot to win the everyday job in Cleveland. Jared Goedert, 26,
rebounded from a rib injury and is expected to return to Columbus.

Outfield

Tim Fedroff, 24, was a solid contributor after coming up from Akron and should return.

Thomas Neal, 24, was acquired in a July trade from San Francisco, but injuries kept him off the
field. He is on the Indians’ 40-man roster.

Nick Weglarz, 23, had knee and shoulder injuries that limited him to 41 games at Akron, where he
batted .179. He has a ton to prove in the spring.

Chad Huffman, 26, spent the season with the Clippers and batted .246 with 13 home runs and 58
RBI.

Jerad Head, 28, led the Clippers with 24 home runs and batted .284 with 70 RBI. He is on the
40-man roster now.

Starting pitching

This group could look an awful lot like this season, based on what happens in Cleveland.

International League all-stars Zach McAllister, 23, and Jeanmar Gomez, 23, are candidates for
probably one rotation spot in Cleveland, as is David Huff, 27. Each has at least one option
remaining, as does Corey Kluber, 25.

Scott Barnes (24, right knee) and Hector Rondon (23, right elbow) are coming off injuries but
could be in the mix with Paolo Espino, 24, and Akron’s Austin Adams, 25.

Bullpen

Ditto with the rotation based on Cleveland’s needs. Josh Judy, 25; Zach Putnam, 24; and Nick
Hagadone, 25, could land in either place to begin the year, as could Chen Lee, 24.

Akron closer Cory Burns, 23, and lefty Kelvin De La Cruz, 23, are ready to rise. Jason Rice, 25,
was a late-season pickup

On-field staff

Mike Sarbaugh was the IL manager of the year and a two-time triple-A championship game winner.
He will wonder whether the major leagues will call. Pitching coach Ruben Niebla and hitting coach
Lee May Jr. would like big-league jobs. Two openings exist in Cleveland.

If promotions don’t occur, each would be welcome back in Columbus.

jmassie@dispatch.com