Read More: Grady Sizemore (CF – CLE), Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants

Though the Cleveland Indians didn’t exercise a $9 million option on Grady Sizemore earlier this year, they could still be interested in him. The news to not exercise the option drew a negative, but unsurpised reaction from the fanbase. Either way, it does look like the Indians still will have interest in bringing him back at a lower price, but there will be some competition.

From Paul Hoynes on Twitter:

ESPN reporting Texas, Yankees, Cubs, Giants, Phillies and Red Sox have interest in Grady Sizemore. #Indians have an interest as well.    

Grady spent a good portion of his time in recent years under the knife, with five surgeries in three years (two sports hernias, both knees and elbow). The $9 million that the Indians decided they couldn’t devote to him was much too much, but it makes an awful lot of sense for multiple teams to be interested in seeing Sizemore work out. Maybe the center fielder will come cheap and a team will take a chance on his injury history. 

TORONTO — Grady Sizemore, a leadoff hitter through much of his career, could be hitting in the middle of the Indians lineup until Travis Hafner comes off the disabled list.

In Sizemore’s six games since being activated from the disabled list on May 27, he’s batted sixth five times and fifth once.

“Right now, we’re going to keep Grady where he’s been hitting because Hafner isn’t here,” said manager Manny Acta, before Thursday’s game.

Sizemore has hit leadoff 17 times this season. Thursday was his sixth game in the heart of the lineup.

“We need a little bit more thump in the middle of the lineup,” said Acta.

In the spring of 2010, Acta moved Sizemore from leadoff to the No.2 spot.

“When I came over here last year, I told you guys the reason I took Grady out of the leadoff spot was because Victor Martinez was gone and the lineup couldn’t afford to have him leading,” said Acta. “This year’s lineup, with Hafner and Carlos Santana back, Grady could go back to the line

“But right now, without Hafner and with the way some of the games are swinging the bat, we’re better off with him in the middle.”

Sizemore, after going 0-for-12 against the Rays at the start of the just completed six-game trip, went 4-for-10 with five RBI Tuesday and Wednesday against Toronto.

Hafner is on the disabled list with a strained right oblique. He is scheduled to start taking some practice swings with the bat on Friday, but he is still at least two to three weeks away from playing.

When Hafner was placed on the disabled list on May 20, the time period for his recovery was estimated to be between three to six weeks.

Tonight’s lineups:

Rangers (30-26): 2B Ian Kinsler (R), SS Elvis Andrus (R), LF Josh Hamilton (L), DH Michael Young (R), 3B Adrian Beltre (R), RF Nelson Cruz (R), 1B Mitch Moreland (L), C Yorvit Torrealba (R), CF Endy Chavez (L), RHP David Bush (0-1, 4.43).

Indians (32-20): CF Michael Brantley (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), C Carlos Santana (S), DH Grady Sizemore (L), LF Travis Buck (L), 2B Orlando Cabrera (R), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), 3B Jack Hannahan (L), RHP Carlos Carrasco (6-2, 2.74).

Him vs. me: Adam Everett and Austin Kearns, who opened Thursday’s game on the bench, 5-18 and 5-19, respectively, against Bush. Choo is 2-for-2.

Kinsler and Mike Napoli are each 2-3 against Carrasco.

Left vs. right: Lefties are hitting .347 (34-for-98) with two homers and righties .220 (22-for-100) with two homers vs. Carrasco. Texas has three lefties in the lineup.

Lefties are hitting .250 (10-for-40) with three homers and righties .275 (11-for-40) with two homers against Bush.

Quote of the day: “I’m not used to seeing the ball go wherever she wants. As a pitcher, I like to be -— I don’t want to say perfect, but I want to know what the ball is going to do,” Yankee closer Mariano Rivera.

Umpires: H Mark Carlson, 1B Jeff Kellog, 2B Eric Cooper, 3B Lance Barrett.

Next: RHP Justin Masterson (5-3, 3.07) vs. RHP Alexi Ogando (5-0, 2.33) Friday at 7:05 p.m. STO, WTAM/1100.