DALLAS, Texas — Asked about his reaction to Albert Pujols signing with the Los Angeles Angels, Indians GM Chris Antonetti said, “I would have preferred that he stayed in the National League.”

The Angels signed Pujols to a reported 10-year, $254 million deal early Thursday morning. Then they signed left-hander C.J. Wilson to a reported five-year, $77.5 million package. Those signings followed a week in which the Miami Marlins signed Heath Bell, Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle for a combined $191 million.

The Indians countered with five days of talk. Their only player move was designating prospect Hector Rondon for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Grady Sizemore. Rondon, recovering from right elbow surgery, cleared waivers Thursday and was outrighted to Class AAA Columbus.

Antonetti was not surprised at the amount of money that the Marlins and Angels spent. When asked about being able to compete with teams with that kind of payroll, Antonetti said, “It’s our job to find a way to stay competitive, to figure out a way to win.

“It doesn’t necessarily make it any easier, but that’s part of the business. We have to challenge ourselves to make the best decisions we can and just focus on what we can do to improve our team and win as many games as we can.”

Antonetti left the meetings feeling he was just a couple of text messages away from making a deal.

“I think we were able to  further some of the discussions we’ve had on trades and free agents while we were here,” he said. “Hopefully, that has led us closer to a deal that will allow us to improve the team.

“It could happen very quickly. There are some things we could be relatively close on. As we’ve said a bunch of times, the timing may change and it will take weeks for it to happen.”

Outfielder Josh Willingham is one player the Indians have discussed. He’s a right-handed hitter with power, but the Indians have yet to make an offer. Willingham, who made $6 million last year with Oakland, is seeking a three-year deal.

The Twins are interested in Willingham if they can’t re-sign Michael Cuddyer. Jason Kubel and Cuddyer turned down arbitration offers from the Twins on Wednesday. First baseman Derek Lee turned down the Pirates’ arbitration offer. The Indians have expressed interest in the right-handed hitting Lee, but so far it hasn’t been returned.

Reliever Francisco Rodriguez did accept arbitration and it could cost the Brewers over $11 million on a one-year deal.

The Indians traded for Derek Lowe and signed Sizemore before the start of the meetings.

Minor matters: The Indians lost two players in the Class AAA phase of the Rule 5 draft.

The Twins took right-hander Marty Popham from Class AA Akron. Popham was 0-1 with a 7.24 ERA in 22 appearances, including 16 starts at Akron. He was 6-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 22 games, including 16 starts at Class A Kinston.

The Marlins took outfielder Donnie Webb off Akron’s roster. Webb hit .214 (56-for-256) with 10 doubles, three triples, two homers and 24 RBI in 85 games. He stole 14 bases in 19 attempts.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Baseball’s Winter Meetings will be held in Dallas next Monday, Dec. 5, through Thursday, Dec. 8.

The Cleveland Indians, who went 80-82 last season and finished second to the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central Division, aren’t expected to be especially active.

The Indians roster is relatively young, and it’s understood that the current players on board will form the team’s nucleus in 2012.

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com writes about the Indians’ approach to the Winter Meetings, referring to general manager Chris Antonetti: 

Cleveland has already shored up its rotation by acquiring Derek Lowe in a trade with the Braves and solidified its outfield by re-signing Grady Sizemore. Next on the agenda — beyond the usual low-profile moves to address depth up and down the roster — is finding a way to improve the Tribe’s offense.

Antonetti has held discussions with free agents and he has talked trades with other teams. The Indians GM is not sure, however, which route might present the best option for upgrading the position-player aspect of his roster.

“It’s very difficult to handicap the two different avenues,” Antonetti said. “We’ve been engaged in both. We’ve certainly had substantive conversations with free agents, as well as laid the groundwork for some potential trades. Now, which direction we end up going, or whether or not those will atually get done, I don’t have a great sense.”

What is clear at the moment is that the Indians plan on relying heavily on the young core that is in the fold, with the hope that the team can build on the success experienced throughout the 2011 season. Cleveland had one of the youngest rosters in baseball, but finished second in the American League Central.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage will detail any moves the Indians make before, during or after the Winter Meetings.

Rounding third

Baseball, unlike the other sports, quietly settled on a new collective bargaining agreement recently. Jon Steiner, writing for the WaitingForNextYear blog, explains how the new agreement could affect the Indians in Part 1 (league minimum players) and in Part 2 (draft compensation).

An Indians Winter Meetings preview, by Scott Barzilla for the Bleacher Report.

On MLB.com, Jordan Bastian answers readers’ questions about the Indians.

An Arizona Fall League recap for players in the Indians’ organization, by Tony Lastoria of Indians Prospect Insider.

A Bleacher Report slideshow of players ready to make an impact in the big leagues includes Indians pitcher Zach McAllister.

What the new collective bargaining agreement might mean for teams — like the Indians — not in the big markets. By Stephanie Liscio for the blog “It’s pronounced ‘Lajaway.’ “

A chart on remaining options for players on the Indians’ 40-man roster, by Tony Lastoria of Indians Prospect Insider.

Details about how the new CBA will affect the baseball draft, by Jim Callis of Baseball America.

The MLB season has just finished and already a number of trade rumors are circulating through the internet. The latest from Bleacher Report has the Cleveland Indians looking to acquire B.J. Upton of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Cleveland was a major surprise and a great story for most of the 2011 baseball season, as the Indians held the lead in the AL Central for most of the first four months, but the team faltered in the second half of the season and now they are looking to fill some holes on their roster.

The Indians let Grady Sizemore leave after not picking up the option on his contract and the team now needs to fill that outfield position. Upton has been a good player for the Rays, but not the star the team thought he would become, and for that reason he could find himself playing in a different city in 2012.

Upton could supply a decent bat and a player that can steal some bases for a club, and at 27 years of age, he has yet to hit his prime. Upton will make about $7 million for the coming MLB season and it would cost the Indians a couple of good prospects to pry him away from Tampa Bay, but the Indians have a lack of talent in the outfield and making this deal would help the club next season.

November 14, 2011 – Midwest League (MWL) Lake County Captains
(Eastlake, OH) – The Lake County Captains, the Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, has introduced a new logo to commemorate the team’s upcoming tenth anniversary season at Classic Park in Eastlake. The Captains relocated from Columbus, GA and began playing in Northeast Ohio in April, 2003.

The new logo incorporates the ship design that is featured on the sleeve patch that Captains players wear on their uniforms and adds “10″ to the bow of the ship. A ribbon below the ship with “2003″ and “2012″ signifies the inaugural year as well as the upcoming season. A Captains “C” logo with the lighthouse rising from the bottom of the letter will separate the two years on the ribbon.

“This is a milestone year for our organization and we feel that the logo that will represent the tenth anniversary is one that our community will be proud of,” said Captains Vice President & General Manager Brad Seymour.

The logo will be featured on limited edition merchandise available at the Cargo Hold gift store at Classic Park as well as on-line at www.CaptainsBaseball.com . Merchandise featuring the special logo is currently arriving now in time for the holiday shopping season. The logo will also be seen on all team-issued print materials produced for the 2012 season.

The Lake County Captains are a Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians and play its home games at Classic Park in Eastlake, at the corner of State Route 91 and Vine Street. For more information on the Captains, please visit the team’s official website at www.CaptainsBaseball.com .

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

PHILADELPHIA — Jim Thome took the stage at the City Club of Cleveland on Oct. 25, and spoke in generalities about staying in the game.

On Friday, he got a little more specific.

Despite being picked up by the Indians in August, reuniting the record-setting designated hitter with a team and city that adored him, Thome agreed to a one-year contract with the Phillies, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

“I’ll keep playing,” Thome said last month. “I just need teams to call me. I can’t go play in the backyard by myself. I don’t know the demand for a 41-year-old DH, but my passion is I want to continue to play.”

The Phillies, yet another team he’s spent time with over his 21 seasons, granted him that wish for $1.25 million.

He will take a physical today, and if all goes well, he will bring his 604 career home runs to Citizens Bank Park next spring.

Philadelphia, eliminated in the division series by the St. Louis Cardinals, can certainly use his power from the left side, though where — and if — he’ll play in the field, is a big question.

Thome, a Phillie from 2003 to ’05, has not played defensively since 2007, and might be a little rusty at first base, should he be called on to play there as Ryan Howard recovers from surgery on his left Achilles.

While certainly interested in remaining an Indian, Thome set the stage for an exit in the way he answered questions at the City Club two weeks ago.

“In a year or two, this team can do some very special things,” Thome said of the Indians, sounding like a player who had played his last game for them. “They have put the groundwork in, done things the right way.”

Thome will reunite with Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. The two formed a bond from their days in Cleveland together, and almost did it sooner — as in four months ago — before the Indians sneaked in and acquired him from the Minnesota Twins with the Phillies lurking.

Thome is a lifetime .277 hitter with 1,674 RBI.

The Phillies cruised to the National League East title this season, only to be bounced by St. Louis in five games.

Shortly after the Cleveland Indians exercised the team option on Fausto Carmona(notes) and cut ties with Grady Sizemore(notes) on Monday, October 31 the Indians made another splash in acquiring veteran pitcher Derek Lowe(notes) from the Atlanta Braves.

In the deal the Indians receive Derek Lowe and cash for minor league pitcher Chris Jones. Lowe is due $15 million in 2012, with Atlanta estimated to pick up the tab on $10 million.

Lowe struggled in 2011 going 9-17 with a 5.05 ERA. He also recorded 137 strikeouts while walking 70. In his career he boasts a 166-146 record paired with a 3.94 ERA. He also has earned 85 saves in his career.

In acquiring the 38-year-old pitcher the Indians immediately add depth and experience to their young rotation. As of today the starting rotation already appears to be greatly improved with Justin Masterson(notes), Josh Tomlin(notes), Ubaldo Jimenez(notes), Fausto Carmona, and now Lowe as the starting five.

While I realize many casual fans will immediately look at his stats from last season and start bashing the deal, it is important to realize the team made a great move that will improve the team. Lowe gets a change of scenery in the American League and the Indians get a veteran pitcher who is capable of eating innings. Even as the fourth or fifth starter he is a steal at $5 million next season.

I am sorry to report to fellow Tribe fans that the Indians will not be signing former Indian CC Sabathia(notes) to a five-year $1 billion dollar deal this offseason nor will Albert Pujols(notes) be starting at first base on opening day. The Indians are being realistic in their efforts to improve the team, and that trend will continue through the offseason.

More MLB Commentary from this Contributor:

Indians exercise option on Carmona, decline Sizemore: A fan’s reaction

Boston Red Sox look to the future, forget the past: A fan’s view

Fan’s take: Can Jim Thome be the next Indians’ player/coach?

Sources:

All data provided by MLB.com

Associated Press – Indians acquire RHP Derek Lowe

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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