The Cleveland Indians have signed Tom Hamilton to a multi-year contract extension as voice of the Indians.

The five-time recipient of the Ohio Sportscaster of the Year Award will be entering his 23rd season of calling Indians baseball in 2012.

Veteran broadcaster Jim Rosenhaus will serve as Hamilton’s partner on the Indians Radio Network in 2012. Rosenhaus has spent the past five seasons as a contributing member of the Indians Radio Network, including roles as play-by-play announcer and host of the pregame show, Indians Warm-Up and weekly show, Tribe Talk, on the Indians Radio Network and indians.com.

Rosenhaus was inducted into the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame this past summer in recognition of 11 seasons as the play-by-play voice of the Class AAA Buffalo Bisons.

“Tom Hamilton has entertained Indians fans for more than two decades and over that time his voice has become a core part of Indians memories and experiences. We are thrilled for our fans that this multi-year extension will ensure that Tom continues as ‘voice of the Indians,’ ” Indians President Mark Shapiro said in a statement.

Shapiro said radio broadcasts in 2012 also will include periodic visits from Indians alumni “to provide an on-field perspective and a tie to generations of Indians fans.”

Hamilton was promoted to the top position on the Indians broadcast team in 1998 following the retirement of Herb Score. In his 22 seasons since 1990, Hamilton has called 68 postseason games for the Tribe from 1994-99, 2001 and 2007, including all six games from the 1995 World Series and all seven games from the 1997 World Series.

He joined the Indians following a three-year stint as a broadcaster for the Class AAA Columbus Clippers (1987-89)

Rosenhaus has spent the past five years as the producer/engineer for the Indians Radio Network and host of Indians Warm Up. He joined the Indians family in 2007 following his 11 seasons with the Buffalo Bisons. While in Buffalo, he was also the play-by-play voice for 11 years with the University of Buffalo men’s basketball team.

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 — I’ve covered the Indians since 1983. Here are my top five and bottom five trades for the Tribe in terms of impact on forming a consistent winner.

Top five

1. Dec. 6, 1989: Indians acquired Sandy Alomar Jr., Carlos Baerga and Chris James from San Diego for Joe Carter. Comment: The deal that started it all.

2. Dec. 10, 1991: Indians acquire Kenny Lofton and Dave Rohde from Houston for Willie Blair and Ed Taubensee. Comment: There is still a warrant for John Hart’s arrest for grand larceny in Houston.

3. Dec. 10, 1993: Indians acquire Omar Vizquel from Seattle for Felix Fermin and Reggie Jefferson. Comment: Why do the Mariners keep trading with the Tribe?

4. June 27, 2002: Indians acquire Brandon Phillips, Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Lee Stevens for Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew. Comment: Indians hit the trifecta.

5. July 26, 2006: Indians acquire Shin-Soo Choo and Scott Nottingham from Seattle for Ben Broussard and cash. Comment: When in doubt, call the Mariners.

Bottom five

1. April 17, 2006: Indians send Brandon Phillips to Cincinnati for Jeff Stevens. Comment: Franchise changer.

2. July 7, 2008: Indians trade CC Sabathia to Milwaukee for Matt LaPorta, Michael Brantley, Rob Bryson and Zach Jackson. Comment: Needed more. Sabathia 70-25 since trade.

3. Nov. 18, 1998: Indians send Brian Giles to Pittsburgh for Ricardo Rincon. Comment: Never trade a power-hitting everyday outfielder for a situational lefty, a bad one at that.

4. March 25, 1989: Indians send Jay Bell to Pittsburgh for Felix Fermin and Denny Gonzalez. Comment: They didn’t think Bell could play shortstop. Wrong.

5. July 29, 2009: Indians send Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to Philadelphia for Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson. Comment: The longer you look at this trade, the worse it gets.

So what’s next for the Cleveland Indians?

News-Herald reporter Jim Ingraham writes how first base is a position the Tribe will try to improve on during the offseason.

It seems that perhaps Antonetti and his staff have seen enough of Matt LaPorta to know they have seen enough of Matt LaPorta. First base is supposed to be a run-producing position, not an angst-producing position.

When your first baseman consistently hits in the bottom third of the order, you’ve probably got the wrong guy playing first base.

So that means the Tribe will trade for or sign a free-agent first baseman. And we all know it won’t be Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder.

But they might look for a Derek Lowe-type situation — a formerly productive first baseman/outfielder coming off a bad year, available in a trade to man the position for a year until the Tribe’s player development system puts the finishing touches on 21-year-old Jesus Aguilar.

More Tribe

Asdrubal Cabrera first Cleveland Indians SS to win Silver Slugger award.

Will Asdrubal remain at shortstop?



It looks like the Cleveland Indians will make some moves during the offseason because they believe their window for contention has arrived, writes MLB.com reporter Jordan Bastian.

These moves, however, may have started when with the trade in July that landed starter Ubaldo Jimenez, and sent Cleveland’s top two pitching prospects packing, for evidence of the Tribe’s confidence level.

The Indians feel that a push to the postseason is a realistic goal.

“We’ve transitioned from that developing team to a contending team,” Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said at the end of the season. “Our sole focus is to do what we can to build around a very talented nucleus to put ourselves in a position to have a chance to play meaningful games not only in September, but in October next year.

But given the youthful roster, and the wave of injuries that struck the team throughout the year, it would be understandable for the Indians to simply be content with their showing, writes Bastian.

 “We just can’t sit here and be satisfied,” Acta said.

Around the horn

Could Grady Sizemore return?

Tribe allow Sizemore to walk, and acquire Derek Lowe.

The Indians can’t afford to get emotional with decision.

Pitcher Derek Lowe joins the Tribe.