The Indians and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Cleveland have agreed to keep 1100 AM (WTAM) as the flagship home of the Tribe through the 2017 season, while 100.7 (WMMS) becomes the Indians' FM home.

With the agreement, 1100 AM will air all of the Indians regular-season games and WMMS 100.7 FM will simulcast the majority of Tribe games. Clear Channel Cleveland will also air 15 live Spring Training games and continue to distribute Tribe games to the entire Indians Radio Network, which consists of 26 stations across Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.

   The Indians have invited five more non-roster players to major-league spring training camp.
   Among the group is one of the few power-hitters in the Tribe farm system: first baseman Luis Aguilar, 22, who played at Carolina and Akron last year, batting a combined .280 with 31 doubles, 15 home runs and 71 RBI in 440 at-bats.
   Also invited to big-league camp were right-handers Presont Guilmet and Matt Langwell, catcher Roberto Perez and left-hander Giovanni Soto.
   Guilmet, 25, tied for the Eastern League lead in saves with 24 in 29 opportunities as the Aeros’ closer. Langwell split the season between Akron and Columbus, compiling a combined record of 4-0 and 2.74 earned-run average in 42 relief appearances. Perez, 24, batted .212 with one homer and 31 RBI IN 283 at-bats and threw out 41 percent of would-be base stealers at Akron. Soto, 21, was 6-9 with a 2.93 ERA in 22 starts for the Aeros. He threw s no-hitter against Altoona in July.

 

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports runs down a litany of players who could return to the Indians this season as their DH.

He says Travis Hafner and Jim Thome are more likely than Manny Ramirez, who is playing well in the Winter League playoffs. He mentions other players as well.

  The Indians today signed Ben Francisco and Ryan Raburn, two utility players, to minor-league contracts with invitations to major-legue spring training camp.

  Raburn, 31,  has spent all of his career in the Tigers' organizaton. Last year, he batted .171 with one home run and 12 RBI in 66 games. He also plyed 15 games at Triple-A Toledo, batting .250.

   USA Baseball today announced its 28-player World Baseball Classic roster, which includes two Indians.
   Tribe closer Chris Perez and setup man Vinnie Pestano will leave spring training early to pitch for the U.S. team that will compete in the March tournament.
    Four other Cleveland players will join teams representing their native countries: catcher Carlos Santana will play for the Domnican Republic, shortstop Mike Aviles and left-hander Giovanni Soto will play for Puerto Rico and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera will play for Venezuela.
   Each nation will submit final rosters by Feb. 20.
 

Call it a good problem to have.

With the likes of Indians top prospect (according to Baseball America) Francisco Lindor and a handful of four other low-level shortstop prospects - a few of which will finally hit the Double-A scene in 2013 - it's easy to get them all mixed up.

Outfielder Thomas Neal, designated for assignment Jan. 3, cleared waivers and was released today by the Indians, becoming a free agent.
Neal, 25, spent most of last season at Akron, where he batted .314 with 24 doubles, 12 home runs and 51 RBI in 117 games. He appeared in nine games for the Tribe, batting .217.
 

  The Indians stoday igned three more plyers to minor-league contracts that include invitations to major-league spring training, including left-hander Scott Kazmir, who has all but officially belonged to the Tribe since before Christmas.
   In addition to Kazmir, the Indians signed right-hander Jerry Gil and lefty Edward Paredes. 
   Kazmir, 28, was once one of the brighter pitching prospects in baseball, making his major-league debut for the 2004 Rays at age 20. In his first four full seasons, Kazmir compiled a 45-34 record and a 3.64 earned-run average.
   Beginning in 2009, Kazmir began to experience injuries that carried through the 2010 season and included problems with his elbow, shoulder and hamstring. He was traded in August of 2009 to the Angels, where his fortunes declined further. By 2012, he was pitching in the independent Atlantic League.
   Gil, 30, appeared in 30 big-league games in 2004 and 2007 as a position player, converting to pitcher in 2008. In 2012, he pitched out of the bullpen for Triple-A Lax Vegas (Toronto), compiling a 7-1 record and nine saves with a 4.92 ERA in 58 appearances.
   Paredes, 26, is still waiting to make hi big-league debut, having pitched in the Mariners’ organization for seven years. In 2012, he pitched out of the bullpen for Estrellas in the Dominican Republic.

 

   Several internet sources are reporting that the Indians have signed free agent right-hander Brett Myers to a one-year contract.

   Myers, 32, spent last year with the Astros and White Sox, appearing stricttly out of the bullpen. In 70 total appearances, Myers posted a 3-8 record and 3.31 earned-run average in, wallking only 15 in 61 1/3 innings.