Indians news, features and notes
- Indians 4, Royals 3: Eighth-inning rally lifts Indians to win over Royals
- Green graduate David Lough of Royals living out MLB dream with family in attendance
- Cleveland Indians notebook: Carlos Santana taking some of the blame for high wild-pitch count
- Cleveland Indians report: Lonnie Chisenhall recalled from Triple-A, back at third base
- Indians: Matchups for upcoming games
- Top draft pick Clint Frazier finds it tough to say goodbye to parents but thrilled to start as pro with Cleveland Indians
- Too early to pigeonhole Chisenhall
- Indians recall Lonnie Chisenhall, send Matt Langwell to Triple-A
- Royals 2, Indians 1: Ninth inning dooms Tribe as Kansas City completes comeback win
- Indians’ Nick Swisher to avoid disabled list, likely to miss 2 to 3 days
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The latest on Lee and Martinez rumors
As of this morning, ESPN's Jayson Stark is calling Cliff Lee "quasi-available." The Indians don't exactly want to trade him, but they still may if the return is strong enough.
It is rumored that the Indians would like to obtain right-handed pitching prospect Wade Davis from the Rays, although Tampa Bay has been balking at adding him to a deal, Morosi reports.
Davis is 6-foot-5, 220 pound right-hander who is 8-6 with a 3.22 ERA at Triple A Durham this season. He has struck out 103 and walked 47 in 114.2 innings.
Baseball America called him one of the "premier power pitching prospects in the game" before the season started. Morosi writes that davis is rated "one notch below" Braves prospect Tommy Hanson and Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz.
Tampa Bay has the young talent to make the deal and the major league talent to go to the World Series if Lee is acquired, writes Dave Cameron at Fangraphs.
Sports Illustrated reporter Jon Heyman Tweets that there is a better chance Indians catcher Victor Martinez could be moving on (I love the grammar used on Twitter):
more apt to trade martinez than lee. altho, catcher v-mart's replacement carlos santana isnt due up 'til 2011.
Heyman has now turned to complete sentences when discussing the issue on his blog. Although, the Red Sox just traded for Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche, they are still pursuing Martinez, Heyman writes.
The Indians, however, continue to speak with clubs that are interested in both Martinez and left-hander Cliff Lee."Things are changing rapidly," says one source with knowledge of the Indians' thinking.
The Phillies, Rays, Brewers and Dodgers are on Lee, and the Rangers have expressed continued interest.
UPDATE (2:55): The Rays are also interested in Martinez and have the prospects to get him, according to Jon Heyman.
While Lee and Martinez would both upgrade the Rays, I have to wonder if the Martinez to the Rays talk is legit or fabricated. Acquiring Martinez makes sense as Rays starting catcher Dioner Navarro has struggled all season, but the top player in the Martinez talks so far has been the Red Sox.
Heyman reported yesterday that Boston may be waiting for the price to come down on Martinez.
Could another AL East rival make them rethink that position while driving up the price?
