CLEVELAND: Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti has been told not to worry if he has to take on salary to make a deal for a player.
“I have no reason to think otherwise,” he said Sunday. “We are not limited in focusing on players because of their contract status.”
That is not to say that ownership’s capacity to pay is limitless. Moreover, Antonetti doesn’t know whether he can consummate a trade or not.
“We know enough to realize that being optimistic or pessimistic doesn’t count,” he said. “Being realistic is what counts. I also feel that if we play to our potential, we have enough talent to win the division.”
SIZEMORE UPDATE — Grady Sizemore (knee surgery) is running on a treadmill, but it hasn’t been determined how long it will be before he can run the bases.
“We have to wait and see how he responds to the program,” Antonetti said. “It could be two weeks or it could be longer.”
It also is unclear how long a minor-league rehab assignment would have to be.
“It’s hard to say, because he hasn’t played for a year,” Antonetti said.
Sizemore is taking outdoor batting practice and throwing.
PEREZ STILL ON THE RADAR — Antonetti said lefty reliever Rafael Perez (strained lat) remains in the picture as a contributor for 2012.
“We expect to see him in the second half,” the GM said. “We expect him to go on a rehab assignment in the next couple of weeks.’’
THE MOVE — Lefty Scott Barnes was called up from Columbus to take Nick Hagadone’s place in the bullpen.
Ten days ago, Barnes was optioned to Triple-A after compiling a 7.71 ERA in five appearances (7 innings) in two stints with the Tribe. With Columbus, Barnes was 0-2 with a 3.51 ERA in 16 outings (33⅓ innings).
FARM FACTS — Jared Goedert hit his eighth home run of the season and drove in two runs, but Columbus lost to Indianapolis 10-5. … Tony Wolters doubled twice and had one RBI in Carolina’s 4-3 loss to Potomac. … Aaron Siliga tripled, doubled and singled in Mahoning Valley’s 5-0 win over Connecticut. Marcus Bradley also had three hits and Josh Martin (2-1, 2.93 ERA) gave up two earned runs (three total) and five hits in five innings.
— Sheldon Ocker
