The Indians aren’t waiting to see if the starting pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona will be able to begin the season on time.
They moved Friday to fortify the rotation, acquiring right-hander Kevin Slowey and cash from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for minor-league reliever Zach Putnam.
Though Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti insists that Slowey had been on his radar screen for years, Antonetti conceded, “Obviously there is some uncertainty with the situation about Fausto.”
However, when Antonetti was asked if Carmona’s problems triggered the deal, he said, “Not necessarily. We’ve been trying to acquire him since his college days at Winthrop. We tried to trade for him last year at the trading deadline.”
Slowey, 27, spent his entire five-year, big-league career with the Minnesota Twins until he was swapped to the Rockies in December. Last year, he posted an 0-8 record and 6.67 ERA in 14 appearances, including eight starts.
The previous four seasons, Slowey was a starter almost exclusively. From 2008 through 2010 he compiled a 35-20 record with a 4.36 ERA.
Slowey missed time with a strained oblique and bursitis, but Antonetti believes he is totally healthy now. He said that Slowey will have to earn a spot in the rotation when he comes to training camp.
He recently avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $2.75 million contract with the Rockies. The cash received by the Tribe will defray part of his salary.
Putnam, 24, made his major-league debut in 2011, posting a 6.14 ERA in 7· innings out of the Tribe bullpen. Spending most of the season in Triple-A, Putnam was 6-3 with nine saves and a 3.65 ERA in 44 appearances (69 innings).
Carmona, arrested Thursday in the Dominican Republic for using a false name, was released on about $13,000 bond Friday in Santo Domingo, according to the Associated Press.
Upon his release, he made a tearful public apology, “I ask for the forgiveness of my fans, the government of the United States and the Cleveland Indians for this situation,” he said.
According to Dominican authorities, Carmona is Roberto Hernandez Heredia, a 31-year-old. Carmona had represented himself to be three years younger.
The Indians don’t know when or if Heredia/Carmona will be given a work visa and be permitted to travel to the United States.
Antonetti deflected questions about Carmona, saying, “I’m going to refrain from commenting until we get a little more clarity.”
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians. Follow Beacon Journal sports on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
