Weekend Update: 1/3

Here is a quick rundown of the happenings in the week that was in the Indians farm system:

- By now, everyone should know that the Indians have acquired infielder Mark DeRosa from the Cubs for minor league pitchers Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer, and John Gaub. For more info on the deal and very detailed scouting reports of the players the Indians sent out, check out my writeup a few days ago when the deal went down.

- Speaking of the players given up in the DeRosa trade, all three will be on my radio show Smoke Signals this coming Thursday January 8th, 2009 from 9:30-11:00 p.m. EST. I talked to Archer and Gaub on Friday, and both are in good spirits after the trade and ready to move on and agreed to come on the show to talk about the trade and the change in direction their careers have taken. I am still awaiting confirmation from Stevens to come on the show, but he should be good to go.

- Our last edition of Smoke Signals which aired between Christmas and New Year’s on Monday December 29th, 2008 centered around the Indians need for a reliable, veteran starting pitcher to fill out the starting rotation. We discussed the options remaining in free agency, and then had on-air interviews with player agent Josh Kusnick and Indians minor league left-hander Ryan Morris.

- Something of interest that I learned over the past week is that minor league players who wish to go to Goodyear to workout and train early have to pay for their expenses out of their own pocket. Until minor league camp opens in spring training, attendance at the new Goodyear facility is considered voluntary and players are responsible for paying for their own hotel rooms, meals, and anything else. Sometimes agents or endorsement deals pay for this extra expense, but for a lot of players they don’t have this option for the extra money to afford going to spring training early. It may not seem like a lot, but the cost of staying in a hotel and eating runs about $100 a day in Goodyear, which is a lot for a player living on a minor league salary.

- As discussed in a conversation with first baseman Todd Martin near the end of August, he had surgery this past September on his knee to correct a previous surgery to repair a tear in the meniscus in his right knee in June that did not go well. The surgery was performed by Dr. Parker who also happens to be the knee specialist for the Cleveland Cavaliers. After some rehab time in Goodyear, Martin is back home in Knoxville, Tennessee working out with a personal trainer to get ready for spring training.

- As mentioned earlier in the week, the upcoming Indians prospect rankings are set to start on Sunday January 11th. The list will be a countdown of the Top 100 Indians prospects, with #100 and #99 kicking things off on the 11th, #98 and #97 on Monday January 12th, #96 and #95 on Tuesday January 13th, and so on. Do note, the scouting reports for the players the Indians traded to the Cubs are a good representation of what to expect from players ranked #1-50 and for some players ranked from #51-100. Most players ranked from #51-100 will have a scouting report about half the size for those from #1-50. You won't see ore detailed, in-depth scouting reports and for so many Indians prospects anywhere. And more details on the prospect book will be coming soon as I am down to the final few scouting reports to finish before I can begin work on formatting and editing for the book.

- Outfielder Nick Weglarz will be playing for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic this coming March, and will be a fixture in the middle of the lineup.

- Former Tribe farmhand right-hander Sean Smith has signed with the Pirates.

Posted in: Chris Archer,Jeff Stevens,John Gaub,Ryan Morris,Todd Martin