The Cleveland Indians have placed 28-year old righty starting pitcher on the 60-day disabled list to open up a roster spot for Russell Branyan. Reyes had Tommy John Surgery last June so he will miss at least the first couple of months of the 2010 season. Reyes pitched in 8 games (all starts) for the Indians last season and he was 1-1 with a 6.57 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. He has now pitched in 67 games (52 starts) in his major league career and he is 13-26 with 1 save, a 5.12 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Reyes might be able to help the Indians in the last couple months of 2010 if everything goes right with his rehab.

The Indians need 32-year old lefty swinging DH Travis Hafner to give them a full season in 2010 which is something he hasn’t done since 2007 due to shoulder problems. Hafner played in 94 games for the Indians last season and he was 92 for 338 (.272 avg, .826 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 16 homers and 49 RBIs. The Indians hope that Hafner stays healthy and produces like he did between 2004 and 2007 when he averaged 92.5 runs scored, 31.8 homers and 108.5 RBIs with a .296 batting average. I will believe that Hafner can stay healthy for a whole year when I see it. At least the Indians have a backup plan with Russell Branyan on board for 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE DH IN 2010: C

The Cleveland Indians have signed 34-year old 1B/3B/OF Russell Branyan to a 1-year, $2 million dollar deal with another $1 million bucks in possible incentives. He also has a mutual option for the 2011 season valued at $5 million bucks. Branyan played in 116 games for the Mariners last season and he was 108 for 431 (.251 avg, .867 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 31 homers and 76 RBIs. Branyan has now played in 882 games in his major league career and he is 568 for 2,431 (.234 avg, .822 OPS) with 347 runs scored, 164 homers and 396 RBIs. Branyan does whiff a lot (946 times in his career) so his .251 batting average of last season is likely a best case scenario. Branyan will likely battle Matt LaPorta for the starting job at 1B this spring. I love this signing for the Indians as maybe Branyan can pay them back for all of the years they stood by him.

27-year old righty swinging Jhonny Peralta wanted to stay at shortstop but the Indians moved him to 3B during the season. It seemed to effect Peralta’s bat as he didn’t show near as much power as he had in the past. Peralta played in 151 games for the Indians last season and he was 148 for 582 (.254 avg, .691 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 11 homers and 83 RBIs. Over his last five years for the Indians, Peralta has averaged 82.8 runs scored, 18.4 homers and 78 RBIs per season. Those are the kind of numbers the Indians expect out of Peralta in 2010. Peralta made 15 errors in 104 games at 3B for the Indians last season while showing good range. Look for him to improve defensively not that he can concentrate on playing 3B from the first day in spring training.

28-year old lefty swinging Brian Buscher will have a good chance to make the Indians this season. He played in 25 games at 3B for the Twins last season and he only made 1 error but he showed poor range. 29-year old switch hitting Luis Rodriguez played in 1 game without making an error at 3B for the Padres last season. He will have a good chance of making the Tribe because he can also play 2B and SS. 26-year old righty swinging Andy Marte didn’t play in any games at 3B for the Indians last season as he concentrated at 1B but 3B is his natural position.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2010: C+

24-year old switch hitting Asdrubal Cabrera started the 2009 season as the starting 2B before he was moved to shortstop where he has found a new permanent home. Cabrera played in 131 games for the Indians last season and he was 161 for 523 (.308 avg, .799 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 6 homers, 68 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. Cabrera is a natural shortstop so he’s good defensively there. He played in 100 games at SS for the Indians in 2009 and he made 9 errors while showing above average range. The Indians will benefit from having Cabrera at shortstop since day #1 in 2010 as he is a huge improvement defensively over Jhonny Peralta.

29-year old switch hitting Luis Rodriguez will battle 27-year old righty swinging Brian Bixler for the backup job at SS in 2010. Rodriguez played in 34 games for the Padres last season at SS and he made 3 errors while showing below average range. His versatility probably gives him an edge over Bixler because he can also play 2B and 3B.

Brian Bixler played in 18 games for the Pirates last season and he was 10 for 44 (.227 avg, .602 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He also played in 108 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 110 for 403 (.273 avg, .778 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 9 homers, 43 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Bixler probably won’t be much of a hitter in the majors but he has a good reputation with the mitt. He made 2 errors in 10 games at SS for the Pirates last season while showing above average range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2010: B