The Indians have traded 33-year old righty reliever Kerry Wood and cash to the Yankees for a player to be named later. Wood pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the Tribe this season and he was 1-4 with 8 saves, a 6.30 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. He pitched in 81 games (0 starts) in his two years with the Indians and he was 4-7 with 28 saves, a 4.80 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Kerry Wood will go down as another typical bust free agent signing of GM Mark Shapiro. The Tribe is about to start to get better next year without Shapiro as GM.

The Indians have sent 32-year old righty starting pitcher Jake Westbrook to the Cardinals as part of a three team deal including the Padres. The Indians have acquired 24-year old righty starting pitcher Corey Kluber from the Padres. Westbrook started 21 games for the Indians this season and he was 6-7 with a 4.65 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He pitched in 218 games (179 starts) in his nine years with the Tribe and he was 69-69 with a 4.29 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. The Indians will miss Westbrook’s veteran leadership and innings. Corey Kluber was not one of the Padres’ top 30 prospects heading into this season according to Baseball America. Kluber has pitched in 22 games (21 starts) in AA-ball this year and he was 6-6 with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Kluber has whiffed 136 batters in only 122 2/3 innings in AA-ball this season so the Indians have to like that. He has now pitched in 89 games (82 starts) in his four years in the minors for the Padres and he is 22-28 with a 4.29 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. This was essentially a salary dump deal for the Indians.

The Indians have traded 30-year old righty swinging outfielder Austin Kearns to the Yankees for a player to be named later. Kearns was pulled for a pinch runner in tonight’s loss to the Blue Jays as he was 2 for 3 with a double in his last game with the Tribe. Kearns played in 84 games for the Indians this year and he was 82 of 301 (.272 avg) with 42 runs scored, 8 homers, 42 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. I was skeptical about when the Indians signed Kearns over the winter but he played well for them. I just hope the player to be named later is a decent prospect because if he isn’t the Indians shouldn’t have made this deal because Kearns doesn’t make much cash.

The Indians have placed 26-year old righty starting pitcher Mitch Talbot on the 15-day disabled list with a strained back. Talbot has started 20 games this season for the Indians and he is 8-9 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. The Indians have recalled 27-year old righty starter/reliever Justin Germano to replace Talbot on the pitching staff. He has pitched in 24 games (7 starts) in AA+AAA-ball this year and he is 5-3 with 1 save, a 3.22 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. The Indians will likely call up a starting pitcher to replace Talbot when his turn comes back around in the rotation.

The Indians have recalled 24-year old lefty swinging 2B/SS Luis Valbuena to replace Jhonny Peralta on the active roster. Valbuena played in 25 games in AAA-ball after his demotion and he was 30 of 96 (.313 avg, 1.032 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 6 homers, 20 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. But, he has not hit well at all for the Tribe this year. Valbuena has played in 50 games for the Indians this year and he is 25 of 152 (.164 avg, .510 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 2 homers and 14 RBIs. Don’t look for the Indians to give Valbuena much playing time until he earns it as Jason Donald is ahead of him at 2B.