The Indians have re-signed 30-year old righty swinging catcher Luke Carlin to a minor league contract.  Carlin played in 63 games in AAA-ball for the Tribe last year and he was 40 for 188 (.213 avg, .700 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 5 homers and 27 RBIs.  Carlin did get into 6 games with the Indians in 2010 and he was 5 for 14 (.357 avg, 1.223 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 2 homers and 3 RBIs.  The Indians like to have veteran catchers in the high minors to work with pitchers.  That will be Carlin’s role again in 2012, unless the Indians suffer a rash of injuries at catcher.

28-year old righty starting pitcher Mitch Talbot has elected to become a free agent.  Talbot pitched in 12 games (all starts) for the Indians last year and he was 2-6 with a 6.64 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP.  He gave up a stunning 90 hits (10 homers) in only 63 2/3 innings for the Tribe last year and opposing batters were running up to the plate against him.  Talbot pitched in 40 games (all starts) in his two years with the Indians and he was 12-19 with a 5.04 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP.  The Indians won’t miss him at all, but don’t be surprised if he wins a job at the back end of some team’s rotation in 2012.

The Cleveland Indians have four impending free agents to make decisions about.  Here is who I think is staying or going:

Grady Sizemore:  29-year old lefty swinging CF Grady Sizemore played in 71 games for the Indians last year and he was 60 for 268 (.224 avg, .706 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 10 homers and 32 RBIs.  The Indians have a club option worth $8.5 on Sizemore for 2012 or they can buy him out for $500,000 bucks.  I know that Sizemore is a fan favorite, but he has been dinged up the last few years.  PREDICTION:  LEAVING

Kosuke Fukudome:  34-year old lefty swinging outfielder Kosuke Fukudome played in 59 games for the Indians last year and he was 59 for 237 (.249 avg, .671 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 5 homers, 22 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  He played in 146 games overall with the Indians & Cubs and he was 139 of 530 (.262 avg, .712 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 8 homers, 35 RBIs  and 4 stolen bases.  PREDICTION:  LEAVING

Jim Thome:  41-year old lefty swinging DH Jim Thome played in 22 games for the Indians last year and he was 21 for 71 (.296 avg, .869 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 10 RBIs.  He played in 93 games overall for the Twins & Indians last year and he was 71 for 277 (.256 avg, .838 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 15 homers and 50 RBIs.  If the Indians didn’t have Travis Hafner still under contract, it would make sense to bring Thome back.  PREDICTION:  LEAVING

Chad Durbin:  33-year old righty reliever Chad Durbin pitched in 56 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 2-2 with a 5.53 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP.  PREDICTION:  LEAVING

The Cleveland Indians flirted with being a contender in the A.L. Central this year before finally falling apart in September due to injuries.  They finished in second place in the A.L. Central with a 80-82 record, 15 games behind the Tigers.  Here is a look at the things that stood out to me in 2011:

TEAM MVP:  25-year old switch-hitting shortstop was the starter in the All-Star Game for the American League (after Derek Jeter bowed out) as he was outstanding in the first half of the year for the Tribe.  He faded late in the year but his overall numbers were very solid.  Cabrera played in 151 games for the Indians last year and he was 165 for 604 (.273 avg, .792 OPS) with 87 runs scored, 25 homers, 92 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.

BEST PITCHER:  26-year old righty starting pitcher Justin Masterson turned in an outstanding year for the Tribe in 2011.  He pitched in 34 games (33 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.   Masterson was a workhorse for the Tribe as he worked 216 innings in which he gave up 211 hits (only 11 homers), walked 65 batters and he whiffed 158.

PLEASANT SURPRISE:  The bullpen was outstanding for the Indians in 2011.  26-year old righty closer Chris Perez worked in 64 games out of the pen last year and he was 4-7 with 36 saves, a 3.32 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.  26-year old righty Vinnie Pestano (1-2, 2 saves, a 2.32 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP in 67 games) and 27-year old righty Joe Smith (3-3 with a 2.01 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP in 71 games) really did well for the Indians from the right side.  From the left side it was 29-year old Rafael Perez (5-2, 3.00 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 71 games) and 28-year old Tony Sipp (6-3, 3.03 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP) were also very effective for the Indians.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT:  27-year old righty starting pitcher Fausto Carmona gets this dubious honor.  The Indians were hoping that Carmona was going to build on a very effective 2010 season, but he certainly didn’t as he regressed big time!  Carmona pitched in 32 games (all starts) for the Indians in 2011 and he was 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.