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The Indians will await the outcome of a physical to Ron Belliard before making his signing official, probably on Monday.
Belliard has been offered a one-year contract for an estimated $1 million or
less to play second base while Brandon Phillips develops his skills at Class
AAA Buffalo.
Last year at Colorado, Belliard batted .277 with eight homers and 50 RBI in 116 games. Belliard became available when the Rockies released him in November.
He is the third player the Tribe has attempted to sign to play second.
Cleveland offered a one-year contract to Tony Graffanino, but he was able to
get a two-year deal from the Kansas City Royals. The Indians then offered a
one-year contract to Todd Walker, but Texas made him a two-year proposal, contingent
on the Rangers moving Alex Rodriguez to Boston.
General manager Mark Shapiro chose to not wait out those protracted negotiations
and approached Belliard.
On another front, today is the deadline for offering players 2004 contracts.
Owner Larry Dolan will make the call whether to offer Danys Baez a deal that
calls for more than a 20 percent reduction in pay or nontender the Tribe reliever.
If the Indians offer a deal with a cut greater than 20 percent, the players
union will file a grievance. The outcome would be unclear, but if Dolan loses,
not only would Baez become a free agent, the Tribe might be forced to pay monetary
damages.
It's probable that Dolan won't take that chance. Instead, he is likely to nontender
Baez, making him a free agent.
The Indians this week tried a last-ditch effort to keep Baez by offering him
a two-year contract for $2 million per season, which is probably more than he
will get on the free-agent market. Nevertheless, the pitcher declined the offer.
More invitees
The Indians have signed five more players to minor-league contracts with invitations
to major-league spring training: right-hander Giovanni Carrara, lefties Mike
Porzio and Tim Young and outfielders Adam Piatt and Ernie Young.
Carrara, 35, made 23 relief appearances for the Seattle Mariners (2-0, 6.83
ERA) before being sent to Triple-A Tacoma for the rest of the season.
Porzio, 31, spent most of 2003 season at Triple-A Charlotte (White Sox), compiling
a record of 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA in 26 appearances, 22 as a starter. He made
three starts with Chicago -- two against Cleveland -- going 1-1 with a 6.43
ERA.
Tim Young, 30, split last season between the Toronto and Colorado organizations.
He has appeared in 18 big-leagues games from 1998-2000 with the Expos and Red
Sox.
Piatt, 27, spent last season with the Athletics and Devil Rays, hitting .227
with six homers and 18 RBI in 61 games.
Ernie Young, 34, played most of the season at Triple-A Toledo (Tigers), where
he batted .264 with 21 homers and 84 RBI in 128 games. He also appeared in five
games as Detroit's DH, going 2-for-11.