New Corner Man
CLEVELAND (AP) -After some debate and a trade, the Cleveland Indians have decided not to shift their infield.
The club acquired versatile infielder Mark DeRosa to place third base on Wednesday, trading three minor leaguers to the Chicago Cubs. They dealt pitchers Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer and John Gaub for DeRosa, who played six different positions for the NL Central champions.
In Cleveland, he’ll be the club’s everyday third baseman and fill in occasionally in the outfield.
“We’re going to take advantage of his versatility,” Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. “As the season unfolds, that’s one of the many assists he can bring to the table.”
The 33-year-old DeRosa hit a career-high 21 homers and drove in 87 runs last season in 149 games.considered moving shortstop Jhonny Peralta to third and Asdrubal Cabrera from second to short, but will keep things as status quo with DeRosa sliding into the starting job at third.
“This is the best infield, that’s it,” Shapiro said addressing the club’s decision to keep Peralta and Cabrera in place. “If we didn’t think it was best, we would have moved three guys.”
DeRosa made 80 starts at second base, 10 at third, 32 in right field and 27 in left. He also played one game each at first and shortstop.
Shapiro said he has been in talks with Cubs GM Jim Hendry about DeRosa since November.
Indians manager Eric Wedge described DeRosa as “a tough out” and “very solid pickup.” He expects DeRosa to bat second in Cleveland’s lineup. Wedge will use DeRosa in the outfield to rest players and as protection against left-handers.
The only other everyday third baseman on Cleveland’s roster is Andy Marte. He batted only .221 in 80 games and had to hit .291 over his final 34 games to finish with a respectable average. Marte is out of options.
Peralta, who has limited range, has been playing third base during winter ball in the Dominican Republic. The Indians wanted to leave him at short, where he makes all the routine plays but many not be as flashy as former Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel – the Gold Glove standard at the position for Cleveland fans.
move to third – if that had been the Indians’ preference.
“He was great when I talked to him about it this winter,” Wedge said. “If it’s something we would have asked him to do, he would have done it.”
DeRosa will be eligible for free agency after making $5.5 million this season. He has been invited to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He has driven in at least 70 runs in each of the past three seasons, and the former college quarterback at Pennsylvania has a .302 career batting average against lefties.
DeRosa is the second former Cubs player to join them this winter. The Indians signed closer Kerry Wood last month and may still try to add another starting pitcher in free agency.
Hendry hated to part with DeRosa, but wanted to add pitching prospects to improve the club’s overall depth.
“Obviously, Mark is very, very good and he’s a guy I have tremendous respect for,” Hendry said. “Certainly the Indians are getting a very, very good player and a first-class young man also. That part of it is always difficult but we felt we had to move forward in this direction and we felt had to make this deal.”
Stevens was the only pitcher on Cleveland’s 40-man roster involved in the deal. The 25-year-old right-hander went 5-1 last season in 17 games for Double-A Akron and 0-3 with a 3.94 ERA with five saves in 19 games at Triple-A Buffalo.
A Lake County and Gaub was 1-1 in 34 games with the Captains.
“These are three different guys with quality arms at different levels,” Hendry said. “From an acquiring point of view, we felt we did very well. Mark (Shapiro) will be the first to tell you that while they very much coveted Mark (DeRosa), this deal certainly stung for them too.”
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Posted: 1/1/09 1:10AM ET
