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Claimed LHRP Matt White off waivers from the Colorado Rockies (more below)

Placed LHSP Billy Traber on the 60-day Disabled List (elbow)

Ok, this might make the Danys Baez roster extravaganza seem tame. A quick history lesson on White's travels:

Last offseason, the Seattle Mariners drafted White in the Rule 5 Draft

They then traded him to the Boston Red Sox

He was then returned to the Indians (outrighting him in the process), and spent the rest of the year in Buffalo

The Colorado Rockies selected him in this year's Rule 5 Draft

Ok, got all that? Good. Because he had already been outrighted (or removed from the 40-man roster), White could have refused being outrighted a second time. Because the Indians wanted him back, they took the opportunity to claim him on waivers before the Rockies could offer him back to the Indians. And with Traber (and Tallet) ticketed for the 60-day Disabled List, the Indians had a free roster spot available. So now the Indians have (I believe) two more option years on White to evaluate him, which will be more than enough. And given the lack of starting depth, I wouldn't be surprised if they stretched him out into a starting role in Buffalo just in case a starter gets hurt.

By the way, Hector Luna, who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the Rule 5 Draft, is under the same set of circumstances; he was selected the year before (Tampa Bay) and returned. So if the Indians want him back, they'll claim him on waivers.

On the Injury Front

Bob Wickman had an MRI yesterday on his surgically repaired elbow. Not a good sign. If he's shut down, David Riske is probably first in line to reclaim the closer's role, and Scott Stewart and Jose Jimenez have both closed before. Contrary to the starting pitcher situation, the Indians have a lot of depth here, so I'm not as worried about this as an injury to a starter. But still, a healthy Wickman makes the Indians pen a lot stronger, and would reduce the burden on a very young starting staff. A Wickman injury may open the door for an NRI like Luther Hackman or David Lee to make the team. I doubt Kazuhito Tadano or Fernando Cabrera would be called upon right off the bat, but both should get some kind of opportunity as the year goes on.