Placed RHRP Kazuhito Tadano on the 60-day Disabled List (back)

Purchased the Contract of RHRP Jake Robbins and Recalled him from Buffalo (MLB Debut)

After 11 years in professional baseball, Robbins will make his major-league debut sometime in September. Robbins has had two very good years in Akron and Buffalo, and while his strikeouts aren't exactly what you want to see from a reliever, he's survived by posting a very good hit ratio (6.99/9IP) in Buffalo. The Indians had a spare 40-man roster spot now that Tadano's been DLed, so he'll get a small audition now and probably will be invited to someone's camp next spring.

Recalled SS/3B Jhonny Peralta and 2B/SS Brandon Phillips from Buffalo (AAA)

Unlike last year, the middle infielders have stayed healthy, so Peralta and Phillips played the entire AAA season with the Bisons. Peralta now has an International League MVP to show for his efforts (.326/.384/.493) this year, and Phillips has been much better at the plate (.303/.363/.430) this season. Now that the Indians are all but eliminated from the postseason, I'd think that one or the other will be starting the rest of the way.

Recalled OF Grady Sizemore from Buffalo (AAA)

With Jody Gerut probably out for the rest of the season, Sizemore should get a lot of playing time, with Coco Crsip moving to left, and Matt Lawton moving to right against right-handed pitching. Sizemore didn't have a breakout 2004, but didn't really regress either. He moved up to a new level at a fairly young age and didn't seem to lose a step, even with an early season virus that caused him to lose 15 pounds. If all goes well, he should be starting on Opening Day.

Recalled RHSP Francisco Cruceta (MLB Debut) and RHRP Fernando Cabrera from Buffalo (AAA)

Cruceta will most likely take over for CC Sabathia in the rotation. The light finally went on in Cruceta's head when he was promoted to Buffalo, and he pitched like a man possessed, increasing his strikeout ratio while lowering his hits ratio. If the Indians do sign that veteren starter, Crcueta will be in the running to be the 5th starter, although the Indians might be a bit skeptical and send him back to Buffalo to see what he'll do in a return to AAA.

Cabrera will be another arm in the bullpen. He's pitched extremely well this year and looks to have made the adjustment to being a reliever, striking out 92 in only 75 innings. I don't think he has much else to prove in Buffalo, and should be an early favorite to make the 2005 bullpen.