Company

About a week ago, Eric Wedge and Mark Shapiro made their preliminary moves with the 2009 roster by optioning a few players to their respective minor league clubs (Jon Meloan to Columbus, Carlos Santana to Akron, etc.). 

Others like David Huff and Beau Mills were sent to minor league camp.

With the start of the season now eight days away, we have our second wave of transactions.

The following players have been optioned to Triple-A Columbus:

LHP Jeremy Sowers
C Wyatt Toregas

The following players have been re-assigned to minor league camp:

RHP Greg Aquino
INF Michael Aubrey
RHP Kirk Saarloos
OF Matt LaPorta
OF Michael Brantley

Three things jump out to me with this (relatively expected) move.

1) This year marks Sowers’ final option.  It’s essentially make-or-break for the kid who looked very promising not all that long ago.  He had flashes of brilliance last season, but was just not the same as he was during his debut campaign.  If he doesn’t find a way to get back in the mix, he may find himself on a different squad within the next year or two. 

2) With Sowers given the heave to Columbus, the 5th starter appears to be a two-man race.  Many had Aaron Laffey pegged as the chosen one, but a late surge by last season’s surprise Scott Lewis has made things interesting.  Both Sheldon Ocker and Terry Pluto think that Lewis gets the nod, with Laffey using up another option.  Though Zach Jackson is also technically in the mix, it looks more and more like the team wants his arm in the bullpen.  We’ll find out about this one sooner than later. 

3) LaPorta and Brantley were sent down, which is something we all saw coming.  There’s a good shot that we see LaPorta this year, and theres an even better shot that both of these guys have a very successful 2009 campaign for the Clippers.  But one OFer that still remains with the Tribe is Trevor Crowe.  So, even with David Dellucci “hitting the ball with authority,” the Indians are not completely ready to move Crowe to Columbus.  Josh Barfield also remains with the team.

There are currently 37 players still doing their thing in Goodyear, Arizona.