The Indians have signed 28-year old lefty swinging 1B Casey Kotchman to a 1-year, $3 million dollar deal.  Kotchman played in 146 games last year for the Tampa Bay Rays and he was 153 of 500 (.306 avg, .800 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 10 homers, 48 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  He has now played in 791 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 693 for 2,588 (.268 avg, .733 OPS) with 276 runs scored, 59 homers, 332 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.  Kotchman doesn’t hit for a lot of power, but he really hit well overall for the Rays last season.  Kotchman is also a HUGE improvement defensively at 1B over anyone on the Tribe’s roster right now.  I hope the Indians signed Kotchman with the idea of using him almost everyday at 1B, instead of platooning him.  This was a good signing for the Tribe.

The Indians have acquired 25-year old IF/OF Russ Canzler from the Rays for cash considerations.  Canzler played in 3 games for the Rays last year in his first taste of the majors and he was 1 for 3 (.333 avg, .733 OPS) with 1 RBI.  He also played in 131 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 149 for 474 (.314 avg, .930 OPS) with 78 runs scored, 18 homers, 83 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.  Canzler has now played in 738 games in his first eight years in the minors and he is 698 for 2,490 (.280 avg, .820 OPS) with 377 runs scored, 84 homers, 405 RBIs and 41 stolen bases.  Canzler can handle 1B, 3B, LF and RF defensively which will aid his chances of making the Indians roster this spring.

The Indians have signed 28-year old righty swinging infielder Ryan Rohlinger to a minor league deal.  Rohlinger played in 1 game for the Giants last year and he was 0 for 1 with a whiff.  He also played in 103 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 90 for 364 (.247 avg, .762 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 10 homers, 51 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  Rohlinger has now played in 46 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 9 for 67 (.134 avg, .377 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 7 RBIs.  Rohlinger will likely start the 2012 season in AAA-ball for the Indians.

The Indians have signed 34-year old righty reliever Dan Wheeler to a minor league deal.  Wheeler pitched in 47 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox last year and he was 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.  Wheeler has pitched in 577 games (9 starts) in his first 12 years in the minors and he is 25-43 with 43 saves, a 3.88 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.  Wheeler will get a shot to win a job in the Indians’ bullpen this spring.

The Indians have acquired 30-year old righty reliever Jeremy Accardo to a minor league deal.  Accardo pitched in 31 games (0 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 3-3 with a 5.73 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 235 games (0 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 10-20 with 38 saves, a 4.22 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP.  Accardo will get a shot to win a job in the Indians’ bullpen this spring.