The Indians have acquired 27-year old righty reliever Loek Van Mil from the Angels for future considerations.  Van Mil is 7’1″, 255 pounds….so maybe he can help the Cavs if things don’t work out with the Tribe.  Mil pitched in 8 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Angels earlier this year and he was 1-0 with a 6.30 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 149 games (9 starts) in his first seven years in the minors and he is 11-15 with 9 saves, a 3.29 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.  The Indians are just taking a flier on Mil, to see if he can help them in the near future.

The Indians have dealt 32-year old righty swinging outfielder Ryan Spilborghs to the Rangers for cash considerations.  Spilborghs played in 21 games in AAA-ball for the Indians this year and he was 18 for 72 (.250 avg, .675 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 1 homer and 13 RBIs.  He has played in 619 games in his first seven years in the majors and he was 424 of 1,561 (.272 avg, .768 OPS) with 222 runs scored, 42 homers, 218 RBIs and 31 stolen bases.  This is no loss for the Indians as they are loaded pretty well in the outfield for 2012.

The Indians have designated 28-year old righty swinging infielder Jose Lopez for assignment.  Lopez played in 5 games for the Tribe this year and he was 4 for 21 (.190 avg, .571 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs.  Lopez has now played in 960 games in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 951 for 3,626 (.262 avg, .691 OPS) with 405 runs scored, 89 homers, 455 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.  The Indians needed Lopez’ roster spot of Johnny Damon, who is now an active member of the Cleveland Indians.

UPDATE:  (5/3/2012) – Jose Lopez has cleared waivers and he has accepted an outright assignment to AAA to stay with the Indians.

The Indians have signed 38-year old lefty swinging outfielder Johnny Damon to a 1-year deal.  Damon played in 150 games for the Tampa Bay Rays last year and he was 158 of 582 (.261 avg, .743 OPS) with 79 runs scored, 16 homers, 73 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.  He has now played in 2,426 games in his first 17 years in the majors and he is 2,723 of 9,529 (.286 avg, .789 OPS) with 1,643 runs scored, 231 homers, 1,120 RBIs and 404 stolen bases.  Damon will likely need to play some games in the minors before the Indians are ready to stick them in their lineup in LF.  It’s unclear whether Damon will play every day in LF or platoon with righty swinging Shelley Duncan.  This was a good signing for the Tribe as Damon might be able to help them jumpstart the offense.

The Indians have designated 24-year old righty swinging outfielder Thomas Neal for assignment.  Neal played in 70 games in AAA-ball for the Giants & Indians last year and he was 74 of 256 (.289 avg, .734 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 2 homers, 26 RBIs and 8 stolen bases.  He has now played in 512 games in his first six years in the minors and he is 561 of 1,899 (.295 avg, .834 OPS) with 313 runs scored, 56 homers, 290 RBIs and 26 stolen bases.  The Indians probably hope that Neal clears waivers so that they can keep him around in 2012.

UPDATE:  (4/6/2012) – The Indians have outrighted Thomas Neal to AAA after he cleared waivers.