The Indians have placed starting shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured left forearm which will likely require surgery. Cabrera has played in 33 games for the Indians this season and he is 39 of 136 (.287 avg, .689 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 1 homer, 7 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The Indians have recalled 25-year old righty swinging Jason Donald to replace Cabrera as the starting shortstop. He made his major league debut against the Rays yesterday and he was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Donald came into this season as the Indians’ #15 rated prospect as he came over from the Phillies in the Cliff Lee trade last summer. Donald played in 37 games in AAA-ball this season and he was 38 of 137 (.277 avg, .820 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 2 homers, 17 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The Indians are depending on Donald to do a good job while Cabrera is out of action.

UPDATE: Cabrera has had surgery to repair his broken left forearm which will cause him to miss the next 8-10 weeks.

32-year old righty reliever Kerry Wood will miss the next 6-8 weeks due to a strained back muscle. Wood pitched in 58 games (0 starts) for the Indians last season and he was 3-3 with 20 saves, a 4.25 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He still has good stuff when healthy as he only gave up 48 hits in 55 innings for the Tribe last season while whiffing 63 batters. The Indians will be depending on 24-year old righty reliever Chris Perez as the closer until Wood is ready to return to action. Perez pitched in 32 games (0 starts) for the Indians last season and he was 0-1 with 1 save, a 4.32 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. In 61 games (0 starts) overall for the Indians & Cardinals, Perez was 1-2 with 2 saves, a 4.26 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Perez has the stuff to excel as a closer as he only gave up 41 hits while whiffing 68 batters in only 57 innings last season. The Indians really need Perez to step up while Kerry Wood is out of action.

23-year old righty swinging catcher Lou Marson appears to now be the starting catcher for the Indians heading into spring training. His only likely competition will likely be Carlos Santana who the Indians would like to start in AAA-ball at the start of the 2010 season for some reason. Marson was one of the players acquired from the Phillies for Cliff Lee so he will have pressure on him to produce right from the get go in the 2010 season for the Tribe. Marson played in 21 games for the Phillies & Indians last season and he was 15 for 61 (.246 avg, .708 OPS) with 9 runs scored and 4 RBIs. Marson also played in 91 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 87 for 314 (.277 avg, .721 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 2 homers, 33 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Marson doesn’t have the power that Shoppach had but he does have the potential to hit for a nice average and provide solid defense. Marson has played in 22 games in his two years in the majors and he is 17 for 65 (.262 avg, .771 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs.