The Indians say there's nothing to read into their roster moves as the trade deadline arrives at 4 p.m. Saturday.
View full sizeIf Jake Westbrook makes his scheduled start Saturday at Toronto, then it means the Indians are unlikely to trade him.TORONTO — Paranoia runs deep at the baseball trading deadline for non-waiver deals.
The Indians say there's nothing to read into their promotion of Justin Germano on Friday as they switched several bodies on their pitching staff.
Germano, who has six starts at Class AAA Columbus among his 17 appearances, reportedly arrived to help a tired bullpen against the Blue Jays.
But Jake Westbrook is scheduled to start Saturday's 1:07 p.m. game against the Blue Jays. With the trade deadline coming at 4 p.m., it's safe to say if Westbrook starts, he won't be traded.
If Westbrook is traded, Germano will not be starting in his place. The right-hander pitched 2 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays on Friday, striking out three with a walk and a hit allowed.
After watching starters Fausto Carmona and Mitch Talbot pitch a combined four innings Wednesday and Thursday in blowout losses to the Yankees, the Indians needed relievers Friday who could throw more than one inning against Toronto.
View full sizeJensen Lewis is back with the Indians, the fourth time he's been called up this season.To answer that need, Jensen Lewis and Germano were promoted from Columbus. Reliever Jess Todd was sent back to Columbus, and Talbot was placed on the disabled list with a strained back sustained in his two innings of work Thursday night.
The Indians will need a starter to take Talbot's spot Tuesday against Boston. Germano could get that job, or he could be designated for assignment Saturday when Kerry Wood is expected to be activated. Wood is with the team after making a one-inning rehab appearance for Class AA Akron on Thursday.
If Westbrook isn't traded before Saturday's deadline, the Indians could always move him before Aug. 31. They would have to get waivers on him.
When asked if he thought he'd make a trade for Westbrook, GM Mark Shapiro said, "I have no idea. If I had to guess, I'd say no."
There has been interest in Westbrook, more so now that Roy Oswalt was traded to the Phillies on Thursday. The Cardinals have been interested in Westbrook for a while.
"I don't think we have to trade him," said Shapiro. "There is value to keeping him."
Talbot injured his back throwing a pitch in Thursday's 11-4 loss to the Yankees. He was removed without recording an out in the third inning.
"We don't think it's too bad," said Shapiro.
The Indians were looking to cut back Talbot's innings in the second half. If the back injury isn't serious, as Shapiro suggests, this gives them the ideal situation to do that.
Germano, a right-hander, is a combined 5-3 with one save and a 3.22 ERA at Columbus and Akron. He pitched in Japan last year for the Fukuoka Hawks and went 5-6 with a 4.38 in 14 games, including 13 starts.
Lewis is 2-2 with a 4.18 ERA in 22 games with the Tribe. He's 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA in 16 games at Columbus.
Todd made five appearances with the Tribe. He had no record and a 7.50 ERA. He's 3-2 with a 2.75 ERA in 34 games at Columbus.
On the shelf: Travis Hafner said he'll miss the next two games while getting treatment on a sore right shoulder that caused him to be scratched from Thursday's start.
"It happened in the doubleheader [July 17] against the Tigers," said Hafner. "We had a long delay and it was tough getting heated back up again. But with two days of treatment and a lot of ice, I think I'll be in a good spot on Sunday."
After Thursday's game, Acta sounded as if the Indians were getting close to putting Hafner on the disabled list. That does not appear to be the case.
"It just depends how many days it is," said Acta. "How long can you wait? He could show up tomorrow or Sunday and be ready to play and that wouldn't be so bad. But you can only wait so long and have our hands tied."
He's back: This is the fourth time Lewis has been called up from Columbus.
"I feel like a yo-yo right now," he said with a laugh. "I've done everything the organization has asked me to do. You just have to worry about yourself."
Next year, Lewis will be out of options.
"After that, I hope I don't have to worry about keeping a bag packed," he said.