So far, Barfield has not paid dividends from a 2006 trade with San Diego.
Josh Barfield, here getting tagged out by the Cardinals in a 2009 game, is hitting .300 for San Diego's Class AAA team.Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Watching Kevin Kouzmanoff pound Indians' pitching recently caused me to wonder: whatever happened to Josh Barfield? -- Mike Yanczysin, Eastlake
A: Hey, Mike: Barfield is hitting .300 (75-for-250) for Class AAA Portland, San Diego's farm club. He had 13 doubles, four homers and 34 RBI.
The Indians acquired Barfield from the Padres after the 2006 season for Kouzmanoff, who has since been traded to Oakland. It was a deal that did not serve the Indians well. Here's hoping Barfield can get back to the big leagues.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Justin Germano has been great this year in relief, but he's been a starter his entire career. In your column on him, he said the reason for his success is he's not "nibbling" any more and is more aggressive. Any chance the Indians will consider him for the rotation next year? -- Rich Duwelius, Gales Ferry, Conn.
A: Hey, Rich: If Germano is a viable option as a starter, I'm sure the Indians will give him a shot. He's a free agent at the end of the year if he's taken off the 40-man roster.
If he remains on the roster, he's not eligible for free agency.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: It has been a month since the trading deadline has passed, and I still do not understand the organization's rationale for trading Jake Westbrook, Kerry Wood, Austin Kearns and Jhonny Peralta.
The Indians received marginal prospects at best, and I presume they will be assuming a share of the traded players' remaining salaries. Why didn't the organization decide to win as many games as possible with the best talent available, even if it meant winning only 75 games and finishing 20 games out of first place? Or is the organization in such a distressed financial position that they need to find cost savings wherever they can? I hope the organization understands that this perpetual rebuilding process is going to put a permanent dent in the fan base, if it hasn't already.
That is a loss that cost savings will not be able to overcome. -- David Bruno, Chagrin Falls
A: Hey, David: This is the third straight year they've done this so it shouldn't have caught you by surprise. Peralta was traded because they weren't going to pick up his $7 million option in 2011. Wood was traded to rid themselves of at least $1.5 million of the almost $4 million they still owed him. The Indians like Corey Kluber, the pitcher they received from San Diego in the Westbrook trade, but that was about money as well.
The only deal that wasn't motivated by cash was Kearns going to the Yankees for right-hander Zach McAllister.
You're right about one thing, ownership has a lot of work to do in convincing the paying public that they really are trying to win.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Do you feel that Jason Kipnis or Cord Phelps have a good shot at being the Indians' second baseman next year? They both have had great seasons in the minors this year. Jason Donald could then be the utility infielder. -- Joe Eversole, Pelham, Ala.
A: Hey, Joe: Anything is possible, but I'd be surprised if either one broke camp with the team next year. Midseason, however, is a different story.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Looks like Hector Ambriz will hang on to the 25-man active roster for the rest of the year. This means he'll be under the Indians' control next season and beyond. But do we retain his option years in the minors? And if so, how many does he have left? -- Robert Benjamin Jr., Crestview, Fla.
A: Hey, Robert: Ambriz has three options left, and they all belong to the Indians.
-- Hoynsie