Teams will get more time to evaluate non-tendered players: Cleveland Indians Chatter

The date that players on the 40-man roster must be offered contracts for 2011 has been moved to Dec. 2 from Dec. 12, giving teams a longer time to study the players who aren't offered contracts and become eligible to sign with other teams as free agents.

Clubhouse confidential: The owners and players agreed to several procedural changes regarding free agents this off-season. The one change that could help the Indians and other big-leagues clubs the most is the date that players on the 40-man roster must be offered contracts for 2011. It has been moved to Dec. 2 from Dec. 12.

This will give teams a longer time to study the players who aren't offered contracts and become eligible to sign with other teams as free agents.

Non-tendered players from last year included Matt Capps, Jonny Gomes, Jose Veras, John Buck, Jack Cust, Ryan Church and Dustin Moseley.

Too quick: Manager Manny Acta doesn't think the Tigers were pitching out when Trevor Crowe squeezed home Michael Brantley in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader sweep by the Tribe.

"From watching video of the play, I think Michael probably left a little too early from third," said Acta. "I think Justin Verlander picked it up and tried to throw high and outside because [catcher] Gerald Laird was set up inside. It was a great bunt by Trevor and a great job of keeping the ball fair."

Stat of the day: The Indians went 15-12 in September, their first winning month of the season.

-- Paul Hoynes