Seventh-round pick Robbie Aviles could be back on the mound in the Arizona Instructional League at the end of the 2011 season.
View full sizeBoston might have some interest in trading for Indians closer Kerry Wood.Clubhouse confidential: The Indians signed seventh-round pick Robbie Aviles, a high-school right-hander from Suffern, N.Y., for $150,000, and an additional $200,000 for college. Aviles will undergo Tommy John surgery within the week.
Projected to be a compensation pick (between the first and second round), Aviles injured his right elbow a couple of days before the draft. "We're taking a calculated risk," said Brad Grant, Indians director of amateur scouting.
Aviles could be back on the mound for the Arizona Instructional League at the end of the 2011 season. The Indians did something similar with right-hander Vinnie Pestano, a 20th round pick in 2006 who had Tommy John surgery before they drafted him. Now he has put himself in line for a big-league look from Class AAA Columbus sometime in the second half of the season.
Talk, talk: The Boston Globe is reporting the Red Sox are talking "internally" about going after Tribe closer Kerry Wood.
Stat of the day: Indians pitchers have allowed one homer in their past 74 innings entering Tuesday night's game against Texas.