MVN: Most Valuable Network

It is the week of Thanksgiving, so what better time is there to generate some poor attempt at theming a column in the spirit of the holiday? I had originally planned to go another way with a theme, but that idea is turning into something much bigger than originally anticipated, so I will take my time with that one to provide the best insight that I can into that topic. I'll explain more on that in the upcoming weeks.

Anyway, back to "trimming the fat". The fat in this case will be the "very close to being designated" guys whom were left on the Indians roster after this past round of additions where the Indians added five out of a possible six names to the 40-man roster in anticipation of the upcoming Rule V draft on December 11.

These "fat" guys were left to hold onto, with a very light grip, roster spots that could have been used to help protect younger, and potentially more promising players from being drafted by other organizations. As we now have seen, as James pointed out Thursday night, guys like first baseman Jordan Brown, pitcher Chuck Lofgren, and even reliever Randy Newsom, have been left available for the taking by anyone.

Will they be taken is truly the question however. These moves usually do get blown out of proportion, but it certainly is worth discussing, and sometimes teams do lose prospects that do go onto very successful career, just look at the Mets' Johan Santana or the Royals' Joakim Soria.

Of the mentioned names left available by the Tribe, Brown is the best bet of the bunch to be selected. He is a very good hitter with plate discipline who could be a solid pinch hitter/backup first baseman in the National League while he continues his development. His drawback has been a lack of power development from someone playing the first base position. His potential could take him to be a Sean Casey type hitter.

Lofgren is more of a question mark on whether a team would take a chance with him (and keep him on their major league roster for a full season) after struggling through a very rough 2008 both personally and professionally in Class AA Akron. For his first two seasons in the organization, Lofgren was rated as the Indians' number two overall prospect. The talent is there, but how willing is a team to test it on a major league roster right now? We will soon find out.

Even the side-arming Randy Newsom, a guy who has saved 48 games over the past two seasons in the Indians system, could be someone who gets selected. The ceiling of his talent is less than the previously mentioned, but he is 26 years old and entering the time when a player usually peaks. Plus, bullpen help is typically an area teams look for in this draft.

Alright, but Michael, you said the Indians left one roster spot open. Why didn't they just add one of these guys as the 40th player?

The answer to that question is that the Indians needed to leave themselves some flexibility heading into the draft. Maybe they are eyeing a player from another team that will be exposed in that draft with whom they believe could help this team next season. Maybe they are planning on signing a free agent by the draft and will need that spot for them. Or maybe they are planning on a trade that may need that extra spot on the roster. There are many scenarios that could play out in the coming weeks.

Ok, then what is this "fat" that you have referred to that the Indians could have trimmed to make the room for Brown, Lofgren, or Newsom?

The answer to that question is four names that Indians fans have grown to quite feverishly debate as to their role on this team. These names are David Dellucci, Andy Marte, Edward Mujica, and Tom Mastny.

David Dellucci is the most interesting case to me. Dellucci is now 35 and clearly in the down spiral of his career path after still not hitting at least .240 in his two seasons with the Indians. The situation has gotten so bad that he now finds himself as the fifth outfielder in a rotation that ideally supports four guys (Francisco, Sizemore, Choo, Gutierrez). Dellucci is the odd man out to be a late-inning left-handed bat that comes in to pinch-hit and also play sparingly in a starting role.

The problem for the Indians is that he is still owed $4 million for this season, and the Indians would have to eat that salary if released, but with the previous statements, aren't they already? He is the last man on the bench.

With all of this said, maybe the reasoning for keeping Dellucci around (other than that lovable veteran leadership characteristic), is that the Indians must still be in discussions with teams concerning either Francisco or Gutierrez. If the Indians were to move one of them, there would still be a need for an extra outfielder, at least until Michael Brantley, Trevor Crowe, or Matt LaPorta would be ready. Which then would again lead to Dellucci's dismissal, but maybe by then he shows enough for someone to bite on a minor trade. We can hope can't we?!

Andy Marte is another interesting selection to stay on the roster. Will he honestly still be around after the Indians make the much talked about addition to the infield, be it anything, second base, shortstop, or third base?

Marte truly plays only one position, is obviously out of options, and really only hits LH pitching with any amount of success. What is the thought process here to keep someone who likely will be gone on the roster instead of trying to protect say, a Jordan Brown? Honestly, I can't say!

As soon as any move is made to the infield, who is the guy most expendable and likely to be designated? Andy Marte! So, really, if anyone has any suggestions, please help me out.

This move only hints to me that maybe the Indians aren't so delighted by the options to upgrade the infield and we may again see Andy Marte getting playing time at third base.

Though too, the excess in catchers on the 40-man does hint to a trade of somebody there to upgrade elsewhere. Maybe the Indians are looking to lose a catcher to add an infielder, then still leave Marte as a backup option heading into the season.

Moving onto the pitchers who remain on the roster, Tom Mastny likely remains for one simple fact. He has an option year remaining. He always seems to show flashes of brilliance while in AAA, but struggles each time he is brought up to the majors.

He may end up being one of the infamous Quadruple-A guys who can't fit in on a major league roster in the long run and should get another shot, but on a short leash. If he continues to struggle early next season, he may become trimmed sooner rather than later to make room for the quickly developing bullpen talent that is soon to hit the big leagues. Mastny had better get used to traveling State Route I-71 between Columbus and Cleveland next summer.

Finally, the more interesting choice among the pitchers is Edward Mujica. EddieMu will enter the 2009 season out of options, meaning that he has to be on the Indians active 25-man roster or else he has to be placed on waivers.

This, just as Andy Marte, is confusing. We all continue to hear about how the Indians are going to make a big addition to the bullpen. That's all fine and great, and what needs to be done, but currently the Indians have five guys (Rafael Perez, Rafael Betancourt, Jensen Lewis, Masa Kobayahsi, and Zach Jackson, assuming he does transition to the 'pen) who will start the season in the bullpen, Mujica would be a sixth and Zach Jackson is also out of options.

If the Indians make another addition, either Jackson or Mujica would then have to be chanced on waivers anyway to keep the bullpen at six, which is a typical number of relievers on a 25-man roster. So why not take the chance now in hopes that he passes through so he can be sent to Columbus? You would think that it should be easier now to find replacement help if you lose Mujica than it would be after spring training.

To me it sounds like the Indians may be trying to hold onto a few guys a bit too long in hopes of waiting for a return on their investment while a new wave of talent is nearing ready.

The Dellucci and Mastny holds, while debatable, can be justified for the time being. Yet, the continued wait on Mujica and Marte while leaving new talent unprotected leaves one a bit curious. It is only a matter of time before this "fat" does eventually get trimmed from the roster. You just hope that the organizations health doesn't suffer before deciding to start cutting it loose.

The Indians have officially announced two re-signings...wait for it...minor league shortstop Andy Cannizaro and catcher Damaso Espino. This will be Cannizaro's second tour in AAA Columbus where he was the Clippers player of the year in 2006. Espino played in Akron hitting .275 in 31 games after being acquired for cash from the Royals in June.