Designated OF Alex Escobar (AAA) for Assignment
This is a calculated risk by the Indians. Escobar is out for the year with a broken foot, and the front office is gambling that no one will claim him because of it. 40-man roster spots are pretty valuable right now, so it’s hard to justify claiming a player who’s not going to play the rest of the season. That being said, if a team like Kansas City, who don’t have a lot of outfielders to begin with, wanted to take a chance on him, what do they have to lose? This isn’t Chris Magruder we’re talking about, either; Escobar, as bad as he’s played, still is a tremendous talent, and that upside is probably going to be too tempting for the other 29 clubs to pass on him. I think he’s gone.
Optioned RHP Kazuhito Tadano to Buffalo (AAA)
This has nothing to do with the way Tadano has pitched in Cleveland; unfortunately, he was the only pitcher in the bullpen with options. I’m assuming Rick White will be the longman for now, but only going with 6 pitchers in the bullpen for 3 weeks is another calculated risk that the Indians are taking.