Two Roster Moves Shake Up the Bullpen
The Indians made a pair of expected roster moves today to get some fresh arms in the bullpen. Below is the press release from the team sent out about 5:20 this afternoon.
CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has recalled RHP BRIAN SLOCUM and purchased the contract of RHP RICK BAUER from the AAA Buffalo Bisons. To allow room for Slocum and Bauer on the Major League roster the Indians optioned RHP JENSEN LEWIS and RHP TOM MASTNY to AAA Buffalo.
Bauer has spent the entire year to date in AAA Buffalo where he is 0-0 with a 1.54 ERA (23.1IP, 17H, 4R/ER, 10BB, 30K) and 15 saves in 22 appearances out of the bullpen. He has converted 15 of 17 save opportunities as his 15 saves are 2nd most in the International League. Opposing batters are hitting just .200 (17-85) with righties batting just .167 (7-42). Bauer has not allowed a run in his last 4 appearances (4.2IP, 5H, 0R, 7K) and 20 of his 22 appearances on the year are scoreless. Rick was a non-roster invitee to Major League camp this spring after being signed to a minor league free agent contract on November 11. He spent the 2007 season at AAA Ottawa (Phillies) and AAA Las Vegas (LA Dodgers) going a combined 2-6 with a 5.43 ERA (68.0IP, 87H, 41ER, 47BB, 64K) and 4 saves in 41 appearances/ 4 starts. He wears # 27.
Slocum has also spent the entire year at AAA Buffalo going 3-4 w/a 5.66 ERA in 11 starts (49.1IP, 51H, 34R/31ER, 30BB, 45K) in the rotation with the Bisons. He was optioned to AAA Buffalo on March 13 out of spring training. Last year, he was limited to just 5 starts at AAA Buffalo going 2-2 w/a 4.15 ERA (26.0IP, 21H, 13R/12ER, 16BB, 28K) as he was sidelined by right elbow strain for much of the season, making his last appearance on May 4. Following the 2007 season he pitched in the Florida Instructional League and also in Venezuela where he was 1-0 w/a 2.08 ERA in 4 starts. He wears #54.
Lewis was recalled from AAA Buffalo yesterday and tossed 3.0 innings (3H, 2R/ER, BB, 3K, HR) last night in a 12-7 loss to the Texas Rangers in Arlington, TX. On the year with the Indians he is 0-2 with a 3.81 ERA (30.2IP, 32H, 13R/ER, 16BB, 22K) in 21 appearances.
Mastny was recalled from AAA Buffalo for the second time this season on June 2 and made his 1st career Major League start (1.1IP, 6H, 5R/ER, 3BB, 2K) last night for the Indians in their 12-7 loss to the Rangers. So far this year he is 0-1 w/a 21.00 ERA (3.0IP, 8H, 7R/ER, 6BB, 5K) in 3 games/1 start for the Indians.
The Indians 40-man roster now stands at 40.
Matt has covered Major League Baseball and the "other two" Pro teams in Cleveland since 1994. He has been on the beat of the Indians in full-time mode since 1996, working for various raido and print networks around the country.
