Indians Confidential

The Indians made a move to get a backup catcher today, as they acquired Sal Fasano from the Braves. Here it the presser from the team:

The Cleveland Indians today announced they have acquired CA SAL FASANO from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for a player to be named. To allow room for Fasano on the Major League roster, the Indians have designated CA YAMID HAAD for assignment.

Fasano, 36, hit .193 (16-83) with 6 runs scored, 3 doubles, a triple, 2 home runs and 9RBI in 26 games with the AAA Richmond Braves in 2008. He was a non-roster invitee of the Toronto Blue Jays this spring before being given his unconditional release from the Jays on March 25th. Fasano then signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on April 4th.

Fasano has appeared in 412 games at the Major League level covering all or parts of 10 seasons and owns a career Major League average of .219 (233-1063) with 47 home runs and 134RBI. He last appeared at the Major League level with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007 where he hit .178 (8-45) with a homer and 4RBI in 16 games with the Jays. This will mark the 9th Major League team (Toronto, NY Yankees, Philadelphia, Baltimore, LA Angels, Colorado, Kansas City & Oakland) he has played for during his career. Fasano will be in uniform tonight for the Indians as they take on the Colorado Rockies at 9:05PM ET in Coors Field. He will wear #44.

Haad has yet to appear in a game for the Indians since his contract was purchased from AAA Buffalo on June 12.

As if playing shorthanded is not bad enough, the news went from bad to worse for the Indians this afternoon, as not only has catcher Victor Martinez been placed on the DL, the team also announced today that he will be arthroscopic surgery tomorrow to remove loose bodies from his right elbow joint.

Word is that Victor will be out 6 to 8 weeks, and that now the duties of the catcher role will be for Kelly Shoppach (.225 3 homers 7 RBI) and Yamid Haad, who was called up from Buffalo. Martinez has had a tough 2008, first he hurt his hamstring on opening day vs the White Sox and missed a few games, and now the elbow injury. So for now, here is the list of those hurt for the Indians:

C Victor Martinez
2B Josh Barfield
DH Travis Hafner
P Fausto Carmona
P Jake Westbrook (done for the year)

Hate to say it, but the winds of despair are blowing more than ever at Progressive Field, and morale has got to be on life support at this point after the news today.

From: The Indians

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has placed CA VICTOR MARTINEZ (right elbow inflammation) & INF JOSH BARFIELD (left long finger sprain) on the 15-day disabled list.

To assume their place on the Major League roster the Indians purchased the contract of CA YAMID HAAD & INF JORGE VELANDIA from AAA Buffalo. The Indians will announce two moves relative to the 40-man roster this afternoon.

Haad has spent the entire season at AAA Buffalo after attending Major League camp as a non-roster invitee this spring. He has hit .159 (10-63) with 3 doubles and 3 RBI in 25 games for the Bisons this year. He joined the Indians organization last May and hit .301 (34-113) in 35 games for the Bisons in 2007. Over his 14-year professional career, he has appeared in 18 Major League games for San Francisco (2005) and Pittsburgh (1999), the last appearance coming on October 1, 2005. He will wear #59.

Velandia, 33, was signed by the Indians as a minor league free agent on May 26 and has appeared in 16 games for the Bisons (.235, 16-68, 2B, 2RBI). He spent the first part of 2008 at AAA Syracuse (Toronto) where he hit .287 (27-94) with 3HR and 12RBI in 28 games and later appeared in 2 games with the Jays in May (0 for 7, both games vs. Cleveland on 5/10, 5/12). In his Major League career, Velandia has hit .182 (43-236) with 2HR and 23RBI in 166 Major League games with San Diego, Oakland, New York-NL, Tampa Bay and Toronto. He will wear #11.