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-The Indians began the 2nd to last week of Spring Training by trimming its roster. The team released C Ryan Hanigan and OF Melvin Upton Jr.
-Upton was in camp in competition for one of the team’s extra outfield jobs. The team has told Upton that he was not going to make the big league ballclub and wanted him to see if he could catch on with another ballclub. If not, the team would be willing to have him back and play in Columbus.
-Continuing with the Tribe’s outfield situation Michael Brantley and Brandon Guyer are both trending into the right direction. Brantley played 4 innings of defense in a minor league game on Monday. If all stays the same with his ankle Brantley will start for the Indians on Wednesday night when the team takes on the Royals. It would mark the first action that Brantley would have with the major league team.
- The Indians have been extremely cautious of making a timeline for Brantley or Guyer. But Guyer has been playing in minor league games for about a week. He’s beginning to gain confidence in his wrist that he had surgery on and wants to try and be on the team’s roster come next Thursday.
-So, the interesting part of the spring is here. The team has 36 players left on the roster. With the release of Upton it would make sense that Rajai Davis would make the team. Terry Francona wouldn’t say those exact words on Monday, but all signs point towards that.
-Francona also went out of his way to say his thoughts are with Cavs Coach Ty Lue. Francona understands the stress levels that come with the travels and rigors of trying to win but also keep your health in check.
-The team will have Tuesday off and then play 6 more Spring Training games with 3 of those games left against the D-backs. Carlos Carrasco will face the Royals on Wednesday evening here in Goodyear.
Andre Knott