PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Indians liked the look of their starting rotation when they arrived at the general managers meetings Sunday. They felt the same when they left Thursday.

Led by AL CY Young winner Corey Kluber, they run seven deep with Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Danny Salazar, T.J. House, Zach McAllister and Josh Tomlin. So how would Justin Masterson fit into that group?

Yes, the Indians have talked to Masterson about returning to Cleveland.

Masterson opened last season as their No. 1 starter, struggled and was traded to St. Louis on July 30. Masterson won two of his first three starts with the Cardinals, but struggled again and was taken out of the rotation.

The Indians would only be interested in Masterson on a one-year deal. Masterson's camp probably wouldn't mind that either, because it would give him a chance to re-establish himself before going back into the free-agent market after 2015.

In spring training, the Indians offered Masterson a multiyear deal worth an estimated $45 million, but he rejected it. Masterson was seeking $17 million a year.

Masterson's return would require a balancing act. Bauer, Carrasco and McAllister are out of options. McAllister could go in the bullpen, which would probably mean House and Tomlin would open the year at Class AAA Columbus.

House made five trips to Cleveland last season and went 5-3 in 19 appearances, including 18 starts. He was the only lefty in the rotation and showed a funky delivery that produced 16 groundball double plays in only 102 innings.

Tomlin, who has two options left, went 6-9 with a 4.76 ERA in 25 appearances, including 16 starts.

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It would be hard to start the 2014 version of Masterson (7-9, 5.88) in front of House or Tomlin. By the time he was traded, he'd slipped from No. 1 to No. 5 in the rotation.

If Masterson is healthy and pitches like he did in 2013 when made the AL All-Star team, that would be a different story. Boston, which drafted Masterson in 2006, is one of several teams that have shown an interest in the 6-6 right-hander.

So what happened to Masterson last season? It turns out that he pitched hurt.

"At the end of the season, Justin said he really felt he should have spoken up more about what was going on with him," said St. Louis GM John Mozeliak. "It was just one of those things that didn't work out.

"His first couple of wins for us were huge. After that it just didn't go well for him."

In September of 2013, with the Indians driving toward a wild-card appearance, Masterson strained his left oblique muscle. He came back at the end of September and pitched out of the bullpen.

In spring training this year Masterson's ribcage area was still tender, but he never told the Indians. He was the opening day starter, leader of the staff and trying to get a contract extension.

Randy Rowley, Masterson's agent, said the injury caused a change in his mechanics, which led to soreness in his right knee. Masterson didn't talk to the media about his sore knee until late June. When he did, he said he'd been dealing with it since his second start of the season.

In September, after the trade to St. Louis, Masterson had an MRI on his right shoulder and it showed an impingement. The Cardinals gave him a cortisone shot.

Rowley said Masterson is finally healthy. If he is and he can pitch back to his 2014 form, the team that signs him will get a 30-year-old proven starter who until last season had pitched 180 or more innings in four straight seasons.

Yes, the Indians must improve their offense, but their definition of improvement goes like this: You have to find a way to score more runs or prevent more runs from being scored against you.

If they can't find a way to improve an offense that averaged three or fewer runs in half of their games, what about adding another starting pitcher that could keep the other team from scoring?

No way: It was reported earlier in the week that the Orioles are looking to trade disappointing Ubaldo Jimenez, who they signed to a four-year, $50 million contract in spring training.

Another report suggested that the Indians might be interested in bringing Jimenez back if they could send one of their bad contacts to the Orioles.

Jimenez had his best season in the last five with the Indians in 2013 when he went 13-9 with the help of pitching coach Mickey Callaway. No, that does not mean they want him back.

Track record: The Indians have produced four Cy Young winners, including three in the last eight years. Two, Kluber and Cliff Lee, were acquired in deals as minor leaguers.

That's pretty good scouting and development.

The Indians acquired Kluber from San Diego in 2010 as part of a three-team deal with St. Louis. The Indians sent Jake Westbrook to the Cardinals in the deal.

Owner Paul Dolan kicked in $2 million to offset Westbrook's contract so the Indians could get Kluber.

Finally: Look for the Indians to try to sign closer Cody Allen to a multiyear deal this offseason. They approached him during the regular season, but talks stalled.