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Indians right-hander Danny Salazar threw batting practice for the first time Saturday in spring training. Manager Terry Francona says Salazar needs to throw at least two more sessions of BP before appearing in a Cactus League game.

(Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer)

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – It's still unknown when Danny Salazar will pitch in a Cactus League game this spring. The only thing that is known is that it's going to be a while.

Salazar, who in December was scheduled to be the Indians’ No.2 starter behind Justin Masterson, threw batting practice Saturday morning. He’ll take two days off and throw another round of BP.

The Indians say Salazar is healthy and that they just want to make sure he’s ready for the regular season. Yet every other “healthy" pitcher in camp was ready for games after two bullpen sessions this spring.

“He’s going to throw BP two to three times and then he’ll be ready to pitch,” said manager Terry Francona.

Salazar, breathtaking at times last year in his first season in the big leagues, has been handled carefully since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2010. The Indians have not broken form this spring.

“He’s bouncing back very well,” said Francona, when asked how Salazar has recovered from his bullpen and batting practice sessions. “Sometimes being a week later in spring training is not the end of the world. It can set up the whole year rather than having a guy, just for the sake of the schedule, saying he can throw the first spring training game.

“I never quite understood that.”

It’s not clear if the Indians had this plan formulated before camp or put it in place when Salazar reported to Goodyear.

“We want him to pitch with the tank full,” said Francona. “That’s the best way I can put it.”

Last year Salazar, on a pitch count for much of the season, threw a career-high 145 combined innings at Class AA Akron, Class AAA Columbus and Cleveland.

“We have a responsibility when guys show up to assess where they are,” said Francona. “That’s why Carlos Carrasco pitched two innings in his first appearance and Masty (Justin Masterson), coming out of Indianapolis, pitched one.

“There are different ways to get to the season for everybody.”

Negotiations continue: Not a whole lot is being said about them, but negotiations between the Indians and All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis continue.

While the chances of getting a multiyear deal done with Masterson, the Tribe's other All-Star from last year, seem remote, the fact that there is nothing but silence coming from both sides of the Kipnis negotiations could mean progress is being made.

Kipnis has two years and 69 days of big-league service. He’s under the Indians' control for four more years regardless if they reach a multiyear deal or not.

The fact that the Indians signed Michael Brantley last month to a four-year, $25 million deal and have made a multiyear proposal to Masterson shows a willingness to deal with select players.

Rain, rain: Saturday's game between the Indians and White Sox in Glendale, Ariz., was rained out. It was the first time it has rained in the Phoenix area since Dec 20.

Aaron Harang and Trevor Bauer, scheduled to face the White Sox, will face Seattle on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET at Goodyear Ballpark. Masterson, scheduled to start Sunday, will pitch a simulated game.

No freebies: Francona missed out on Nick Swisher's distribution of his "Unfinished Business' T-shirts on Friday.

“I’m mad,” said Francona, with a laugh. “I love getting free T-shirts, no matter what they say.”

Francona wouldn’t say if he believed that the Indians had unfinished business after winning 92 games last year, only to be eliminated in a one-game wild card playoff with Tampa Bay. He did say he’s a believer in team bonding.

“Whether it’s a T-shirt or doing a dance, whether it’s bringing a chicken to the ballpark, I don’t care,” said Francona. “As long as these guys like each other and they want to build some unity together, I’m OK with it as long as they aren’t breaking the law.”

Finally: Swisher is scheduled play his first Cactus League game Sunday. ... Look for Tony Wolters to catch Tuesday morning's B game against the Angels. Jesus Aguilar and Carlos Moncrief could be in the lineup as well. The rest of the position players will probably be minor leaguers.