Indians Chatter

“I'm a sports guy. I respect every sport, but wasn't that beautiful?” asked Acta. “The crack of a fungo bat. The white ball rolling over the green grass. A pitcher covering first base. And then watching the bullpen session, that was beautiful.”

Acta waited a moment or two, smiled and said, “That was a great quote, wasn't it?”

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Roberto Hernandez hopes for pardon, return to Indians this season

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Dan Wheeler is not the kind of reliever you expect to come to camp on a minor-league deal, but he's here because the opportunity is here.

Wheeler, 34, has been pitching in the big leagues since 1999. He's made 577 appearances, all but nine in relief.

"This is more about the opportunity," said Wheeler. "I don't like talking about the other stuff (big-league contracts vs. minor-league invitations). This was definitely the best opportunity for me.

"What I've done my whole career is get into a spot where the manager and coaches trust me. Hopefully, I can earn a spot here and get back in some situations that help us win some ballgames."

The front five of the Tribe's bullpen is set with closer Chris Perez and frontmen Joe Smith, Vinnie Pestano, Rafael Perez and Tony Sipp. That leaves two openings in the pen and Frank Herrmann is the slight favorite for one of them.

Wheeler pitched for Boston last year. He went 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA in 47 appearances. Along the way he got a good look at the Indians bullpen.

"I remember playing them early last year," said Wheeler. "You see the tremendous arms they have down there. They went out in big situations and got the job done. That's really key for a bullpen."

The Indians swept a four-game series from Boston in April. For the season, they went 6-4 against the Red Sox.

"From what I noticed from afar, it's like these guys came out of the pen and were ready to be in those situations," said Wheeler. "They never shied away from that and that's important.

"You have to want the ball in that situation. Watching from the other side, it looks like that's what this bullpen has. Hopefully, I can be a part of that."

Boston's September collapse stung Wheeler in more ways than one. Not only was he born in Rhode Island, a part of Red Sox nation, but he lives in the Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg, Fla., area. On the last day of the regular season, Boston lost to Baltimore. A few minutes later, Tampa Bay beat the Yankees in extra innings to win the wild card and eliminate the Red Sox.

"Last year we were in such a funk, we couldn't get out of it," said Wheeler. "I never want to be on that side of it again.

"I live in St. Petersburg-Tampa Bay. So it's even worse. I didn't want to leave my house for a month. Everywhere you see Tampa Bay hats. But it's in the past. As a bullpen guy and a baseball guy you have to have a short memory. I'm over it. I'm excited about this year."

Wheeler is going to have plenty of competition for a spot in the pen. Veterans Chris Ray, Jeremy Accardo and Robinson Tejeda are in camp on minor league deals.

Done deal: The Indians have signed infielder Cristian Guzman to a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league camp. Guzman, who did not play last season because of an injured right shoulder, will compete for a job as a utility infielder.

He'll wear No.0.

Guzman, 33, took a physical on Tuesday.

Parting ways: Veteran right-hander Jon Garland is no longer an option for the Indians. They had agreed on a minor league deal just before the start of camp pending a physical.

Garland, who underwent rotator cuff surgery last year with the Dodgers, was scheduled for the physical Monday. He did not take it and the Indians and Garland have parted ways.