[外電]Indians close to one-year deal with Siz

[gagne (膽小烏龜)]

Indians close to one-year deal with Sizemore
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 11/18/11 11:43 PM EST

CLEVELAND -- Even after allowing Grady Sizemore to enter the free-agent pool,
the Indians insisted that they maintained interest in keeping the center
fielder in the fold. Now a deal between the two sides appears close to
fruition.

On Friday night, multiple reports indicated that the Indians and Sizemore are
in serious negotiations on a one-year contract. General manager Chris
Antonetti declined to comment on any ongoing talks.

"I will refrain from specifically commenting on any speculation," Antonetti
wrote in an e-mail to MLB.com. "But we remain interested in keeping Grady in
an Indians' uniform and have expressed that sentiment to Grady and his
representatives."

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, a deal could be completed as soon
as this weekend. Prior to this latest turn of events, the general thought was
that Sizemore was unlikely to stay, given the considerable list of
organizations showing interest in him this offseason.

It has been reported that as many as eight teams -- including such big-market
clubs as the Yankees, Rangers, Cubs, Red Sox and Phillies -- have shown some
level of interest in rolling the dice on Sizemore, who became a free agent
after the Indians declined his $9 million club option for 2012.

One stumbling block for other teams is that the 29-year-old Sizemore is
rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, performed by Dr.
Richard Steadman on Oct. 3, and is unable to go through a full workout.

The Indians, however, are extremely familiar with Sizemore's recent medical
history, and Sizemore's agent, Joe Urbon, indicated that the club "came at us
with an aggressive offer," according Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.

The details of Cleveland's offer are not known, but the Indians would likely
be interested in a contract that includes a low base salary and performance
incentives. Given Sizemore's recent history of injury, keeping him for $9
million was not something Cleveland wanted to do.

This past season, Sizemore hit .224 with 10 homers, 32 RBIs and no stolen
bases in 71 games. He hit .282 with six homers and 11 RBIs in his first 18
games following a 10-month rehab from microfracture surgery on his left knee
(also performed by Steadman).

Sizemore was hindered by an injury to his right knee in 2011, and it was
revealed in July that he had been playing through a sports hernia, which also
required surgery.

Over the past three years, Sizemore has undergone five operations (both
knees, two sports hernias and his left elbow).

If the Indians do indeed re-sign Sizemore, they can only hope they are
getting the player who was a three-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner
and 30-30 threat from 2005 to 2008. During that stretch he had a line of
.281/.372/.496, with 107 homers, 115 stolen bases and 325 RBIs over 639 games.

Between 2009 and 2011, Sizemore has hit .234/.314/.413 with 28 homers, 17
stolen bases and 109 RBIs over just 210 games.

Right now it is unclear whether Sizemore would return to his familiar spot in
center field. The alternative would be for the Indians to play him in left
field, with Michael Brantley in center, and it has been reported that
Sizemore is willing to accept a role in any outfield spot as a free agent.

With the rotation strengthened by the addition of sinkerballer Derek Lowe,
Cleveland's primary offseason need is offensive help. The Indians have
identified the outfield and first base as the two possibilities for upgrades.

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Major League
Bastian, and follow him on Twitter @MLBastian. This story was not subject to
the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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◆ From: 220.142.10.101
推 ajarist:慘
推 bandchung:希望他能趕快好起來
推 Sizemore24:
推 tseng40:很喜歡他!受傷後真的很可惜
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