Indians announce the addition of five players to club's 40-man roster
CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Indians today announced the following roster moves relative to the forty-man roster:
Purchased the contract of RHP BRYAN PRICE from the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.
Purchased the contracts of RHP AUSTIN ADAMS, INF JESUS AGUILAR and OF CARLOS MONCRIEF from the Double-A Akron RubberDucks.
Purchased the contract of INF ERIK GONZALEZ from the Single-A Carolina Mudcats.
Designated INF CORD PHELPS for assignment.
Price, 27, enjoyed a breakout season in 2013 between AAA Columbus and AA Akron, recording a 2.04 ERA and 4 saves in 47 games/1 start (75.0IP, 57H, 21R/17ER, 16BB, 92K). Bryan limited Minor League hitters to a .206 (57-277) average against and averaged 11.0 strikeouts per 9.0IP during his tenure in Akron and Columbus. He is currently second in the Venezuelan Winter League in saves and is sporting a winter ERA of 1.89 in 15 games (1GS, 19.0IP, 8H, 4ER, 6BB, 19K, .133AVG). The Granbury, TX native was acquired by Cleveland from Boston with Justin Masterson and Nick Hagadone for Victor Martinez in July 2009. He was Boston's first round "sandwich" pick (45th overall) in the 2008 draft out of Rice University.
Adams, 27, spent the entire season in a relief role at Double-A Akron, going 3-2 with 4 saves and a 2.62 ERA in 45 appearances (55.0IP, 44H, 16ER, 3HR, 29BB, 76K, .215AVG). He averaged 12.44 strikeouts per 9.0-innings pitched and limited right-handed batters to a .158 (18-114) average against after missing the entire 2012 season due to right shoulder surgery. The Millbrook, AL native owns a Minor League career ERA of 3.28 in 114 games/46 starts (340.0IP, 320H, 124ER, 348K) and was the Tribe's 5th round pick in the 2009 draft out of Faulkner (AL) University.
Aguilar, 23, set the Double-A Akron franchise single-season record with an Eastern League-best 105 RBI, hitting .275 (137-499) with 28 doubles, 16 home runs and 66 runs scored in 130 games. His 105 RBI led the Player Development system and ranked 6th in all of Minor League Baseball. The Eastern League All-Star has carried his regular season success into winter ball where he is hitting .313 (41-131) in 33 games in his native Venezuela while ranking among league leaders in home runs (T1st, 10), RBI (2nd, 31), total bases (T2nd, 75) and runs (T4th, 25). He was originally signed by Cleveland as an amateur free agent in November of 2007.
Moncrief, 25, spent the entire 2013 season with AA Akron where he batted .284 (139-489) with 26 doubles, 7 triples, 17 home runs, 75RBI and 77 runs scored in 129 games as he established new career Minor League-bests and led the Akron club in virtually every offensive category. His 17 homers were tied for 1st among Indians farmhands while his 75RBI were 3rd in the system. The Eastern League All-Star selection finished among league leaders in OPS (7th, .824), hits (T4th, 139), runs (T6th, 77) and triples (T6th, 7). The converted pitcher was originally selected by the Indians in the 14th round of the 2008 draft out of Chipola (FL) Junior College and spent his first two years (2008-09) in the pros as a relief pitcher. Baseball America named the Jackson, MS native as having the "best outfield arm" in the system entering the 2012 season.
Gonzalez, 22, split the 2013 campaign between low-A Lake County and high-A Carolina where he batted .254 (129-508) with 32 doubles, 12 triples, 9 home runs, 76RBI and 75 runs scored in 132 games. The versatile infielder appeared in 65 games at third base, 55 games at shortstop, 13 games at second base and 1 game apiece at first base and center field as his 76 RBI were second in the organization to Aguilar. Erik has continued to make a name for himself after the season for Escogido in his native Dominican Republic, hitting .351 (33-94) with 12 runs, 2 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR & 8 RBI in 25 games (.839OPS) in winter ball, leading the league in hits (33) while currently ranking 2nd in average and triples. This year marked his first full Minor League season after signing as an amateur free agent in August of 2008.
The 40-man roster currently consists of forty (40) players.