Indians activate four from 60-day disabled list

CLEVELAND -- With the offseason in full swing, the Indians continue to organize their roster.

Cleveland completed a handful of paperwork transactions on Tuesday, activating right-handed reliever Frank Herrmann, left-hander Scott Barnes, catcher Lou Marson and infielder Cord Phelps from the 60-day disabled list. All four are back on the team's 40-man roster, which now stands at 36.

The 29-year-old Herrmann did not appear in a game in 2013 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on March 31. He appeared in 95 games for the Tribe from 2010-12, posting a 4.26 ERA.

Barnes, 26, was shelved in late August with a sprained left wrist after posting a 7.27 ERA in six games for the Indians and a 7.81 ERA in 23 games for Triple-A Columbus in a disappointing season. He sustained the injury on July 2, at Triple-A, and made one rehab appearance in the Arizona League on Aug. 17 before being shut down.

The 27-year-old Marson -- the primary backup catcher from 2010-12 -- began the 2013 season as the No. 2 backstop, but injuries quickly derailed his season. A neck injury sent him to the DL in early April and a strained right shoulder forced him back on the shelf on April 25. Marson appeared in 23 Minor League rehab games but was shut down in early August.

Marson, who appeared in only three games for the Indians in 2013, could now be relegated to third-string duty with the emergence of Yan Gomes as the starting catcher. Gomes and Carlos Santana project as the top two catchers heading into Spring Training.

Utility man Phelps, 26, hit .267 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs in 65 games with Triple-A Columbus last season but went 0-for-9 in his four-game stint with Cleveland. He dealt with problems in his neck and right wrist throughout the year and did not appear in a game after July 2.