Two more deals for the Tribe this offseason were made this week, as the Indians hope to cap off a winter Hot Stove full of promise and activity.
First, Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner was signed to a one-year deal with the New York Yankees for a reported $2 million.
In 10 seasons with the Tribe, Hafner, known to some fans by his unusual nickname "Pronk," appeared in 1078 games, hitting an even 200 home runs with a strong .382 on-base percentage.
Appearing mostly as a designated hitter in Cleveland, Hafner also played 72 games at first base from 2002 to 2007.
At his best, Hafner was an on-base machine, regularly listing atop the American League in walks and extra base hits.
But for Cleveland fans, their memories are largely seared by years of inconsistency and injuries. Frequently on the disabled list, Hafner appeared in over 120 games in just one season since becoming a permanent DH.
From 2007 to 2012, Hafner missed an average of 65 games a season and hit just 14 home runs a year. In that stretch, the Indians had paid him in excess of $50 million.
Hafner will hope to rejuvenate his career, one which saw him finish in the top eight in MVP voting twice.
The Indians also signed Matt Capps, former Minnesota Twins reliever, to a minor league contract on Thursday.
Capps has played seven full seasons in the major leagues, including time with the Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Twins.
Appearing exclusively as a reliever, Capps has pitched in 444 games with a 3.52 ERA and 1.190 walks/hits per inning.
Got a question about the Tribe or baseball? E-mail at TBuchan@falcon.bgsu.edu. I will post all questions and answer them on the Cleveland Indians Examiner.
Are you sad Travis Hafner is no longer an Indians player? Leave your thoughts below in the comment section!
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