Indians Sign Dice K To Minor League Deal – Make Myers Deal Official

The Cleveland Indians were active today and have put the finishing touches on its 2013 rotation. The Tribe inked two veterans, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Brett Myers, to one year deals today.

Dice-K, the Japanese import who came over to Boston and helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2007, has resurfaced on a minor league contract. Matsuzaka, has not been effective since 2008, but will make a base salary of 1.5 million dollars if he makes the team out of spring training with incentives reaching as high as $4 million. Dice-K has totaled just over 90 innings his last two seasons combined, battling injuries in Boston before finally becoming a Free Agent this offseason.

The Indians hope he can compete with Zach McAllister, Carlos Carrasco and Corey Kulber for the final two spots in the rotation. It is assumed the Tribe have Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jiminez and Trevor Bauer locked into the top three spots with Myers more of a sure thing for the fourth spot only if he is not sent to the bullpen.

Myers and Dice-K are both just 32 years old, but the former signed for the much more expensive contract at one year and 7 million dollars. The Indians also worked a club option for $8 million in 2014 and had previously agreed with the versatile righty, making it official today. Myers was a reliever last season, something he does not prefer, but did sport an impressive 3.31 ERA and 5.6 K/9 in over 70 relief appearances combined with the Astros and White Sox last season.

Myers represents different upside from Dice-K, who in two of his MLB seasons was capable of shutting down the opposition but not pitching deep into ballgames.

While Myers does not have dominant stuff, he has been durable as a starter, pitching nearly 440 innings between 2010 and 2011, with a career 4.27 ERA and 7.2 K/9.

Now up to eight legitimate starting pitching candidates, it appears the Indians’ pursuit of pitching is done for the offseason.

Other Indians News: The team announced they signed 1B/DH Jason Giambi to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.