Released RHP Roberto Hernandez
After Hernandez let Tuesday's game get away, it was a matter of time before he'd be sent packing. June is generally the time when guys with proven track records turn into stiffs and no-good vagrants; at least, that's what it seems like. From a physical standpoint, Hernandez still is capable of getting hitters out, even at his advanced age. His fastball still gets into the mid-90s, which is probably his ticket onto another team before a week has passed. Heck, by the time I finally get around to post this, he'll have landed with another team in search not of someone better, but someone different who can't be any worse than the guy he replaced. So goes the process of maintaining a bullpen.
Recalled Edward Mujica from Buffalo (AAA)
Anyway, this essentially means that Jason Stanford has gained a more permanent spot on the roster. Mujica, for all his future prospects, is merely a stopgap until Jake Westbrook comes off the Disabled List. Getting Matt Miller back to the majors is probably the endgame of this series of moves.
Stanford's move into the front end of the bullpen means that Rafael Perez moves into a more prominent late-inning role. I think his starting days are finally behind him, so we'll be seeing smaller and more frequent doses of Perez. And for good reason: in his short major-league career, left-handers are hitting .106/.192/.170 off him. With those splits, even allowing for some league adjustment, how could you not leverage that?
Recalled OF Ben Francisco from Buffalo (AAA)
As I said before, I don't really think it's necessary to go with five outfielders, especially with a platoon no longer necessary in left field. Francisco is a practically perfect fourth outfielder, as he has a low-maintenance swing, can play each outfield position reasonably well, and can steal a base. He's eventually going to replace Jason Michaels, but since the Indians have several more years of options on him, Franklin Gutierrez should get much of the playing time made available thanks to David Dellucci's serious hamstring injury.