Transactions: Indians Re-Sign Rondon, Sign Luis Hernandez to Minor-League Deals (with NRIs)

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Signed RHP Hector Rondon and IF Luis Hernandez to minor-league contracts and invited them to Spring Training

Rondon once upon a time was one of the Indians' best pitching prospects, but two major arm injuries have largely kept him off the field since early 2010. He returned to the mound late this year, and seemed to be fully healthy, but he's only thrown a grand total of 48.2 innings over the last three seasons. I would guess he'll stay in the bullpen for 2013, with his innings watched very closely.

Hernandez has played sporadically at the major-league level for Baltimore (2007-2008), Kansas City (2009), the Mets (2010) and Texas (2012), but mostly he's been a AAA shortstop. Last season, aside from two games at the end of August in Texas, he spent the entire season in Round Rock.

Now here's what's interesting; the Indians shouldn't have much need for a minor-league veteran like Hernandez, at least at shortstop; Juan Diaz should be the everyday shortstop in Columbus, with prospects at every level below that. Hernandez has played second, and if he's going to play often, it'll probably be there rather than at shortstop. If Cord Phelps returns to Columbus, then that reduces Hernandez's playing time even further. But of course lots can happen this winter to change these very early projections.