Transactions/Injuries: May 23-26, 2012

There's a lot that happened over the past four days roster-wise, so here's a quick day-by-day recap.

5-23-2012

Before Wednesday's game, Hafner complained about stiffness in his right knee. In his first at-bat, Travis Hafner fouled a pitch off his right lower leg. He stayed in the game, and would later hit a home run, but that night the pain worsened, and he missed Thursday's game and will miss the entire Chicago series in an attempt to be in the lineup when the Indians return to Cleveland. He's currently still on the active roster, and no moves have yet been made to compensate.

If Hafner would have to go on the DL, the logical candidate to call up would be Matt LaPorta, who is doing what he usually does in AAA (.317/.405/.641). LaPorta has been splitting his time in Columbus between left field and first base, so the Indians could rotate Johnny Damon, Shelley Duncan, and LaPorta between left field and DH. But for now, that's only a contingency.

5-25-2012

Optioned RHP Zach McAllister AAA Columbus

Recalled SS Juan Diaz from AA Akron

With Josh Tomlin ready to go off the Disabled List and both Travis Hafner and Jack Hannahan out of the lineup (but not on the DL), the Indians needed another position player for the next couple of games, so the Indians plucked Diaz to serve as an emergency backup. Diaz was already on the 40-man roster, and the Indians had been going over a week without a reserve infielder.

Juan Diaz had been acquired in 2010 from the Seattle Mariners in the Russell Branyan deal. He was hitting just .232/.280/.348 overall in Akron, but the switch-hitter has been hitting much better right-handed (.330/.376/.473) than left-handed (.043/.106/.188). That's a strange split, as usually a switch-hitter would struggle more from the right side as he doesn't get as many at-bats there, but Diaz as almost always hit better (especially for power) as a right-handed hitter through his minor-league career.

During the game, Asdrubal Cabrera left the game with a tight hamstring, so it was very fortuitous that Diaz had been called up. He replaced Cabrera at shortstop, and would start Saturday's game.

Also in that game, Carlos Santana took a foul ball directly off his mask, and he immediately left the game for precautionary reasons.

5-26-2012

Transferred LHP Rafael Perez to the 60-Day Disabled List

Placed C Carlos Santana on the 7-Day Disabled List (Concussion)

Purchased the Contract of C Luke Carlin and Recalled him from Columbus (AAA)

It turned out that Santana did indeed suffer a concussion, so the Indians utilized the fairly new 7-day DL, which deals exclusively with players suffering from concussions. They added Luke Carlin, who had been sharing playing with Matt Pagnozzi with a Clippers. Like Diaz, the switch-hitting Carlin has been hitting better against left-handers (.261/.393/.304) than right-handers (.209/.320/.279).

To get Carlin onto the 40-man roster, the Indians moved Rafael Perez to the 60-day Disabled List, meaning that he would not be eligible to return to the majors until June 25.

The good news on Saturday is that Jack Hannahan returned to the lineup, so that would mean the Indians could send Diaz back down when Tomlin makes his return to the rotation on Monday. Assuming Cabrera is healthy of course.