Tribe eats option

The Aaron Fultz era in Cleveland is over, as the Indians have decided they will pay the veteran left-handed reliever $1.5 million to sit at home. Mark Shapiro chose to pick up Fultz's option going into the season, but after his awful spring, Shapiro decided to cut his losses. Fultz, 34, gave up 14 runs, 11 earned, on 16 hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings. That works out to an 11.88 ERA. Translation: Dreadful. Fultz has not been the same since he strained a rib-cage muscle in the middle of the season last year. And let's face it, in today's baseball economics, $1.5 million is not a lot of money (though I sure wish someone would pay ME that much to sit on my posterior). The Indians will probably try to trade him for some young not-quite-prospect.

To take his place, the Indians took a molecular physicist off waivers. That's only slightly untrue -- former Red Sox prospect Craig Breslow has never actually worked as a nuclear physicist, but he does have a degree from Yale in molecular physics and biochemistry. Breslow first reached the majors in 2005 with the Padres, and then spent the last two last years with the Boston organization. He has pitched 28 1/3 innings in 27 major-league games, with a fine 2.86 ERA. But he spent all of last year in AAA, compiling a 4.06 ERA in 68 2/3 innings over 49 games. He's had control problems in his limited major-league action, but in the minors, he's walked about a third as many guys as he's struck out. Such times are these when a filthy rich team like the Red Sox can't find a place for him on their big-league roster. Along with Rafael Perez, that gives us two lefties in the pen.

Shapiro's thoughts on Breslow, courtesy of MLB.com:

"A year ago at this time, we probably never could have gotten him," Shapiro said. "He had a solid year last year, but not quite as good. He has a very successful track record against left-handed hitters in the minors. He's a resilient, smart guy."

The Tribe still has one bullpen spot to reconcile, and it's between Tom Mastny, Jorge Julio and Scott Elarton. They did officially name Cliff Lee the fifth starter today, to no one's surprise, and sent down Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers. It wasn't a great day to be an Indians pitcher named Aaron. But if those guys do well in Buffalo, they'll get their chance.