CLEVELAND — Travis Hafner is back in familiar territory — the disabled list.
Cleveland’s designated hitter was placed on the injured list Monday prior to the series opener against Seattle with a right foot strain.
Hafner sustained the injury while running to second base Sunday in a loss at Detroit.
“I think it’s going to be a minimum of two weeks,” said general manager Chris Antonetti. “We’re still in the process of determining the specific length of time and the best way to treat the injury.”
Antonetti said head trainer Lonnie Soloff would provide more details on Hafner’s injury today, but it sounds as though it has season-ending potential. It is related to the injury that caused Hafner to miss a handful of games earlier this season.
Hafner has slumped as of late but has been one of Cleveland’s few productive hitters, batting .281 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs in 82 games.
It is the second trip to the DL this season for Hafner, who has been on the injured list in each of the last four years.
With Hafner out of commission, reports began to circulate that the Indians might be interested in acquiring Jim Thome, the club’s all-time home run leader, who has been placed on waivers by the Twins.
Any American League team with a worse record than the Indians could claim Thome before Cleveland gets the chance. Even if the Indians are able to claim Thome, they would still have to work out a trade acceptable for Minnesota, which could opt to take him off waivers.
“We’ve been very aggressive in a number of claims we’ve made, but unfortunately haven’t been able to find a fit,” Antonetti said.
Sizemore’s status
Grady Sizemore (right knee) hit in the cages, shagged fly balls and did some light running prior to the series opener with Seattle. He has yet to take batting practice on the field or run the bases, but he said he could begin playing in minor-league rehab games next week.
“That’s assuming everything goes well,” he said. “That could change the next day. But I definitely feel like I’m going to be back before the end of the year, if it feels good.”
Comings and goings
The Indians played without right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, who left the team to be with his wife after the birth of the couple’s first daughter. Choo has been hot since leaving the disabled list, batting .343 (12-for-35) with a homer and three RBIs in eight games.
**With the Indians wanting to keep their bullpen fresh for a doubleheader today, reliever Josh Judy was promoted from Triple-A Columbus on Monday to assume Hafner’s roster spot. He is expected to be sent back down today to clear room for Zach McAllister, who will be promoted from Columbus to make a spot start in the second game of the doubleheader. McAllister was in Cleveland on Monday, but won’t be officially added to the roster until today.
**Shelley Duncan is expected to return to the team today from a family emergency — his mother’s surgery. Outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, who took Duncan’s spot, is expected to return to Columbus.
Ugly Ubaldo
Ubaldo Jimenez’s problems come down to mechanics, according to Antonetti.
“We’ve spent a lot of time discussing with Ubaldo adjustments he can make,” Antonetti said of the right-hander, who has pitched poorly in three of his four starts since arriving in a trade from the Rockies. “We think there are some things that he can do to get him back on track.
“I’m confident he’s healthy and still has the attributes to be a successful major league pitcher.”
Antonetti admitted that Jimenez’s velocity is down from last year (97-99 mph), but claimed the pitcher’s average fastball speed is within the 10 fastest among American League starters.
He said Jimenez will work on mechanical adjustments with pitching coach Tim Belcher this week.
Minor details
It’s been an injury-plagued season for Columbus third baseman Jared Goedert, but he is starting to get hot, entering Monday batting .378 (31-for-82) with six homers and 10 RBIs over his last 25 games. Goedert (.258, 23 RBIs in 65 games), hit his 10th homer Sunday in the Clippers’ 10-2 loss to Buffalo. … Double-A Akron LHP T.J. McFarland is 7-3 with a 2.63 ERA over his last 11 starts. A fourth-round draft pick in 2007, McFarland is 9-7 with a 3.87 ERA in 22 starts for the Aeros.
Roundin’ third
Starting with the series opener with Seattle on Monday, the Indians play 11 straight games at Progressive Field and 14 of their next 17. … The Indians are offering free tickets to the first game of the doubleheader today for kids 12 and under when a regularly-priced seat is purchased. Up to three children can receive the free tickets per regularly-priced seat. … Today, 1:05/7:05, Game 1 — Masterson (10-7, 2.71) vs. Beaven (3-4, 4.10), STO/WTAM 1100-AM. Game 2 — McAllister (0-0, 4.50) vs. Vasquez (first start), STO/WTAM 1100-AM.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
