Cleveland acquired one of Tampa Bay’s top prospects Tuesday, sending cash to the Rays for first baseman Russ Canzler. Canzler, 25, was the International League’s most valuable player last season after batting .314 with 18 home runs and 83 RBIs in 131 games for Triple-A Durham.
Canzler, a right-handed hitter, was a strong candidate to open the year at first for the Rays before Tampa Bay signed Carlos Pena – a player the Indians had strong interest in this offseason.
With LaPorta, also a top prospect upon his arrival in Cleveland, failing to live up to expectations on the big league level, Canzler is expected to get the opportunity to compete this spring for the starting job at first. If he doesn’t make the club in that capacity, the versatile 30th-round draft pick of the Cubs in 2004, could secure a roster spot as a utility infielder.
“He’ll come and compete for a spot on the major league team,” Indians general manager Chris Antonetti told Indians.com. “The specific position at which, or the spot on the team he’ll be competing for, will be dependant upon a number of different things, including the other guys competing and how the roster takes shape in spring.
“One of the things that we’re attracted to about Russ, in addition to his offensive ability, is his defensive versatility. He has played and is capable of playing first base, third base, left field, right field and has experience at all four of those spots.”
Canzler, who has minor league options, was in line to start at first for the Rays before Pena arrived. Tampa Bay’s starter at the position last season, Casey Kotchman, is a free agent, with the Indians also showing interest in him this winter. Already looking as though he would begin the year in the minors after the Pena acquisition, Canzler was designated for assignment when the Rays signed infielder Jeff Keppinger on Friday.
That cleared the way for the Indians to trade for him.
The Indians have been searching all offseason for a right-handed power bat, with repeated interest in those playing first base, a spot LaPorta, despite a wealth of opportunities, has failed to secure on a fulltime basis since arriving in a trade from Milwaukee in July of 2008.
He’s batted .234 with 23 homers and 94 RBIs in 217 games for Cleveland over the past seasons.
Canzler’s offensive progress came slow through the minors, but he has found his stroke the past two years. He hit .287 with 21 homers and 66 RBIs for the Cubs’ Double-A affiliate Tennessee before his MVP season in 2011. He made his major league debut with the Rays last year, going 1-for-3 in three games.
Though he has said he feels comfortable bringing the current roster to Goodyear, Ariz., for spring training, Antonetti remains open to adding more players to the mix. Cleveland is still in the market for Kotchman and is also one of six teams reportedly interested in Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
“Our focus will be to continue to try to improve the roster,” Antonetti said. “We’ll certainly continue to do that in the weeks leading up to spring training.”
Canzler assumed the 40-man roster spot of pitcher Fausto Carmona, who is on the restricted list and is still being detained without a visa in the Dominican Republic after being arrested on false identity charges.
Deadline date
Arbitration-eligible players, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and relief pitcher Rafael Perez remain unsigned. Arbitration cases in MLB begin being heard today.
Cabrera, an all-star who hit .273 with 25 homers and 92 RBIs in 151 games last year, is asking for a one-year salary of $5.2 million in 2012, while the Indians are offering $3.75 million.
Perez, a staple in the bullpen since 2008, is asking for $2.4 million. Cleveland is offering $1.6 million.
Contact Chris Assenheimer ar 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
