Chris Assenheimer

The Chronicle-Telegram

CLEVELAND – Apparently Fausto Carmona isn’t Fausto Carmona after all. And he’s a little older, too.

In a bizarre story coming out of the Dominican Republic on Thursday, the Indians right-hander was arrested in his native country and charged with falsifying his identity to obtain a U.S. Visa.

According to the charges, Carmona’s real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia. He is also allegedly 31-years-old, not 28, as the Indians believed when they exercised a $7 million option on the pitcher for the 2012 season Oct. 31.

Cleveland’s general manager Chris Antonetti released a statement regarding the incident:

“We were recently made aware of the situation that occurred today in the Dominican Republic and are currently in the process of gathering information. We are not prepared to make any additional comment at this time.”

Carmona, whose birthday is listed as Dec. 7, 1983, in the Indians media guide, was reportedly arrested outside of the U.S. consulate in Santo Domingo, where he had gone to renew his Visa to return to America for spring training. Cleveland pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Goodyear, Ariz., for training camp Feb. 19.

Carmona is unlikely to arrive on time in Goodyear as he works through his current Visa problems. The Indians may be able to void Carmona’s contract – a four-year deal signed in 2008 that includes options in 2012, 2013 ($9 million) and 2014 ($12 million). It is unlikely Cleveland would go that route, since the club would only owe Carmona the 2012 option and could decline the options in ’13 and ’14.

The sinker-ball pitcher was the Indians’ opening day starter last season, going 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA in 32 starts.

Carmona’s career in Cleveland has been a rollercoaster. He finished fourth in Cy Young voting in 2007 after going 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA – the same season rotation mate CC Sabathia won the award, and the last time the Indians have qualified for the postseason. That year came one season removed from a failed bid as closer.

Carmona’s production has fallen substantially since. He went 8-7 with a 5.25 ERA in 2008, followed by a 5-12 record and 6.32 ERA in 2009 – a season that included a demotion to the Arizona Rookie League. He was able to bounce back in 2010, when he went 13-14 with a 3.77 ERA in 33 starts and was named Cleveland’s lone All-Star. Last year began dubiously for Carmona, who allowed 10 earned runs in just three innings of a 15-10 loss to the White Sox in the season opener at Progressive Field.

Carmona is the second big leaguer to be arrested in four months in a false identity case. Marlins reliever Leo Nunez, who admitted to falsifying his name and age in order to play professional baseball, was arrested in September. His real name Juan Carlos Oviedo and he is 29, not 28.

Carmona’s agent told The Associated Press that he was caught off-guard by the arrest and that there are Dominican lawyers working the issue.

“This took us by complete surprise,” Jay Alou said. “What we have to do now is wait to find out the process that has to be done with the consulate with this new identity in order to see if he can get a new work visa.”

Two more aboard

The Indians continued to bolster their depth Thursday, signing relief pitcher Jeremy Accardo and outfielder Fred Lewis to minor-league contracts. Both received invitations to major league spring training camp.

Accardo, 30, went 3-3 with a 5.73 ERA in 31 games for the Orioles last year. The right-hander served as Kansas City’s closer in 2007, going 4-4 with a 2.14 ERA and 30 saves in 64 games. If he makes the club, Accardo will earn $825,000 with performance bonuses totaling $300,000.

Lewis, 31, is a career .267 hitter in six seasons for San Francisco, Toronto and Cincinnati. He batted .230 with three home runs and 19 RBIs in 81 games last year for the Reds. Lewis will earn $725,000 is he makes the club, with a possible $500,000 in performance bonuses.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

CLEVELAND — Though fans may not share his belief, general manager Chris Antonetti is optimistic that the Indians can contend for a Central Division title in 2012.

That is with or without Carlos Pena.

“Organizationally, we feel our major league team is in a very good spot right now, and in position to contend for a title,” the second-year GM said Friday during a meeting with reporters at Progressive Field.

Helping to fuel Antonetti’s optimism is a somewhat busy offseason for the Indians, who finished second in the Central last year, despite a wealth of injuries to key players.

Cleveland signed a number of fringe veterans and some notable ones, including starting pitcher Derek Lowe and outfielder Grady Sizemore, who agreed to a one-year contract worth $5 million after the club declined to exercise his $8.5 million option.

“I would say it’s been very wide-ranging,” Antonetti said of the Indians’ offseason search. “We’ve been aggressive in trying to improve the team.”

And Antonetti might not be done yet.

In need of offense, Cleveland is reportedly interested in the 33-year-old Pena, a free-agent first baseman with power who hit .225 with 28 home runs and 80 RBIs in 153 games for the Cubs last year, and has averaged 34.4 homers and 97.4 RBIs over the past five seasons. Though Antonetti would not comment on individual players, he did admit the club could improve at the position Matt LaPorta has held for the majority of the past two seasons.

“We continue to look at any areas to improve the club,” Antonetti said. “First base is a position we can potentially upgrade.”

As always, money is an object for the low-budget Indians, whose pursuit of Pena figures to be affected by the Prince Fielder sweepstakes. Fielder, also a free-agent first baseman, has been courted by a handful of teams. Once he signs, the market for Pena and another free-agent first baseman, Casey Kotchman, should become clearer.

“We have some (financial) flexibility,” Antonetti said. “Obviously, it’s not unending. Whether that flexibility and individual players’ desire fits, we don’t know yet.

“We still have a lot of players that teams like both on our major and minor league levels. To date, we haven’t been able to line up the right value.”

If the Indians don’t land a first baseman, the job could fall back to LaPorta, who has largely been a disappointment since arriving in a much-publicized trade with the Brewers for CC Sabathia in July 0f 2008. LaPorta, who has hit .234 with 23 homers and 94 RBIs in 217 games for Cleveland over the past two years, has been working with hitting coordinator Bruce Fields in Florida to improve the fundamentals of his swing, according to Antonetti.

“Matt understands that this is an important year for him,” the GM said.

First base reps could also go to catcher Carlos Santana and Shelley Duncan, with Jack Hannahan an option as well. Santana played in 66 games at first in 2011, and the Indians would have no problem sheltering one of their top hitters from the rigors of catching on a regular basis.

Antonetti said his search would not be limited to first basemen, but that it would not include the prospect of reuniting outfielder Manny Ramirez with the Indians.

“I think with where we are, it’s probably not a good fit for us,” Antonetti said of signing Ramirez, who began his career in Cleveland, starring for the Indians from 1993-2000, and has said he would like to return.

Roundin’ third

The Indians hired Adam Everett as a special assistant to baseball operations. Everett, 34, retired after playing in 34 games as a utility infielder for Cleveland in 2011. He is a veteran of 11 major league seasons.
• Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes told The Associated Press that six teams, including the Indians, are interested in his services. Cespedes, 27, made his professional debut in the Dominican League playoffs Thursday, but is still awaiting residency in the DR, which would clear the way for him to become a major league free agent. The other teams reportedly interested in Cespedes are the Cubs, Marlins, Orioles, Tigers and White Sox.
• The plan was for Ubaldo Jimenez to pitch winter ball, but the right-hander shut it down after getting a case of the flu following his first start. Jimenez, Santana and Fausto Carmona have been working with a strength and conditioning coach in the Dominican Republic.
• Jimenez had a groin injury coming out of spring training last year with the Rockies, which many believe contributed to a down season. Antonetti believes the strength and conditioning work will better prepare Jimenez for the regular season. He went 4-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 11 starts for the Indians last year after arriving in a trade for prized pitching prospects Drew Pomeranz and Alex White.
• Antonetti said Jason Kipnis has a leg up on the competition for the starting job at second base, while Lonnie Chisenhall will have to beat out Hannahan and Jason Donald to open the season at third base. Kipnis was one of Cleveland’s top offensive players late in the year, hitting .272 with seven homers and 19 RBIs in 36 games, but missed time with hamstring and oblique injuries. Chisenhall batted .255 with seven homers and 22 RBIs in 66 games.
• The Indians have invited six internal non-roster players to big league spring training camp — right-handed pitchers Hector Ambriz, Austin Adams, Chen-Chang Lee and Tyler Sturdevant, catcher Chun Chen and outfielder Chad Huffman. Ambriz, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery after spending the majority of the 2010 season in Cleveland’s bullpen, and Huffman, a candidate to win an extra outfield spot last year, are the only candidates to break camp with the Indians.
• The Indians signed three players — infielders Chin-Lung Hu and Argenis Reyes, and right-hander Willy Lebron — to minor league deals. The trio will report to minor league training camp next month.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Chris Assenheimer

The Chronicle-Telegram

CLEVELAND — Though fans may not share his belief, general manager Chris Antonetti is optimistic that the Indians can contend for a Central Division title in 2012.

That is with or without Carlos Pena.

“Organizationally, we feel our major league team is in a very good spot right now, and in position to contend for a title,” the second-year GM said Friday during a meeting with reporters at Progressive Field.

Helping to fuel Antonetti’s optimism is a somewhat busy offseason for the Indians, who finished second in the Central last year, despite a wealth of injuries to key players. Cleveland signed a number of fringe veterans and some notable ones, including  starting pitcher Derek Lowe and outfielder Grady Sizemore, who agreed to a one-year contract worth $5 million after the club declined to exercise his $8.5 million option.

“I would say it’s been very wide-ranging,” Antonetti said of the Indians’ offseason search. “We’ve been aggressive in trying to improve the team.”

And Antonetti might not be done yet.

In need of offense, Cleveland is reportedly interested in the 33-year-old Pena, a free-agent first baseman with power who hit .225 with 28 home runs and 80 RBIs in 153 games for the Cubs last year, and has averaged 34.4 homers and 97.4 RBIs over the past five seasons. Though Antonetti would not comment on individual players, he did admit the club could improve at the position Matt LaPorta has held for the majority of the past two seasons.

“We continue to look at any areas to improve the club,” Antonetti said. “First base is a position we can potentially upgrade.”

As always, money is an object for the low-budget Indians, whose pursuit of Pena figures to be affected by the Prince Fielder sweepstakes. Fielder, also a free-agent first baseman, has been courted by a handful of teams. Once he signs, the market for Pena and another free-agent first baseman, Casey Kotchman, should become clearer.

“We have some (financial) flexibility,” Antonetti said. “Obviously, it’s not unending. Whether that flexibility and individual players’ desire fits, we don’t know yet.

“We still have a lot of players that teams like both on our major and minor league levels. To date, we haven’t been able to line up the right value.”

If the Indians don’t land a first baseman, the job could fall back to LaPorta, who has largely been a disappointment since arriving in a much-publicized trade with the Brewers for CC Sabathia in July 0f 2008. LaPorta, who has hit .234 with 23 homers and 94 RBIs in 217 games for Cleveland over the past two years, has been working with hitting coordinator Bruce Fields in Florida to improve the fundamentals of his swing, according to Antonetti.

“Matt understands that this is an important year for him,” the GM said.

First base reps could also go to catcher Carlos Santana and Shelley Duncan, with Jack Hannahan an option as well. Santana played in 66 games at first in 2011, and the Indians would have no problem sheltering one of their top hitters from the rigors of catching on a regular basis.

Antonetti said his search would not be limited to first basemen, but that it would not include the prospect of reuniting outfielder Manny Ramirez with the Indians.

“I think with where we are, it’s probably not a good fit for us,” Antonetti said of signing Ramirez, who began his career in Cleveland, starring for the Indians from 1993-2000, and has said he would like to return.

Welcome back

The Indians hired Adam Everett as a special assistant to baseball operations.

Everett, 34, retired after playing in 34 games as a utility infielder for Cleveland in 2011. He is a veteran of 11 major league seasons.

In the mix?

Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes told The Associated Press that six teams, including the Indians, are interested in his services.

Cespedes, 27, made his professional debut in the Dominican League playoffs Thursday, but is still awaiting residency in the DR, which would clear the way for him to become a major league free agent.

The other teams reportedly interested in Cespedes are the Cubs, Marlins, Orioles, Tigers and White Sox.

Building blocks

The plan was for Ubaldo Jimenez to pitch winter ball, but the right-hander shut it down after getting a case of the flu following his first start. Jimenez, Santana and Fausto Carmona have been working with a strength and conditioning coach in the Dominican Republic.

Jimenez had a groin injury coming out of spring training last year with the Rockies, which many believe contributed to a down season. Antonetti believes the strength and conditioning work will better prepare Jimenez for the regular season.

He went 4-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 11 starts for the Indians last year after arriving in a trade for prized pitching prospects Drew Pomeranz and Alex White.

Starting spots

Antonetti said Jason Kipnis has a leg up on the competition for the starting job at second base, while Lonnie Chisenhall will have to beat out Hannahan and Jason Donald to open the season at third base.

Kipnis was one of Cleveland’s top offensive players late in the year, hitting .272 with seven homers and 19 RBIs in 36 games, but missed time with hamstring and oblique injuries.

Chisenhall batted .255 with seven homers and 22 RBIs in 66 games.

Invitation only

The Indians have invited six internal non-roster players to big league spring training camp – right-handed pitchers Hector Ambriz, Austin Adams, Chen-Chang Lee and Tyler Sturdevant, catcher Chun Chen and outfielder Chad Huffman.

Ambriz, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery after spending the majority of the 2010 season in Cleveland’s bullpen, and Huffman, a candidate to win an extra outfield spot last year, are the only candidates to break camp with the Indians.

New additions

The Indians signed three players – infielders Chin-Lung Hu and Argenis Reyes, and right-hander Willy Lebron – to minor league deals. The trio will report to minor league training camp in February.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

CLEVELAND — At the recent winter meetings, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti hinted that he had something surprising up his sleeve.

Tribe fans are hoping this isn’t it.

Cleveland was busy Friday, acquiring three players, but it was more quantity than quality, with only one of them, outfielder Aaron Cunningham, a safe bet to grace the big league roster on opening day.

The Indians signed free agents, veteran infielder Jose Lopez and outfielder Felix Pie, to minor league contracts before landing Cunningham in a trade with the Padres for Double-A right-hander Cory Burns.

Though Lopez and Pie have all spent significant time in the majors, Cunningham, 25, was the more substantial move of the day. Out of minor league options, he is considered the frontrunner to win the job as fourth outfielder behind Michael Brantley (left field), Grady Sizemore (center) and Shin-Soo Choo (right).

“We feel like we’re getting a guy that has a chance to be a major league outfielder for us,” Antonetti said of Cunningham, who batted .329 with nine home runs and 63 RBIs in 87 games at the Triple-A level last year. “He’s a right-handed hitter that has some versatility to play both corner outfield spots and should complement the rest of the players we have on our roster very well.”

Cunningham hit just .178 in 52 games for the Padres last year, but batted .288 with a homer and 15 RBIs in 53 games for San Diego in 2010 after being acquired in a trade with Oakland.

The 24-year-old Burns was Cleveland’s eighth-round draft pick in 2009, going 2-5 with a 2.11 ERA and 35 saves for Double-A Akron last year. He was not on the 40-man roster, so a move had to be made to add Cunningham, with Triple-A right-hander Josh Judy designated for assignment to clear a spot.

Lopez, 28, will come to camp hoping to win a job as the utility infielder.

The Venezuela native was Seattle’s regular second baseman from 2006-10. He made the all-star team in 2006, but his best season came in 2009 when he hit .272 with 25 homers and 96 RBIs in 153 games.

Lopez’s production has plummeted since. He hit just .216 with eight homers and 21 RBIs in 82 games with Colorado and Florida last season.

“He can compete for regular at-bats at third base and potentially at first base, depending on how well he swings the bat and who our other alternatives are,” Antonetti said of Lopez, who will earn $900,000 should he make the opening day roster. “I think he could be a very good complement to some of our regulars on the infield who are predominantly left-handed hitters.”

As it stands, the Indians will employ left-handed hitters at third base in Lonnie Chisenhall and Jack Hannahan, as well as at second (Jason Kipnis). Switch-hitter Carlos Santana and right-handed hitting Shelley Duncan will most likely get the majority of the reps at first base, unless Matt LaPorta shines during spring training.

Pie, 26, began his big league career with the Cubs in 2007, spending the past three seasons in Baltimore. He was designated for assignment and became a free agent at the end of the year after batting just .220 without a homer and seven RBIs in 85 games for the Orioles.

Pie, who will earn $700,000 should he make the big league roster, will compete with Cunningham and Ezequiel Carrera for the extra outfield spot.

Indians fans can continue to hold out hope for something more, with Antonetti saying the club still has financial flexibility. But the 40-man roster the team employs once Cunningham is added, might be the one Cleveland takes to spring training.

“It could be what we go to camp with, but we’re going to continue to work to find alternatives,” Antonetti said.

Swing and a drive

The Indians announced that longtime radio voice Tom Hamilton will return for his 23rd season as part of a multi-year extension for the Avon Lake resident.

Hamilton will be joined by Bay Village resident Jim Rosenhaus, who took over for Mike Hegan when he stepped down during the season last year.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.