The fourth new relief pitcher in less than two weeks is about to join the Indians’ bullpen. ¶
   Tampa Bay dealt 32-year-old right-hander Winston Abreu to the Tribe on Thursday in exchange for right-hander John Meloan and cash. ¶
   Abreu is headed for the 25-man roster, so someone will have to be lopped off the club to make room for him, though the team has not specified when Abreu will be activated. ¶
  Signed by the Rays to a minor-league contract in February, Abreu spent spring training in major-league training camp. ¶
   He was assigned to Triple-A Durham, where he compiled a 3-0 record with 10 saves and a 1.41 earned-run average, appearing in 23 games. He limited batters to a .128 average and struck out 49 in 32 innings. ¶
   On June 14, he was called up to Tampa and pitched twice, giving up on run, three hits and two walks in 32/3 innings before being designated for assignment on June 27. 
   In 2008, Abreu pitched for the Chiba Lotte Lions in Japan, posting a 1-2 record and 3.32 ERA in 20 outings before undergoing surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow in June. Abreu also has pitched for Washington and Baltimorwe. His major-league record: 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in 35 appearances. ¶
   Meloan has pitched in 25 games for Columbus, compiling a 5.52 ERA in 44 innings, including two starts. ¶
   Chris Perez, Jose Veras and Mike Gosling were all acquired to pitch in the Tribe bullpen the past two weeks. ¶
   TEMPORARY SLOWDOWN? — Eric Wedge thinks the Tribe offense is experiencing only a minor slump, having averaged only 2.6 runs and compiling a .195 batting average the past five games. ¶
   “”I think we’re going to be a good offensive club the second half,” the manager said. “”I don’t expect the offense to be clicking right nows, but I do expect it to click soooner than later.” ¶
   Wedge believes the problem is that Asdrubal Cabrera, Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner are still trying to scrape the rust off their swings after being sidelined with injuries. ¶
  
   OTHER STUFF — The Tribe has lost eight of its past nine games at Progressive Field and 13 of  its past 15 overall. *elip  Jeremy Sowers, who took the loss against the White Sox Wednesday night, is 0-5 with a 6.23 ERA against Chicago for his career. *elip Victor Martinez snapped an 0-for-15 skid with a double Wednesday night. ¶
   FARM FACTS — Andy Marte went 4-for-4 with a double and his 10th homer of the season, but Columbus lost to Toledo 12-4. Jordan Brown also his his 10th home run and doubled, raising his average to .326. Marte lifted his average to .319. ¶

The Indians acquired Winston Abreu from the Tampa Bay Rays today for a minor-league pitcher and cash.
Abreu, who will wear No. 36, will be added to the roster in the next few days. The Indians sent right-hander John Meloan to the Rays.
Abreu, 32, whom the Rays signed to a non-roster invitation to spring training on Feb. 4, has spent most of the 2009 season at Triple-A Durham, where he went 3-0 with 10 saves and a 1.41 ERA. He walked 10 and struck out 49 in 32 innings in 23 appearances.
Abreu, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound right-hander, spent the 2008 season pitching for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League.
Meloan was 0-0 with a save and a 5.52 ERA at Triple-A Columbus.
In the past week, the Indians have added Chris Perez and Jose Veras in trades to bolster what has been a weak bullpen.

  CLEVELAND: The last time Fausto Carmona was seen in Cleveland, he was dragging around a 2-6 record and 7.42 eared-run average. ¶
   That was enough to get him sent to the minors, first in Goodyear, with the Indians’ Arizona summer league team, then to Lake County to make a start for the Captains and on to Akron, for whom Carmona started a game at Bowie Tuesday night. ¶
   Tribe officials are looking at his most recent outing as a breakthrough event, because in throwing 74 percent of his pitches for strikes, it meant that Carmona kept his emotions in check and did not overthrow his fastball. ¶
   “”Even at Lake County, he would get two strikes on a batter and come out of his delivery, trying to do more than he needed to do,” said pitching coach Carl Willis, who has kept in close contact with the Tribe’s minor-league operatives who are overseeing Carmona’s resurrection. ¶
   Pitching against Double-A hitters with the Aeros, Carmona displayed better control of himself. ¶
   “”He was more aware of his emotions and staying in his delivery,” Willis said. “”After he gave up a solo homer, he got right back in his delivery.” ¶
   Carmona’s problems have never been caused by inferior stuff or an inability to throw strikes but difficulty in understanding that he doesn’t have to exert more than normal effort to retire — even dominate — major-league hitters. ¶
   “”It doesn’t matter so much if they’re A-ball hitters or Double-A hitters,” Willis said. “”It’s that 74 percent strike figure. When he sees that number and that he can keep the ball on the ground, he’ll know that he doesn’t have to do more.” ¶
   Manager Eric Wedge listened to the reports about Carmona’s start for Akron and concluded, “”There are some intangibles that we’re starting to see.” ¶
   Why did Carmona begin to feel he had to amp up his performance after a 2007 season in which he posted a 19-8 record and 3.06 ERA? ¶
   “”He had such a good year, and he was locked into a routine,” Willis said. “”But all of a sudden the season ended, and he started to realize what he did. When the next season came around, he put different expectations on himself. I think that affected him. And when things didn’t go as he wanted, he tried to do more.” ¶
   Carmona’s slide began last year, when he compiled a 8-7 record and a 5.44 ERA and was forced to make corrections in the minors. ¶
   “”It’s tough to learn (to control your emotions) when you’re pitching at this level,” Willis said. “”Everybody is looking at you.” ¶
    Carmona probably will start for either Akron or Columbus on Sunday. After that, it’s unclear what will happen, but conceivably he could be back in the Indians’ rotation. ¶
   SHIFTING ASSIGNMENTS — Kelly Shoppach is ostensibly the Indians’ backup catcher, but so far he has started behind the plate 41 times, compared to 39 times for regular catcher Victor Martinez, who also has played 37 games at first base. ¶
   However, Shoppach has not responded to his increased responsibility in a positive way, batting .200 with six home runs and 19 RBI. Moreover, he has struck out 52 times for an average of once every 2.8 at-bats. ¶
  Shoppach was given more playing time this year because he hit 21 home runs as a part-timer iunb 2008. ¶
   “”With the way Kelly has struggled offensively, Victor is going to put in more time behind the plate,” manager Eric Wedge said. ¶
   That’s where Martinez was Wednesday night against the White Sox. ¶
   EASTERN HONORS — Five Akron Aeros have been chosen for the Eastern League All-Star Game in Trenton N.J. on July 15: first baseman Beau Mills, catcher Carlos Santana, outfielder Nick Weglarz, right-hander Hector Rondon, and closer Vinnie Pestano. ¶
   FARM FACTS — Jordan Brown doubled, singled twice and had two RBI in Columbus’ 9-6 loss to Durham. Wyatt Toregas had two hits and two RBI. *elip Ole Sheldon homered and singled, driving in two runs in Kinston’s 6-5 loss to Myrtle Beach in the first game a doubleheader. In the second game, Ryan Morris gave up one run and three his in five innngs, striking out seven, as Kinston earned a 7-2 win. *elip T.J. House threw five scoreless innings, allowing five hits, as Lake County lost 5-4 West Virginia in the first of two games. Alexander Perez (5-3, 2.88 ERA) yielded two runs in 62/3 innings, but Lake County was blanked 3-0 in the second game. *elip Jason Smit tripled, doubled and drove in two runs, as Mahoning Valley beat State College 6-4. ¶

Five Aeros were named to the Eastern League All-Star team today - 1B Beau Mills, C Carlos Santana, OF Nick Weglarz, RHP Hector Rondon and RHP and closer Vinnie Pestano.
The quintet will represent Akron on the Southern Division roster at the July 15th E.L. All-Star Game at Waterfront Park in Trenton.

Mills has been one of the more consistent Aeros players this season, playing in 71 games at first base and leading the squad with 21 multi-hit outings. He is now batting .256 with six home runs and 40 RBI. Mills was Cleveland’s first-round pick in the 2007 draft, and was named the 2008 Carolina League MVP with Class-A Kinston after hitting .293 with 21 home runs and 90 RBI.

Santana, the top-ranked prospect in the Indians organization according to Baseball America, is batting .269 in 71 games and ranks in the Top-10 in the eague in runs scored (52), home runs (12), RBI (47), on-base percentage (.403) and slugging percentage (.498). He also leads the Eastern League with 53 walks, and is currently on pace for 99 on the season - which would set a new franchise record (Ken Ramos had 82 in 1992). Acquired in the casey Blake deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last July, Santana won the 2008 California League MVP award despite playing only 99 games for Class-A Inland Empire.

One of the hottest hitters in all of baseball currently, Weglarz saw his 23-game on-base streak end Tuesday night against the Bowie Baysox. After collecting just five hits in April, the 2008 Canadian Olympian has carryied the Aeros offensively for the past two months. Since May 1st, Weglarz is batting .305 with 14 doubles, 11 home runs, 35 runs scored and 49 runs batted in. He entered the season rated as the third-best prospect in the organization by Baseball America.

Rondon, a 21-year-old Venezuelan native who started the year 5-0 in his first five starts, remains among the league leaders in several categories. He is one of only five pitchers to accumulate seven wins or more, and currently ranks sixth with a 2.59 ERA in 14 games (12 starts). His 65 strikeouts lead the team and are tied for eighth in the EL. Further, Rondon has not allowed a run in his past three starts (14.1 innings pitched).

Pestano has been as automatic as it gets at the back end of the Aeros bullpen this season, going 2-3 with a 3.26 ERA while recording 21 saves in 24 chances. Pestano’s saves are the most in the Eastern League by a wide margin (the next closest is 15). He ranked second in the Indians chain with 24 saves last season, and is on pace to break the recently-retired Randy Newsom’s single-season franchise record of 29 saves set just last year.

   CLEVELAND: It has become the norm for manager Eric Wedge to maneuver the Indians around the diamond as if they were interchangeable parts on an assembly line. [ep
   No fewer than eight players have shared left field, though Ben Francisco has started more games at the position (29) than anyone else. [ep
   Nevertheless, Mark DeRosa, traded last weekend to the Cardinals, played left 15 times; Shin-Soo Choo has spent 12 games in left, with Matt LaPorta (7), Trevor Crowe (6), Ryan Garko (5), Chris Gimenez (3) and David Dellucci (1) also logging time there. [ep
   In addition to DeRosa, LaPorta, Crowe and Dellucci no longer are on the roster, but that still leaves four current Tribe players who have experienced the joys of playing left. [ep
   And be advised that six players have taken turns as starters in right, led by Choo (56 games). DeRosa was in right eight times, Francisco has played six games at the position, LaPorta four, and Garko and Crowe two each. [ep
   Second base has been home to five players: Asdrubal Cabrera has started 28 games at second and it would have been more if he hadn’t spent time on the disabled list. Jamey Carroll is next with 23 starts at second, and Luis Valbuena has 20. Tony Graffanino, back at Buffalo, started four games at second and Josh Barfield made three starts there. [ep
   Wedge talked a lot about the value of having “”versatility” on the roster in spring training, and he prepped his players during the exhibition season by using them in unfamiliar positions. Nevertheless, he insists he did not plan to mix and match during the season. [ep
   “”We’ve done it by necessity,” he said Tuesday. “”In the spring, I just knew it might be a possibility.” [ep
   Did Wedge believe that at certain positions no single player was capable of holding down an everyday job? [ep
   “”I didn’t feel that way,” he said. “”I never felt that one guy couldn’t play the same position every day. In fact, I thought a guy like DeRosa could be an everyday player at more than one position.” [ep
   Now that DeRosa is gone, at least one player will find his way into the lineup more often. [ep
   “”I’m going to try a little more to get Garko regular at-bats,” the manager said. [ep
   Garko has played more first base (32 games) than any other position, but he still is an option in left for Wedge, who has opted to use catcher Victor Martinez at first for 39 games,. That has allowed Kelly Shoppach to get behind the plate 41 times, three more than Martinez. [ep
   Wedge has expressed a desire to settle into a regular lineup. [ep
   “”Nothing is set in stone, but I feel good about the direction some of our young players are going,” he said. [ep
   LAST TUNEUP? — Aaron Laffey (right oblique strain) is scheduled to make what might be his last rehab start for Columbus, when the Clippers play at Toledo Friday night. Laffey will be expected to pitch five to six innings and throw 80-95 pitches. [ep
   It’s possible that on the same night, Rafael Betancourt (strained groin) will join him at Toledo on a rehabilitation assignment. Betancourt will throw a two-inning, 35-pitch simulated game today, which will be his fifth time throwing off the mound.  If everything goes well, he probably will be headed for Toledo. [ep
   IN GOOD COMPANY — As part of a Sports Illustrated poll of players that will appear in this week’s edition of the magazine, Eric Wedge finished in a tie for fourth to the question, “”Which manager would you least want to play for?” Players were not permitted to vote for their own manager. [ep
   Lou Piniella, manager of the Cubs, drew the most votes (26 percent), followed by Ozzie Guillen of the White Sox (21 percent), Tony La Russa of the Cardinals (10 percent) with Wedge and Dodgers manager Joe Torre deadlocked at four percent apiece. [ep
   Wedge is the only manager among the group who has not won at least one World Series. [ep
   SURGERY COMING? — Grady Sizemore will play the rest of the season in at least a little pain. [ep
   “”In our opinion, Grady will by sympomatic for the balance of the season,” head trainer Lonnie Soloff said. “”Our hope is to keep him away from the (kind of) symptoms that would affect his perfomance.” [ep
   Sizemore recently came off the disabled list with inflammation of the lining of the left elbow. The condition has diminished in severity, but it’s unlikely to disappear on its own. [ep
   Asked if postseason surgery was likely, Soloff said, “”There’s a high index of suspicion for that.” [ep
   LEWIS SEEKS SECOND OPINION — Scott Lewis pulled himself out of his last rehab start in Akron after 65 pitches with soreness in his left elbow. [ep
   “”He didn’t feel like he was 100 percent because of his symptoms,” Soloff said. “”He going to visit Dr. (James) Andrews for a second opinion next week. Surgery might be an option, but in our opinion it is not the best option.’ [ep
   Lewis is on the DL with a strained elbow, but as a collegian at Ohio State, he underwent Tommy John surgery. [ep
   READY FOR A RESTART –  Jake Westbrook (Tommy John surgery) has gone two weeks without throwing and the soreness in his elbow has disappeared. [ep
   “”Jake will initiate a throwing program Thursday that will last two to four weeks,” Soloff said. “”We are still hoping to get him back around the end of July or early August.” [ep
   FARM FACTS — Jensen Lewis made his first appearance for Columbus and gave up one hit and one walk in 21/3 innings. He struck out three. *elip Cord Phelps had three hits and three RBI in Kinston’s 6-5 loss to Myrtle Beach. *elip Delvi Cid and Nate Recknagel each had three hits in Lake County’s 9-6 win over Hagerstown. Recknagel drove in three runs, Cid two. [ep

BINGHAMTON METS 1, AKRON AEROS 0 - 10 innings

KEY STATS: With the loss, the Aeros snapped their consecutive series’ wins at seven…B-Mets starter Dylan Owen entered the game with a 0-5 mark and 6.83 ERA but blanked the Aeros through a season-high 7 2/3 innings to go along with a season-high seven strikeouts.

KEY MOMENTS: Aeros starter Jeanmar Gomez shutout the B-Mets through six innings and right-handed reliever Carlton Smith followed with three hitless innings…Binghamton broke the scoreless tie with with a run in the 10th against Aeros closer Vinnie Pestano. Ruben Tejada led off the extra frame with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, took third on a ground out and scored the game winner on Josh Thole’s single…The Aeros made it interesting in the bottom of the 10th against former Akron reliever Jim Ed Warden, with Jared Goedert leading off with a single to right. Speedster Jose Constanza looked to beat out his bunt that moved Goedert to second, but was called out in a close play. But Warden hit Jerad Head to put two men on and was taken out of the game in favor of right-hander Connor Robertson. Despite coming on to face the meat of the Akron lineup, Robertson quickly quelled the threat by inducing Nick Weglarz to hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Head then coaxed Carlos Santana to ground out to end the game.

STORM’S STAR: With three more shutout innings, Smith raised his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 16 2/3 - spanning his last seven outings.

UP NEXT: The Aeros hit the road en route to Bowie (Baltimore Orioles) to open a seven-game road trip that begins with a four-game series against the Baysox tonight. Indians right-hander Fausto Carmona (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Aeros on a major league rehab assignment facing Bowie right-hander Radhames Liz (2-0, 3.00 ERA).

RADIO: WARF (1350 am).

 CLEVELAND: Chris Perez is only 23, but he’s been there before. Where? In a bad bullpen. ¶
   The Indians traded Mark DeRosa for Perez Saturday night to help upgrade their relief corps, and Perez reported for work in Cleveland on Monday. To make room for him on the roster, Josh Barfield was optioned to Triple-A. ¶
   Speaking of his first stint in the majors last year, Perez said, “”It wasn’t a good situation. We were leading the league in blown saves. But you can’t put too much pressure on yourself. It’s still a baseball game. So I got experience with that last year.” ¶
   In a span of less than two weeks, the Tribe has acquired three new relievers: Mike Gosling and Jose Veras, in addition to Perez. At the moment, the bullpen is stuffed with eight pitchers, one more than the norm. ¶
   The trade took Perez by surprise, but it wasn’t entirely unexpected. ¶
   “”The Cardinals never came to me and said, “You’re on the trading block,’ ” Perez said. “”But my dad, he reads all that (rumor) stuff. A player can’t listen to too much of that. So Saturday I had no idea. But I thought it might be Oakland, that we were trying to get (Matt) Holliday.” ¶
  Perez said he hasn’t gotten much work lately, because in his mind, St. Louis was trying to deal him. ¶
   “”The first two months, I got regular work every two or three days,” he said. “”That’s when I’m at my best. This last month, they were trying to trade me, and they were throwing me every five or six days. That’s a tough adjustment to make. I have to throw a lot to keep my slider at full capability. So that wasn’t a good situation.” ¶
   Perez comes to Cleveland having posted a 1-1 record with one save and a 4.18 earned-run average in  232/3 innings (29 appearances). ¶
   Like most career relievers — Perez has worked out of the bullpen dating back to his years at the University of Miami — he aspires to become a closer. ¶
   “”That’s my dream, this year, next year, a couple of years down the road,” Perez said. “”I hope to do that somewhere.” ¶
   Manager Eric Wedge doesn’t plan to supplant Kerry Wood with Perez, but he is hoping that after the newcomer gets acclimated to a new team and new league, he will work his way toward the back of the bullpen. ¶
   “”I had a good talk with him,” Wedge said. “”He has a lot of energy, and he’s happy to be here. We have a new look to our bullpen; there’s been a lot of turnover. We’ll ease him in the first time out, but I think he has a bright future.” ¶
   ONE MORE TIME — Aaron Laffey expressed a desire to return to the Indians immediately and end his stint on the disabled list after a rehab start in Akron Sunday in which he gave up three runs, five hits and six walks in 31/3 innings. ¶
  However, Laffey’s wish will not be granted. ¶
   “”We’re going to give him one more start,” manager Eric Wedge said on Monday. “”He felt good, but we need to see a little more than that.” ¶
    Laffey’s next start will be at Columbus.   ¶
   Whereas Laffey’s rehab assignment might end this week, Rafael Betancourt’s is likely to begin. He is scheduled to throw a simulated game Wednesday and could begin a rehab assignment over the weekend. ¶
   Betancoourt has been on the DL with a strained groin. ¶
   GOING FOR IT — Travis Hafner’s two-games-on, one-off routine is scheduled to end this week. ¶
   “”We’re hoping to play Travis is all three games against Chicago,” Wedge said. ¶
   Until now, Hafner was rested every third day to ease the burden on his surgically repaired shoulder. ¶
   Asdrubal Cabrera, who came off the disabled list Sunday, will play two days of every three for the time being. Cabrera was on the DL with a strained AC (shoulder) joint. ¶
   ANOTHER SIGNEE — The Tribe signed its 26th-round pick in the amateur draft, Antwonie Hubbard, a right-hander from the University of Okilahoma. ¶
   AWARD TIME — Columbus third baseman Andy Marte was selected International League Batter of the Week for hitting .478 with eight RBI for the week ending Sunday. Overall, Marte is batting .307 and leads the team in home runs (9) and RBI (40). *elip Akron outfielder Nick Weglarz has been named Eastern League Player of the Week for the second time this year. For the week ending Sunday, he batted .450 with two doubles, four home runs and 12 RBI. ¶
   FARM FACTS — Jordan Brown doubled, singled twice and drove in two runs, as Columbus lost to Durham 8-7. Wyatt Toregas hit his seventh homer of the year and singled, driving in three runs, and Trevor Crowed had two singles. *elip Lonnie Chisenhall tripled and doubled, driving in one run, as Kinston defeated Myrtle Beach 7-4. Lucas Montero homered, singled and had two RBI. *elip Delvi Cid had a double and two singles, driving in one run in Lake County’s 8-7 win over Hagerstown. ¶

  CLEVELAND: Mark DeRosa is gone, but manager Eric Wedge still has plenty of players with which he can mix and match in the Indians’ infield. ¶
    However, now that DeRosa has been traded to the Cardinals and the Tribe has gotten three regulars back from the disabled list, Wedge is looking to stabilize his lineup rather than continue to fill certain positions with three different players. ¶
   Asdrubal Cabrera was activated from the DL Sunday, joining Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore as returning everyday players who were sidelined with injuries for at least a month. There are temporary restrictions on how much they play, but at least they can play. ¶
   Luis Valbuena, who has been playing mostly shortstop lately, will move back to second, and Cabrera will return to short, where he has been the regular since Jhonny Peralta moved to third several weeks ago. ¶
   Jamey Carroll will no longer play every day, though he will get more than a few reps at both second and third. ¶
   “”I think the dynamic can work very well,” Wedge said. “”We can pretty much do whatever we want with those three guys.” ¶
   Sizemore will be in center field every day. In his absence, Ben Francisco played there most of the time, but he has been mired in a slump. Shin-Soo Choo has taken over right field, but left still is unsettled. ¶
   DeRosa played left 12 times, but Francisco has played there more than anyone else. However, unless his bat comes around, first baseman Ryan Garko, who has started in left five times, might see more time there. ¶
  “”I’m looking forward to having a more consistent lineup,” Wedge said. “”Hopefully, guys will be able to play more on an everyday basis. We’re going to catch our breath now, and these guys are going to get it all together.” ¶
   Wedge did mention one cautionary note: The bullpen had to improve and the starters were going to have to pitch more than five innings to give the relievers a better chance to succeed without wearing themselves out. ¶
   THE DIFFERENCE — Trading Mark DeRosa to St. Louis Saturday night is not comparable to trading C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee last year. ¶
   Who says? ¶
   “”This year is different than last year,” Kelly Shoppach saidc. “”Last year, we got prospects for C.C. Yes, we’re going to miss DeRosa, but we brought in a buy who can help us now (reliever Chris Perez). We all want to win. Whether we can still get back in this, we want to win now.” ¶
  Added manager Eric Wedge, “”It’s completely different. We’re trying to get better in an area of need. If we can get our bullpen in order and get more out of our starting pitchers, we can get better in a hurry.” ¶
   NL WOES — The Indians completed interleague play Sunday with a 5-13 record, including 2-4 against the Reds. Since the outset of interleague play in 1997, the Tribe is 113-116 against the National League. ¶
   “”We’ve got to do better against the National League,” Wedge said. “”I’m glad it’s (interleague play) is over, because we didn’t play well.” ¶
   DWINDLING DL — The Tribe’s disabled list shrunk to five after Asdrubal Cabrera was activated on Sunday. ¶
   Cabrera sustained a strained AC (shoulder) joint on June 2 and went on the DL the next day. He returned to the leadoff spot in the lineup and singled in his first at-bat. ¶
   Saturday night’s trade of Mark DeRosa to the Cardinals Saturday night opened up a roster spot for Cabrera. ¶
   FARM FACTS — Russell Young gave up two runs and eight hits in seven innings, but Kinston lost 3-2 to Salem. *elip Delvi Cid doubled and singled twice in Lake County’s 4-3 loss to Hagerstown. Danny Salazar gave up one earned run (two total) and six hits in five innings. ¶

   CLEVELAND: The symbolism was accidental. [ep
   Nevertheless, at the 11th hour Saturday night, the Indians acquired a reliever as the clock reached a more significant 11th hour, in terms of the team’s chances to salvage something from the season. [ep
   After a 7-3 loss to the Reds at Progressive Field, General Manager Mark Shapiro announced that he had traded infielder/outfielder Mark DeRosa to the Cardinals for right-handed reliever Chris Perez, a hard-throwing 23-year-old. [ep
   “”We feel we’ve acquired a pitcher who’s upside is pitching in the back end of the bullpen and someone who will be under our control for multiple years,” Shapiro said. “”He has two things: (good) stuff and swing and miss (capabilities). His fastball is 93-95 miles per hour, and he has touched 98. He also has a swing and miss slider.” [ep
   In addition to Perez, the Tribe obtained a player to be named from a list of minor leaguers. [ep
   “”We can take the rest of the season to scout him in the minor leagues or (make up our minds) before,” Shapiro said. “”This is a piece that is of signicant value for us.” [ep
   Asked if the player were two or more years from reaching the big leagues, Shapiro said, “”That would not be a safe statement to make.” [ep
   Perez is 1-1 with one save and a 4.18 earned-run average in 29 appearances for St. Louis. In 232/3 innings, he has struck out 30, but he also has walked the unacceptable number of 15. He began the year at Triple-A Memphis. [ep
   “”He still has some development to do,” Shapiro said. [ep
   Where does he fit in the Tribe’s current bullpen? [ep
   “”Our main goal is to just to put him in a good position and go from there,” the GM said. [ep
   Trading DeRosa does not signal that the Indians are giving up on the season. [ep
   “”The move has a chance to help us this year,” Shapiro said. “”We are bringing in a piece in an area that sorely needs to be addressed.” [ep
   DeRosa had mixed feelings about the deal. [ep
   “”I’m disappointed in the sense that I’d like to rewind the season and start over again here,” he said. “”The toughest part will be leaving these guys. But from a selfish standpoint, I’m going to a team that’s fighting for a division championship.” [ep
   The Cardinals and Brewers are in a pitched battle for the National League Central Division title. [ep
   After a slow start, DeRosa is batting .270 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI in 278 at-bats. [ep
  He has been hearing trade rumors about himself for weeks on radio and television, but Saturday night’s deal caught him by surprise. [ep
   “”I read about it every night,” he said. “”But there was nothing today that made me expect anything until I was left out of the lineup. So I’m not shocked.” [ep

    Maybe the question should not by why Jensen Lewis was demoted to clear a roster a spot for Jose Veras, but how he avoided being sent to the minors earlier? [ep
   Lewis has struggled virtually the entire season, compiling a 2-3 record and 5.03 earned-run average in 28 appearances. He had problems with his command, not with finding the plate but finding too much of the plate. In 391/3 innings, he gave up nine home runs, an average of one every 41/3 innings. [ep
   “”Jensen was someone we were talking about, because we knew that Veras would be here in two or three days,” manager Eric Wedge said Saturday. “”We had other chances to send him out, but we wanted to give him a chance to work through things. [ep
   “”We just didn’t see consistent control to keep him up here, especially in a crucial role.” [ep
   Lewis and Rafael Perez, who also has disappointed, began the season as co-setup men, a job both lost many weeks ago. [ep
   At times, even recently, Lewis talked as if his problems were behind him, as if he refused to face the truth. [ep
   “”He does that to everybody, and it works against him,” Wedge said. “”Carl (pitching coach Carl Willis) had a good conversation with him yesterday. And Jensen was respectful in the office after the game (when he was told to report to Columbus). [ep
   “”There’s nothing wrong with him going back down there and working on his craft.” [ep
   WHAT THEY LIKE — Right-hander Jose Veras reported to the Tribe Saturday after being acquired from the Yankees on Wednesday. ¶
   He comes from New York after compiling a 3-1 record and 5.96 ERA in 25 relief appearances. Among his outings were three against Cleveland. In those he gave up six runs in four innings. ¶
   “”He’s got a good arm, and he pitched in some big games for them,” Wedge said. “”The experience of pitching in New York should help him, and last year he played an important role for them. He’s not that far away from that.” ¶
   In 2008, Veras posted a 5-3 record, 3.59 ERA, walking 29 and striking out 63 in 572/3 innings. ¶
   ABOUT TIME — Friday night was the first game since April 28 that Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner were all in the lineup. The Tribe beat the Red Sox that night 9-8 and defeated the Reds 9-2 Friday. ¶
   LOCAL SIGNEE — The Indians signed their 20th-round pick in the amateur draft, right-hander Kyle Smith, who attends Kent State and lives in Louisville in Stark County. ¶
   Smith was 4-2 with a 4.79 ERA in 11 starts for the Golden Flashes but was slowed by a shoulder injury. ¶
   Of the Tribe’s first 20 selections, only the first and second picks have yet to sign. If a player remains unsigned after Aug. 17, he goes back into the draft for next year. ¶
   NIGHT OFF — Mark DeRosa got the night off, which put Ben Francisco in left field. ¶
   “”Travis probably will be off tomorrow, and Grady might be the DH,” Wedge said. “”So I was going to give DeRosa either tonight or tomorrow off, anyway.” ¶
   FARM FACTS — T.J. House gave up one earned run (two total) and seven hits in Lake County’s 9-3 winn to Hagerstown. Nate Recknagel homered and singled. *elip Kyle Bellows homered and drove in three runs, but Mahoning Valley lost 8-3 to Williamsport. ¶