Indians Offseason 2012 Starting Pitchers

Carmona/Heredia

It's the off season for baseball and since I am an Indians fan I will evaluate the Indians pitching. Now I do not have any insider sources but what I can find online, so much of this will be my own opinion and conclusions done through research

Now the biggest topic to hit Cleveland this off season is the fact that Fausto Carmona is really Roberto Heredia. Link He was slated to be the Indians number 3 starter for next season. With his work visa not being renewed just yet because of his falsifying his name. The Indians who just accepted his contract for next season have a chance to void it altogether. So he may or may not pitch next season for the Indians. *Edit: Carmona/Heredia has been moved to the restricted list which means the Indians took him off the 40 man roster but is not official released. He will not receive any pay until he comes off of the list.

This actually changes the plans for the starting rotation for the Indians. Justin Masterson who is coming off an amazing season is considered the ace of the staff. He is a big powerful right hander with an odd angle of delivery. His potential has always been there but last season was when he got everything together.
Then next is Ubaldo Jimenez  who the Indians acquired in a very controversial trade with the Rockies last season by trading their two top pitching prospects. Jimenez did not a have a good outing with the Indians nor really was he having a good season in general. When he is healthy though he has the potential to be an ace of a staff so the Indians organization took a chance on him.
Josh Tomlin  is the next pitcher in the rotation for the Indians. He was a surprise last year when he made the squad and had a very good season until they shut him down early with arm issues. He isn't an impressive throwing pitcher but he has good poise and knowledge out there on the mound. To me is will always be a fourth to fifth starter but will always pitch a lot of innings when he is healthy.

Derek Lowe

Derek Lowe is the old man they picked up for the Braves for minor leaguer this off season. He did not have a great year with the Braves last year but has been pitching a long time and could bring a leadership to this young Indians pitching staff.

Kevin Slowey

With Carmona's season maybe being over without a work Visa the Indians quickly went and got Kevin Slowey from the Rockies, who is a former Twin's pitcher, who was just recently traded to the Rockies, to add an insurance policy to the Indians rotation. Right now he is projected as the 5th starter since he is more experienced than the rest of the players in contention.
Jeanmar Gomez is the youngest of the candidates who has shown some makings of a very good pitcher. He is only turning 24 so he will be apart of this ball club for a few more seasons, so expect his name to be around awhile.
David Huff who is the oldest of the minor leaguers trying for the 5th spot has really been up and down. Consistency has been his problem the last few years, but still has a chance to beat out others for that 5th spot.
Zach McAllister  who was pretty much stolen from the Yankees a couple seasons ago is another pitcher that could be a contender for this 5th spot. I think he is another year away, but he is a big right hander that's coming into his prime so he has some upside. I see him up in September for this ball club though.

Scott Barnes

Scott Barnes is another player that actually ended up get stolen by us in a trade with the Giants. He is a long shot to make the team but had a great year at AAA and he is also a lefty.
Corey Kluber is the last on the list to make the ball club. They actually may decide to put him in the bullpen since that is where he got his innings at  last season in his first major league action. He was also acquired in a trade a few seasons ago but wasn't stolen like McAllister and Barnes, lol. Tomlin, Gomez and Huff are the only home grown pitchers of the roster.

This actually is a pretty good and deep pitching staff. I don't expect us to sign anymore starting pitchers in all honesty since we seem to be pretty set this year. So five of these names will be our starters though if we get Carmona/Heredia back in uniform this team right now is 11 deep in starting pitchers even though we traded two very good potential ones away. Slowey and Lowe really aren't part of the future probably  even though Slowey is under contract for two more seasons. Ask me if you want to know more information on players cause I would be more than welcomed to share more I just wanted a quick synopsis to everyone on the starting staff.