Report: Indians Wrapping Up Deal with Reliever Craig Stammen

Reports say the Indians are closing in on signing sinker ball relief pitcher Craig Stammen to a deal to join them for the upcoming season.

Last year with Washington he threw in just five games before having to have forearm surgery on two torn tendons.

He was hopeful to stay in Washington, but he and the team couldn’t agree on a deal in December and he became a free agent.

“I feel extremely healthy. I’ve been throwing and I’m ready to roll,” Stammen said in December after it was announced he wouldn’t be back with the Nationals.

“I’m excited to start a new chapter in my baseball career and get ready to pitch and compete for a championship with another team.”

Stammen is from Versailles, Ohio and played his college ball at Dayton.

He was a 12th round pick of Washington back in 2005 and since 2009 has pitched for Washington going 26-24 overall with an ERA of 3.91, 490 lifetime innings pitched.

UPDATE 2:15pm – The Indians have made the move to invite Stammen in on a minor league deal official. Here’s the press release.

The Cleveland Indians today signed RHP CRAIG STAMMEN to a Minor League contract with a non-roster invitation to Major League camp.

Stammen, 31, has spent his entire career to date with the Washington Nationals, posting a career record of 26-24 with a 3.91 ERA in 229 games/38 starts over the past seven seasons since 2009 (490.2IP, 494H, 213ER, 370SO). He has pitched solely in relief the last five campaigns and owns a career ERA of 3.02 (280.0IP, 94ER, 262SO, 8.4SO/9.0IP) in 191 games out of the bullpen. The North Star, OH native was Washington’s 12th round pick in the 2005 amateur draft out of the University of Dayton.

This past season he was limited to five scoreless April appearances due to right forearm/elbow complications, undergoing season-ending surgery on April 19 to repair torn flexor tendons and was non-tendered by Washington in December. It marked his first appearance on the DL in his professional career.