Boomer Report: Recap of the off-season for the Tribe & Reds heading into spring training

The Tribe creating a "buzz" in Major League Baseball,
this past week, with the team's free agency moves.

117 million dollars! The price tag the Cleveland Indians put down this off-season in MLB free agency. Now, I know thats peanuts, when you compare 'em with the heavyweights of the diamond (Yankees, Red Sox, both LA squads), but after only using a few million dollars over the past couple years, the Tribe are hoping these recent "high" dollar signs, are a sign of good things to come up in Cleveland this summer.

Indians off-season moves:

• Terry Francona signs four-year deal to manage Indians on October 6th of 2012. Francona's coaching staff is named: Sandy Alomar, Jr., bench, Brad Mills, third base, Mickey Callaway, pitching, Ty Van Burkleo, hitting, Mike Sarbaugh, first base and Kevin Cash, bullpen.

• In early November, via trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Indians aqcuired the services of, Infielder Mike Aviles and catcher/utility man Yan Gomes for reliever Esmil Rogers. December 9th, Infielder/DH Mark Reynolds agrees to a one-year $6 million contract.

• Two days later, Indians acquire outfielder Drew Stubbs from Cincinnati for outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, utility man Jason Donald and $3.5 million. Indians acquire right-hander Trevor Bauer and relievers Bryan Shaw and Matt Albers from Arizona for reliever Tony Sipp and first baseman Lars Anderson.

• Ten days later, Left-hander Scott Kazmir agrees to a minor league deal with a invitation to spring training.

• Tribe fans all-over receive an early Christmas present, when Outfielder Nick Swisher agrees to a four-year $56 million deal with an option for a fifth year on December 23rd.

• Over this past weekend, the Indians signed veteran DH Jason Giambi and former Red Sox SP Daisuke Matsuzaka "Dice-K" to minor-league contracts.

• The Indians stunned the baseball world on Monday night, reeling in free-agent outfielder Michael Bourn. Signing him a four-year contract worth $48 million, with an option worth $12 million for the 2017 season.

As a Cleveland Indians fan, you just can't be more thrilled then you were this week. Nick Swisher & Bourn were arguably two of the top free agents this off-season, and yes...the Cleveland Indians were able to sign both of them. Now, what does this all mean? On paper, this team is looking pretty good, but are they good enough to challenge the Detroit Tigers & Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central, I don't know. At least they are making some big/bold moves, that not only is generating a lot of excitement up in Cleveland, but also, making some noise around the entire MLB world.

The Redlegs head into the 2013 season with one thing on their minds,
the 2013 Fall Classic.

Reds off-season moves:

• RHP Jonathan Broxton agreed to three-year contract
• OF Ryan Ludwick agreed to two-year contract
• Trading away OF Drew Stubbs to the Indians, for OF Shin-Soo Choo
• 3B/1B Jack Hannahan agreed to two-year contract
• OF Chris Heisey agreed to one-year contract, avoiding arbitration
• RHP Logan Ondrusek and RHP Alfredo Simon agreed to one-year contracts, avoiding arbitration
• OF Shin-Soo Choo and RHP Mat Latos both agreed to one-year contracts, avoiding arbitration
• The announcement of Cuba flame-throwing LHP Aroldis Chapman moving into the starting rotation

Following a disappointing finish to the 2012 season, the Cincinnati Reds have one mission in the 2013 season...World Series or bust. Following an off-season, in which the Reds were able to re-sign some key players (Broxton & Ludwick), and landed OF Shin-Soo Choo in a trade with the Indians, the buzz around this club is at an all-time high, heading into the 2013 season. With the addition of Aroldis Chapman moving from the bullpen into the starting rotation, the Reds are fitted with one of the better NL pitching rotations. The Reds were in this same spot two years ago, following a postseason run in 2010, but didn't live up to expectations, falling way short of their team goals. Now a little older and with more experience, this team will try and get back to the World Series for the first time since 1990, when they won it all in that season, sweeping the heavily favored Oakland Athletics. 

I'll have a preview up on "The Rock" early next week, with questions/concerns/feelings, heading into spring training, as both the Indians & Reds head out to Goodyear, Arizona in preparation for the 2013 MLB season.