MLB Rumors: Cleveland Indians still interested in signing Scott Baker

The Cleveland Indians were in the running to sign Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka but it appears that every single team in baseball was at one point or another. With Tanaka now in New York with the Yankees, the Indians are refocusing themselves on finding starting pitching help.

While Ubaldo Jimenez remains a possible option for the team, as he’s not lighting the free agent market on fire, the team is also look at smaller options as well. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, this includes the possibility of the Indians bringing Scott Baker onto the roster.

"Heard Scott Baker, former Twins and Cubs right-hander, is still a back-burner possibility for the Tribe."

Baker hasn’t really panned out as a solid or reliable starter and that dates back to his first days with the Minnesota Twins. He’s been around for a while though, which means he does have a veteran presence in the locker room, but it also means he has a lot of milage on his arm.

If the Indians can’t secure a return from Jimenez or a contract with another starter, it’s very possible that the team could bring on Baker to fill some holes in the rotation or possibly even the bullpen.