| Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio) Aug. 7--CHICAGO -- Now that Carl Pavano has been traded to the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named, the Indians will be able to free up games for some of their prospective 2010 starters. SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS "This trade is more about giving us the opportunity to evaluate and develop the starters who will be in place next season", General Manager Mark Shapiro said Friday. Justin Masterson will get the first chance to settle into the rotation, moving into Pavano's slot tonight against the Chicago White Sox. Masterson made six consecutive starts for the Red Sox between longer stints in the bullpen before being traded to the Indians in the Victor Martinez deal last week. In explaining the timing of Friday's trade, Shapiro said: "We were quickly approaching the point where we had six guys for five spots. With our regular off days in August, it would have been a real challenge to keep six guys starting. "So this presents us with an opportunity to both acquire a player and continue to give chances to the five guys in the rotation." Including Masterson, the current Tribe rotation (always subject to change) is composed of Fausto Carmona, Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers and David Huff. In addition, Jake Westbrook is expected to return to the rotation this month after spending more than a year recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery. Also on the horizon are the expected major-league debuts of Carlos Carrasco, acquired in the deal with the Philadelphia Phillies for Cliff Lee, and Hector Rondon, the brightest pitching prospect at the highest level of the Indians' farm system. "This presents opportunities for Carrasco and Rondon as we go through the remainder of the season", Shapiro said. However, Shapiro hasn't decided when either or both pitchers might be summoned to the Indians from Triple-A Columbus. "Being preoccupied with the amount of 1/8trading3/8 activity through the end of July, we have not yet gone through our September call-ups", Shapiro said. "They are still about a month away and probably will be our next order of business." Pavano (9-8, 5.37 ERA) was leading the Tribe in wins. His departure saves the club an estimated $650,000 this year, including $200,000 in bonuses for making 21 starts. His next start would have earned him another $100,000. Had Pavano remained with the Indians for the entire schedule, he likely would have earned an additional $1.25 million or more in incentives for innings pitched as well as games started. By trading Mark DeRosa, Ryan Garko, Ben Francisco, Rafael Betancourt, Lee, Pavano and Martinez, the team lopped off about $10 million from this year's payroll, including cash that Pavano probably would have earned in incentives. Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ--Indians.
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