Multiple sources are reporting that the Indians have signed free-agent Casey Kotchman for about $3 million.

The former Tampa Bay first baseman batted a career high .306 with 10 home runs and 48 RBI in 500 at-bats.

With Kotchman on board, the Tribe’s first base problem would seem to be resolved. Until his signing, Cleveland was on course to allow Matt LaPorta anouther chance to prove himself or use some combination of catcher Carlos Santana, Shelley Duncan and newly acquired Russ Canzler.

The Indians avoided an arbitration hearing with Rafael Perez by inducing the left-handed reliever to accept a contract for $2.005 million plus incentives this morning.

As part of the arbitration process, Perez had submitted a figure of $2.4 million. The club countered with an offer of $1.6 million.

Last year, Perez posted a 5-2 record and 3.00 earned-run average in 71 games (63 innings). His salary was $1.33 million.

The Indians made a cash acquisiition this morning, obtaining right-handed utility player Russ Canzler from the Rays.

Canzler, soon to be 26, has played only three games in the big leagues – going 1-for-3 in three games last year — but was named 2011 Most Valuable Player in the International League, playing for Triple-A Durham.

In addition to batting .314 in 474 at-bats for the Bulls, Canzler amassed 40 doubles, 18 home runs, 78 runs and 83 RBI in 131 games. He batted .357 in the second half, compiling a 1.034 OPS. He led the league in doubles and slugging percentage (.530).

Canzler has played four positions his entire minor-league career, including 2011, logging 41 games in right field, 40 at third base, 33 in left and 17 at first base. On the negative side, Canzler committed 13 errors at third.

Canzler was the 30^th round pick of the Cubs n the 2004 draft.  The Tribe has given him a spot on the 40-man roster.

The Indians continue to move on with the realization that Fausto Carmona/Hernandez probably won’t be able to rejoin the team for months.

Hernandez has been placed on the restricted list by the team, which means he will not count against either the 25- or 40-man roster. He also will not receive any part of his $7 million salary until he can return to Cleveland. (Players are paid only during the season, so until early April, Hernandez will lose no cash).

Last week, Hernandez was asrrested in the Dominican Republic for using a false identity. Before he can return to the Tribe’s rotation, Hernandez must resolve the charges brought by Dominican authorities then obtain a work permit from U.S. officials, a process that could take many months.

The Indians placed Fausto Carmona/Roberto Hernandez on the restricted list Thursday.

What does that mean? The club applied to the Commissioner’s Office to have Carmona placed on the list because he is stuck in the Dominican Republc, unable to obtain a work permit to return to the United States.

Carmona was arrested in the Dominican last week for using a false name. At the time of his arrest, he was attempting to obtain a visa at the U. S. consulate in Santo Domingo.

Carmona’s real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia, which he abanondoned as a teenager in order to appear younger to major-league scouts. Because of the identity change, Hernandez lopped three years off his age (he is 31).

When he signed a contract with the Tribe, team officials thought he was 17. In reality, he was 20.

He must be clear of charges filed by Dominican authorities before he can re-apply for a work visa, a process that will likely take several months.

By placing Hernandez on the restricted list, the Tribe does not have to count him on 25- or 40-man rosters. He also will not be paid under the terms of his $7 million contract until he returns to the team. When he becomes available, the club can apply to remove him from the restricted list.

$ox

In October, the Indians picked up a $7 million option for 2012 on Fausto Carmona. But as NBCSports.com points out, Carmona’s false identity charge could allow the Indians to void his contract. But should they? Let us know in the poll below and in the comments.

Carmona was 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA in 32 starts this season. He is signed through the 2012 season with club options for 2013 and 2014.

The Indians today signed free agent right-hander Jeremy Accardo and outfielder Fred Lewis to minor-league contracts that include invitations to major-league training camp.

Accardo spent last year with the Orioles, compiling a 3-3 record and 5.73 earned-run average in 31 appearances. From 2007 through 2011, Accardo pitched in the bullpen for the Blue Jays. His best season was 2007, when he posted a 4-4 record with 30 saves and a 2.14 ERA.

Lewis, 31, batted .230 with three home runs and 19 RBI in 183 at-bats with the Reds in 2011. Hs also played for the Giants and Blue Jays. Lewis’ peak season was 2008, when he batted .282 with nine homers, 40 RBI and 21 steals in 468 at-bats with San Francisco.

By mid-afternoon, only two Indians were on a path to have their salaries decided by an arbitrator: shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and reliever Rafael Perez.

Starter Justin Masterson, closer Chris Perez, right-fielder Shin-Soo Choo, third baseman Jack Hannahan and reliever Joe Smith signed one-year deals to avoid the next step in the arbitraion process, exchanging salary figures with the club.

Choo received a raise from $3.975 million in 2011 to $4.9 million for 2012. His season was marred by a DUI conviction, and he missed a large chunk of games with an injyury. Masterson received the biggest salary boost, from $468,000 to $3.825 million after moving from deep in the rotation to become the No. 1 starter.

Chris Perez negotiated a salary boost from $2.225 million to $4.5 million; Smith got a raise from $870,000 to $1.75 million, and Hannahan boosted his salary from $500,000 to $1.135 million.

The Tribe’s 15th Annual Winter Development Program begins Monday and runs through Jan. 27 in Cleveland and Goodyear, Arizona.

The program serves as a finishing program for the organization’s top upper-level prospects. The program helps acclimate the players to Progressive Field and the city of Cleveland while training in the Indians facilities.

The following players are slated to participate this season: RHP Austin Adams, RHP Rob Bryson, C Chun Chen, OF Aaron Cunningham, INF Juan Diaz, OF Tim Fedroff, OF Jordan Henry, LHP TJ McFarland, OF Thomas Neal, C Roberto Perez and RHP Tyler Sturdevant.

One highlight of the program is a daily featured speaker from all walks of life, who share their professional and personal experiences that are relevant to the program’s participants.

Speakers this year include Team President Mark Shapiro, Manager Manny Acta, Cleveland Cavs GM Chris Grant, Browns Head Coach Pat Shurmur, Terry Francona, Jason Bere, Peter Gammons, St. Ignatius Football Coach Chuck Kyle and Vanderbilt Baseball Coach Tim Corbin.

The Indians extended six non-roster invitations to major league camp Friday, with all of the invitations coming from within the club’s minor league system.

 The players are:

 RHP AUSTIN ADAMS

• 5th-round selection by the Indians in the 2009 first-year player draft, entering his fourth season within the Indians organization.
• In 2011 with Akron, Adams went 11-10 in 26 starts, posting a 3.77 ERA (136.0IP, 147H, 57ER, 131SO). He was tied for second in the Eastern League in wins with 11 and was an Eastern League All-Star.  No. 8 prospect in the organization entering 2012 according to Baseball America

 RHP CHEN-CHANG LEE

• International signee out of Peng-Hu County, Taiwan, in Sept. 2008. He split time between Akron and Columbus in 2011, going  combined 6-1 with 1 save in 44 relief appearances with a 2.40 ERA (71.1IP, 53H, 19ER, 99SO).
• He averaged 12.5 strikeouts per 9 innings in 2011 and limited right-handed batters to a .197 avg.  (28-for-142) with just four extra-base hits.
• No. 4 prospect in the organization entering 2012 according to Baseball America

 RHP TYLER STURDEVANT

• Selected in the 27th round of the 2009 draft out of New Mexico State University…Spent time between Columbus, Akron and Kinston in the 2011 season and went 7-3 in 42 appearances with a 2.65ERA (74.2IP, 67H, 22ER, 82SO).
• Posted 3.00ERA in the Arizona Fall League after the season (12.0IP, 11H, 4ER, 13K, .239AVG) as 7 of last 8 outings were scoreless (last 4G, 4.2IP, 2H, 0R, 7K)

 C   CHUN CHEN

• Originally from Hulian County, Taiwan, was signed as a non-drafted free agent on September 14th, 2007.
• Entering his sixth season in the organization. He spent 2011 at Double-A Akron, batting .262 with 16 home runs and 70 RBI.
• Chen was tied for fourth among Indians minor leaguers in RBI and tied for sixth in home runs.

OF CHAD HUFFMAN

• Was claimed off outright waivers from the New York Yankees in September of 2010. In 2011 with Columbus, Huffman batted .246 with 13 home runs and 58 RBI.
• He was tied for fourth in the International League in walks with 67 and was tied for 10th in doubles with 30. 

 RHP HECTOR AMBRIZ

• Selected by Cleveland in the Major League portion of the Rule V Draft in December of 2009 from Arizona.
• Missed all of the 2011 season due to recovering from Tommy John Surgery.
• In 2010 he spent the majority of the season with the Indians, going 0-2 with a 5.59 ERA (48.1IP, 68H, 30ER, 37SO). 

The Indians named former major leaguer Adam Everett as a special assistant to baseball operations.

The 34-year old concluded his 11-year major league career after appearing in 34 games with the Tribe last season.

While mostly playing shortstop, Everett compiled a career fielding percentage of .976 in 3,621 chances (89 errors) over 880 big league games. He owns a major league career batting average of .242 and also appeared in 19 post-season games in 2004 and 2005 with the Houston Astros.

Everett was originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the fourth round of the 1995 draft, but did not sign. Instead, he went on to play  collegiately at North Carolina State and the University of South Carolina. He was later drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round (12^th overall) of the 1998 draft and was acquired from Houston prior to the 2000 season.

 As a special assistant, Everett Adam will be in uniform most of spring training and will be active in infield instruction and player and staff development in both the major and minor League camps in Goodyear. During the regular season, he will provide infield instruction and evaluation within the Indians Player Development system.