Officials stay mum about trade rumor

GM Mark Shapiro said he's always looking to make the team better.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Cleveland Indians general manager Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge began their annual media tour on Monday -- designed to tout the upcoming season -- by refusing to comment on rumors that the Indians will send outfielder Coco Crisp to Boston.
"Until there's a deal done, there's no deal and nothing to say," Wedge said of the rumors, in which the Indians would get reliever Guillermo Moto and third-base prospect Andy Marte from the Red Sox.
"I'm always looking to make the team better now for this season and for the future," Shapiro said at Jacobs Field. "We are in constant conversation with teams. Sometimes those conversations leak out, most times they don't.
Way of business
"We pride ourselves on conducting our business in a way that respects our players, which means you don't talk about it at all on an individual basis.
"I'm not going to talk about it anymore at all."
Neither would Wedge, who believes the Indians are again a contender in the AL Central Division despite losing free-agent pitchers Kevin Millwood, Bob Howry and Scott Elarton.
Those right-handers were integral to a second-half run that moved Cleveland from 15 games back to within 11/2 games of first place and eventual World Series champion Chicago last September -- until a 1-6 final week knocked them out of a playoff berth.
"That was a tough way to finish," Wedge said.
"It was a learning experience and we're a better team because of it," Wedge said. "There's a lot of resolve in the players coming back and I feel very good about the pitchers we added."
Cleveland signed free agent right-handers Paul Byrd and Jason Johnson to fill the spots in the rotation vacated by Millwood and Elarton.
Reasons behind move
"I came here because I believe this organization has a chance to win now and on into the future," said Byrd, who turned down more money from his former team, the Los Angeles Angels, to sign a two-year $14.25 million deal with Cleveland.
Byrd said Cleveland's overall defense, and specifically second baseman Ronnie Belliard, made the move attractive.
"I'm a guy who needs defenders behind him," said the 35-year-old. "I watch other teams and when we played Cleveland, I saw Belliard going all over the place to make plays. That's for me."
Belliard is among 12 members of the Indians organization on prospective lists to play in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. He's on the Dominican Republic roster, as is Cleveland shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Left-hander C.C. Sabathia is on Team USA's list, while catcher Victor Martinez said he is excited about playing for his native Venezuela.
"Anytime you get to play for your country it is an honor," Martinez said. "But my dream is getting the Cleveland Indians to the World Series."
Start is important
Wedge hopes not having some of his key players in training camp in March won't keep Cleveland from a fast start. The Indians went 9-14 last April and have yet to have a winning record through the first month of a season in Wedge's three years as manager.
"We don't have one area that is a primary concern, though we want to get off to a better start," Wedge said.
The Indians will open the season in Chicago on April 2.
"The White Sox are the team to beat," Wedge said. "It is not going to be easy for us. The entire division has improved.