The Cleveland Indians have inked four players that could be Columbus Clippers in 2010…

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed the following players to minor league free agent contracts with non-roster invitations to Major League camp:  INF BRIAN BUSCHER, LHP MIKE GOSLING, RHP JASON GRILLI, INF LUIS RODRIGUEZ.  All four spent extensive time at the big league level in 2009.

Buscher, 28, split the 2009 season between AAA Rochester and the Minnesota Twins.  With the Twins he hit .235 (32-136) with 3 2B, 1 3B, 2HR and 12 RBI in 61 games.  He also hit .306 (11-36) in 15 second half games for the AL Central champs.  He owns a Major League career average of .266 (116-436) with 13 2B, 8HR and 69RBI in 164 games with the Twins since debuting in 2007.  He appeared in 25 games at third base and 13 games at first base for the Twins in 2009.  He was originally selected in the 3^rd round of the 2003 draft by the San Francisco Giants out of the University of South Carolina and was a Rule V pick of the Twins before the 2007 campaign.

Gosling, 29, made 15 appearances out of the bullpen for the Cleveland Indians in 2009, going 0-0 w/a 5.04 ERA (25.0IP, 30H, 14ER, 11BB, 13K).  He had an ERA of 3.46 (13.0IP, 13H, 5ER) in 8 games over the final month of the season.  He started the year in the Twins organization at AAA Rochester (7-1, 4.37 ERA, 21 games) and also pitched at AAA Columbus after joining the Indians organization in June.  He owns a Major League career record of 3-4 w/a 4.85 ERA in 58 games (9GS, 117.0IP, 139H, 63ER, 74K). He was Arizona’s 2^nd round pick in 2001 out of Stanford and has logged time in the big leagues with the D-Backs and Reds since 2004.

Grilli, 33, split the season pitching in relief between the Colorado Rockies and Texas Rangers’ bullpen where he was a combined 2-3 w/a save and a 5.32 ERA in 52 games (45.2IP, 50H, 27ER, 27BB, 49K).  After being acquired from Texas on June 9, he allowed just 3 earned runs over his first 17 outings (17.2IP, 9H, 3ER, .150AVG) before going on the disabled list in early August with right elbow inflammation. Overall with Texas his ERA was 4.78 (26.1IP, 21H, 14ER) in 30 games with a .216 (21-97) average against.  He owns a career Major League record of 18-18 with 2 saves w/a 4.74 ERA in 238 games (16GS, 356.2IP, 366H, 188ER, 262K) with five teams since 2000.  He was San Francisco’s first round pick (4^th overall) in the 1997 draft.

Rodriguez, 29, spent the entire season with the San Diego Padres where he hit .202 (42-208) with 6 2B, 2HR and 16RBI.  He walked 37 times against just 23 strikeouts for an on-base % of .319.  He was San Diego’s opening day shortstop and prior to a left ankle injury in May he owned an on-base % of .396.  Overall the native of San Carlos, Venezuela made 30 starts at shortstop and 25 starts at second base for the Padres.  He owns a Major League career average of.243 (208-855) in 363 games with a career on-base % of .316.

From MLB.com… Grilli among four Tribe spring invites