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CLEVELAND -- Grady Sizemore pulled a pitch into right field at Progressive Field, where the ball bounced through the grass for a run-scoring hit. That seventh-inning single on Sept. 22 could go down as the center fielder's final act as a member of the Indians.Barring a restructuring of Sizemore's contract, Cleveland appears on the verge of cutting ties with a player once considered the face of th football game e franchise. It is expected that the Indians will decline the center fielder's club option for next season prior to Monday's deadline for a decision.The Indians have not made anything official, but it is expected that the organization will also exercise Fausto Carmona's $7 million club option for 2012. Indians general manager Chris Antonetti declined comment in an email to MLB.com, except to say t football game hat the team would likely not have anything to announce until Monday.Declining Sizemore's $9 million option would allow the center fielder to enter the free-agent market this offseason. With Sizemore's recent history of injury, Cleveland would likely only have interest in re-signing him to a lesser deal that includes a lower base salary with performance-based incentives.Sizemore's contract include football game s a $500,000 buyout, meaning that the Indians -- after declining Sizemore's club option -- would have $8.5 million to re-allocate to other areas of need on the roster. That money could help pay the pile of raises that will be expected for the team's seven arbitration-eligible players.Cleveland's list of arbitration eligible players includes: outfielder Shin-Soo Choo ($3.975 million salary in 2011) football game ; closer Chris Perez ($2.225); shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera ($2.025); relievers Rafael Perez ($1.33) and Joe Smith ($870,000); along with third baseman Jack Hannahan ($500,000) and starter Justin Masterson ($468,400).Left-hander Tony Sipp did not qualify for arbitration via Super Two status.The Indians operated on a payroll of around $49 million in 2011, and Antonetti noted that the budget will see football game an increase next season. The GM has remained mum about what type of payroll ceiling the Tribe will have for 2012, but declining Sizemore's option helps provide a bit of financial flexibility.The Indians saw an 11-win improvement in 2011 and hope to make a push for the American League Central crown next season. That being the case, the Tribe will be looking to upgrade its roster through trades and football game free agency this winter.This past season, the 29-year-old Sizemore returned from a 10-month rehab after undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee, only to suffer a sports hernia and a right knee injury. Both ailments required surgery -- Sizemore's knee was operated on shortly after the season -- but the center field is expected to be ready for Spring Training.Even so, there is no denying S football game izemore's problematic health history. Since 2009, he has only appeared in 210 games, or an average of 70 per season. There are 334 players who have played in more games over the same span. From 2005-08, only Ichiro Suzuki (646) played in more games than Sizemore (639) did for the Tribe.Sizemore -- a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner -- hit .224 with 10 homers, 21 doubles and 32 RB football game Is in 71 games for Cleveland this past season. His last full season came in 2008, when he hit .268 with 33 homers, 38 stolen bases, 90 RBIs and 101 runs scored.It is difficult to know if Sizemore can be that type of player again."It's really hard to speculate on that," Antonetti said at the end of the season. "We even saw that this year when he came back from his microfracture surgery on his left football game knee. He was able to run and had a bunch of extra-base hits, had home runs, and really was a spark offensively for us when he returned. That's something we know."Carmona, who will turn 28 in December, has remained healthy, but has been a kind of enigma on the mound for the Indians. This past season, the big sinkerballer went 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA, marking the second-highest ERA in a single season f football game or a pitcher with at least 32 starts in Cleveland's 111-year franchise history.One year earlier, Carmona went 13-14 with a 3.77 ERA, turning in a respectable campaign for a 93-loss Indians team. From 2008-09, the right-hander went 13-19 with a 5.89 ERA for the Tribe, but that stretch followed his breakout 19-win showing for the AL Central-champion Tribe club of 2007.If his option were declined, Ca football game rmona would still be eligible for arbitration this winter with the Indians.Carmona's durability is what makes his $7 million option seem relatively affordable, considering what similar pitchers can fetch on the open market, or in arbitration. The right-hander also gives the Indians an experienced layer of depth, which is important given that starter Carlos Carrasco will miss all of 2012 with a rig football game ht elbow injury.As things currently stand, Cleveland's rotation for next season would include Masterson, Josh Tomlin, Ubaldo Jimenez and Carmona. David Huff, Jeanmar Gomez and Zach McAllister are in the running for the fifth spot. The Indians will also be in the market for a starter or two this winter. football game
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