As if the offseason couldn't get more stunning, the Indians had one final ace up their sleeve. With pitchers, catchers, and some position players reporting for Spring Training in Goodyear, AZ, the Indians generated even more of a buzz, coming to terms with Scott Boras client Michael Bourn on a four-year, $48M contract with a vesting option for a fifth year, which automatically kicks in if Bourn has 550 plate appearances in 2016. Bourn, 30, was still on the market because of Boras's contract demands and because of the draft pick compensation that was required to sign him. The Indians will forfeit their competitive balance pick in the 2013 MLB Draft due to the signing.

In Bourn, the Indians get a speedster and plus defender. He'll certainly add a new dimension to the lineup, with 257 stolen bases over the last five seasons. Bourn has a career .272/.339/.365/.704 slash line over 871 games. Bourn has averaged just under 150 games played per season over the last five years, so the Indians are also getting a versatile player who has pretty much stayed healthy. He has spent his entire career in the National League with the Phillies, Astros, and Braves.

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2013 Cleveland Indians Spring Training Primer

As I say every year.... Today is the day we've been waiting for...Maybe.

Like last year, it was actually yesterday. P's and C's officially reported on Sunday, but Sunday is a day to relax and, well, I planned on this going up on Monday, so, there's that. You relaxed on Sunday, I actually worked heavily on this with all the last minute news. And that's another thing. If it went up Sunday, two big moves would have been excluded, which always seems to be the case. I win!

I know why you've come though. You're excited for the Spring! Indians baseball is here, it's back, and it has a fresh new look. Last year we were excited because Austin Kearns wasn't involved in anything, and well, that really was it. That and the shorter list of injuries. It may be even shorter this year and with Grady Sizemore not in the fold, you can guarantee no one will be hurt the moment they step onto the grass in Goodyear. Okay that was a cheap pot shot that I regret, but hey, I made it and I can't go back now. I could, but I won't. Nick Swisher is here, Terry Francona is the new manager and, thus, will bring a new routine for the Spring, there are a bunch of new additions, with a few familiar faces no longer hanging around, and well, the Indians had one heck of a fun offseason.

I've taken the liberty to break this off into two parts, with the second part coming on Tuesday. Point blank, it just got really lengthy this year and to give you time to breath, I've broken it up.

So let's hope that Spring is even more fun, and that the 2013 year tops it all.

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Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in Goodyear, AZ on Sunday and these two groups will be the keys for the Indians this season. The starting rotation has to be the chief concern, for both the Indians and for the fans, and the catchers will be called upon to help navigate troubled waters. The rest of the team must report by February 16 and Spring Training games begin February 22.

The Indians will go as far as their pitching staff takes them. The offense should be at or above league average, so the pitching staff will have to be good. I won’t go so far as to say that new pitching coach Mickey Callaway has to be a miracle worker, but there’s no question that some guys absolutely need to be better than they were in 2012. The good news about the rotation this season is that the Indians have some better depth for the fourth and fifth spots, even with Josh Tomlin’s Tommy John surgery and Carlos Carrasco’s return from missing a season due to Tommy John surgery.

The locks for the rotation, much to the chagrin of some people, are Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Brett Myers. If Trevor Bauer makes the ballclub, which I would generously set 50/50 odds on, he’s obviously in the rotation. The battle for the fourth and fifth spots includes Bauer, Zach McAllister, Corey Kluber, Scott Kazmir, and on the far reaches of that group is David Huff.

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It dawned on me, finally. After several slaps to the face, I composed myself.

By George, it is already February. Where has time gone? All of a sudden February is here, pretty soon it will be gone and two months of this 2013 year are going to be in the books. Is it October yet?

With the realization that it is already February, this whole Spring Training thing snuck up on me. I guess I continued to wade through the offseason as if it was a flowing thing that was going to keep changing and keep us on our toes.

I'm not saying that that didn't happen, in fact, I'm saying that it did. It did so much that I can't believe where we stand right now with P's and C's just about ready to officially arrive. February ushers in the hope and optimism that everyone has at this time of the year in regards to their baseball team. What's sweet about that is the hope and optimism lasts a few months, well into the excitement and anticipation of Opening Day. Regardless of a team's spring training record, everyone has a chance. Yeah okay, football may have the same feeling or a bit, but after the first game, if you lose, you're already in the hole and especially in Cleveland, depression sets in.

For two whole stinkin' months, we can sit around, and we will, and posture about this club, talking about the What Ifs (you know I will), the how abouts, and the it can happens. The start of that begins real soon. The start of that begins, after this.

It's the last Offseason Rundown. As sad as it is to say goodbye to what has been an eventful and fun offseason, it is just as joyful to welcome in what will be an equally exciting spring. There's a new manager, a ton of new faces, and a different type of outlook and expectation towards this team. There will be just as much to watch out for.

Next week for you I will kick things off with the annual Spring Training Primer, a rite of Spring passage around these parts, and one of the most comprehensive posts I do all year. It kicks off spring and it feeds the fire before real news starts rolling in. The first few days of spring are fun, but it really is the same each year and nothing of substance as players are unpacking, having meetings and getting their check-ups.

As that happens, I want to prepare you for what's next.

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