You can't spell punto without punt.

Ugh. Please let the mutual interest be in stamp collecting.

Signing Nick Punto would solve one problem, it would solve the problem of who in the Indians infield can field. It would create some problems in that he's a worse hitter than you would ever want to have in your lineup. Here was my response when the Twins mistakenly gave him 2 years and $8 million. And he was more useful then. Really, he's adequate at shortstop and respectable at third base. But to call his hitting anemic is an insult to people who have anemia. Fangraphs' WAR looks on him favorably, giving him over 1 WAR each of the last three years. Baseball-reference...well, let's just say they disagree. And looking at b-r's oWAR numbers, I don't know how on earth they figured them. I don't know how a .228/.337/.271 season adds up to .8 wins contributed. Maybe it's the 16 steals?

I know there's not much on the third base/utility infield market aside from the dreaded Craig Counsell, but I'd rather have stuck with Andy Marte at third base than spend actual American currency to acquire Nick Punto, whose bat and glove fall short of the legendary Indians relief pitcher. Punto's only add is versatility, being able to not hit at three different spots on the infield. For that, the Indians would be better off waiting until February and picking the best of what's left. Punto will still be out there, unless Dayton Moore gets to him first. Willie Bloomquist and Jerry Hairston Jr. might be as well. You don't go utility infielder bargain shopping in early December unless you are Ruben Amaro, Jr. And that leads to things like giving Juan Castro money to play baseball.

Indians Outlook for 2011

The Indians' offseason really kicks off today. For all the buzz surrounding the key signing of Luke Carlin, it won't compare to the Indians signing players who aren't intended solely to wear a jersey number greater than 60 in spring training. Today may add a number of players to the Indians' shopping list, since it's the non-tender deadline -- an opportunity to buy players who other clubs are giving up early on or that they simply don't believe are worth the contracts that they'd have to be tendered.

Alas, only players fitting into the former category are likely to wash ashore in Cleveland. Players like Hideki Okajima and Matt Diaz are likely to get some form of actual money somewhere, they will just do so as free agents.

Thus far, the deadline has been relatively quiet -- Bobby Jenks is far and away the biggest name non-tendered, and it's a certainty he'll find work somewhere other than Ontario and Carnegie.

A number of the players who have already been non-tendered are former Indians themselves.