CLEVELAND, Ohio - Yes, the Indians have invited Wily Mo Pena to spring training. No, he will not be reporting to big-league camp. Yes, he will be reporting with the organization's minor leaguers.
So just why is Pena, 35, a veteran of eight big-league seasons coming to camp at all? Well, it seems the Indians are doing Edwin Encarnacion a favor.
Encarnacion and Pena are friends. Encarnacion, who signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Indians in December, asked if they'd go to the Dominican Republic and take a look at Pena and some other players he's been working out with this winter.