Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

Well, the Indians apparently feel they can't sign C.C.Sabathia, so they did the next best thing: they made certain they'll have Fausto Carmona for a good long time -- maybe through the 2015 season. Yes, it might cost as much as $48 million, but if Carmona gets a sore arm or turns into a head case, the Tribe can opt out of the deal after four years.

This contract makes a lot of sense to me. It's a great deal for Carmona, as well. Now a robust-looking 24-year-old, Carmona was a skinny 17-year-old with horrible dental problems when he signed with the Indians. His stuff is outstanding and he showed great fortitude in a memorable playoff game against the Yankees last October. You'll recall the bugs never bothered him.

Best of all, Carmona rebounded quickly from his 1-10 season in 2006 -- a year in which he flopped miserably in an attempt to make him a closer. No, this kid is a brilliant starting pitcher. It's a please to watch him frustrate hitters, causing them to beat ball after ball into the dirt.

Who knows? Maybe Sabathia will become so frustrated after one more bad start that he'll jump on the Indians bandwagon through the 2015 campaign. We can all dream, right?

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz is: The Indians sent Ryan Drese and Einar Diaz to Texas for Travis Hafner.

Today's quiz: Name the Indians closer Fausto Carmona succeeded in 2006.

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-- Kevin Cuneo