Travis

Hafner

''My main concern is that we haven’t been able to evaluate Travis Hafner,’' Shapiro said Friday. Now’s his chance with Matt Lawton injured. Hafner could be close to being called up and DH-ing.

The pain comes and goes so Hafner’s status will be determined on a day-to-day basis from here on in. He is facing off-season surgery on the elbow that was previously scoped in 1997.

Hafner, who is attempting to play through the injury, is in a terrible hitting slump at the moment (2-for-23) without a home run and only one RBI in his past eight games.

“I started taking some batting practice [Friday] to begin a three-week program,” Hafner said. “I’ll be fine for spring training.” Hafner will be Cleveland’s DH and bat either third or fourth next season.

Hafner should be better able to play first base when necessary this year. He’ll act as a DH primarily, but assuming that he outproduces Ben Broussard, the Indians will want to keep him in the lineup in games in NL parks.

Hafner is 3-for-9 with three walks during his rehab assignment and played first base for the first time yesterday. It appears that he’ll be ready to come off the disabled list this weekend, but manager Eric Wedge may want to give Ben Broussard more time to show what he can do. ''Travis has the opportunity to get healthy and work on his swing,’' Wedge said. ''When he’s healthy and ready, he’ll come back. That won’t necessarily be as soon as he is eligible.’'

This explains the signing of Mark Little. Hafner was hitting .234 with no homers and five RBI for Buffalo, but did have a .419 on-base percentage thanks to 15 walks. Even if Hafner hadn’t gotten hurt again, he still wasn’t likely to join the Indians while Ben Broussard has a 928 OPS.

Great news for Hafner. Bad news for Ryan Ludwick, Coco Crisp and Alex Escobar, all of whom will have a difficult time finding at-bats if Matt Lawton becomes the regular left fielder. There will be playing time available against left-handed pitchers, as both Broussard and Hafner could sit against southpaws. Victor Martinez might get a chance to start at first base versus lefties, opening up more playing time for Josh Bard.

Hafner is expected to be activated when he is eligible to come off the minor-league DL, in five days.

Last time the Indians were in a National League park, Hafner played first base exclusively. Now with Broussard hitting well, manager Eric Wedge indicated that both players will get the chance to play over the next three games.