Cleveland Indians’ GM Mark Shapiro comments on Lee trade

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Cleveland Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro said his decision to trade Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee today -- in a six-player deal with the Philadelphia Phillies -- reflected an ownership mandate that the Indians would not be able to add payroll this winter. Shapiro said he then chose to refocus on the years beyond 2010, making it likely that the Indians will trade catcher Victor Martinez before Friday’s deadline.

Shapiro declined to discuss Martinez specifically, but he said the Indians’ poor season combined with the recession had led ownership to conclude that adding free agents this winter would not make sense.

‘We weren’t going to be able to supplement or add to our club at all,’ he said.

The Indians are 42-60. Without Lee and Martinez -- and infielders Mark DeRosa and Ryan Garko, who were traded earlier -- Shapiro conceded the Indians would struggle to win next year.

‘It would be a Florida Marlins kind of story,’ Shapiro said. ‘Everything would have to go right.’

-- Bill Shaikin