In early February, Cleveland dealt 3B-R Corey Smith to San Diego for 2B/3B-L Jake Gautreau. The Indians drafted Smith out of high school with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2000 draft. He spent the remainder of that season at Burlington in the Rookie-level Appalachian League before advancing to A Columbus in the South Atlantic League for the 2001 season. After playing A+ Kinston in the Carolina League in 2002, Smith spent 2003 at AA Akron in the Eastern League. He returned to AA Akron in 2004, remaining there until a September promotion to AAA Buffalo in the International League. Smith posts good walk rates and possesses solid power, but his low contact rates have left him with batting average problems. Fortunately, the Padres are comfortable with their major league third baseman, so San Diego will bring the 22-year-old along slowly, giving him time to work on his weaknesses. Cleveland found Smith's decision not to play winter ball disappointing, as the club planned to attempt to move him to the outfield and wanted him to work on the transition during the off-season. His lack of compliance likely contributed to the Indians willingness to deal him.

The Padres drafted Gautreau out of Tulane University with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2001 draft. He spent the majority of the remainder of that season at Eugene in the Short-Season Northwest League with a brief stay at AAA Portland in the Pacific Coast League. In 2002, he developed ulcerative colitis, cutting short his season at A+ Lake Elsinore in the California League. The disease continued to create problems for him at AA Mobile in the Southern League in 2003, but I have not found any recent updates on his condition. Gautreau split 2004 between AA Mobile and AAA Portland, hitting .274 with a .333 OBP and .500 OPS on 46 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, and 9 HR with a 14:37 BB:K and 1/1 SB% in 168 AB at AAA. He's demonstrated promising plate discipline in the past and possesses substantial power. However, the Padres didn't see a place for the 25-year-old in the majors in the near future, so the organization dealt him for someone who will not be ready for the majors for a couple more seasons. Unfortunately for Gautreau, Cleveland's infield may be even more crowded than San Diego's.

In late January, Paul Shuey and Darnell McDonald signed minor league contracts with the Indians.