Tim Maxey spent seven seasons with Indians

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association announced that Tim Maxey was named Major League Baseball's Joint Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. Maxey will focus on providing guidance to and identifying best practices for clubs and players involving conditioning, fitness, nutrition and other related subjects in this newly created position. Maxey has plenty of experience in the field and he just completed his seventh season as the strength and conditioning coach for the Indians in 2009, and he also worked in the Royals organization from 1998 to 2002.

Maxey visit with every team during Spring Training to discuss practices and conditioning. He will also be available to all Major League clubs during the season for all areas relating to strength and conditioning, including the development of educational programs. He also has served MLB and the MLBPA on its Strength and Conditioning Advisory Board and has been an advisor to the Taylor Hooton Foundation.

Maxey is a National and Conditioning Association-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach. He is a graduate of Shawnee State University and holds a Master's Degree in physical education from The Ohio State University.

Indians sign Reyes and Miller to Minors deals

The Indians signed both pitchers Reyes and Miller to Minor League contracts on Sunday. And Reyes was given an invite to Major League Spring Training camp, though he will be in rehab mode after having reconstructive right elbow surgery in June. Reyes will not be ready to pitch in the Majors until midseason. If he can recover, he could be a rotation option for the Indians.

Reyes showed up in 67 career appearances in the big leagues with the Indians and Cardinals, including 52 starts. He was the winning pitcher in Game 1 of the 2006 World Series between the Cardinals and Tigers. Miller will be in Minor League camp rehabbing from the surgery on his right middle finger in the past two years. Hope to see them playing in the indians jerseys.

Valentine, Acta and Fryman will get interviews

According to a report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Monday, Bobby Valentine, Manny Acta and Travis Fryman are among the finalists to be the next Indians manager, Valentine will get a second interview this week in Cleveland. Valentine has managed in the big leagues for 15 years and has a combined 1,117-1,072 record with the Rangers and Mets. His best season was in 2000, when he led the Mets to the World Series.

Acta managed the Nationals for two-plus seasons and compiled a 158-252 record. He was relieved of his duties in July of this year. Acta was interviewed by general manager Mark Shapiro and assistant general manager Chris Antonetti via the phone last week. "It is a very attractive situation, because they already have a good, young nucleus of players on the team and a very strong farm system. I believe that an exciting time is coming again to Cleveland." Acta wrote in an e-mail to MLB.com last week.