By CHRIS ASSENHEIMER

Staff Writer

CLEVELAND — Aaron Laffey’s season is over.

The left-hander, who spent close to four months in the Indians’ rotation and was expected to be one of the roster additions arriving Tuesday, has been shut down with inflammation in his pitching elbow.

According to Cleveland head trainer Lonnie Soloff, Laffey has experienced soreness in the elbow the past month, with it especially affecting him over his last two dismal starts at Triple-A Buffalo — 14 runs on 27 hits over 10 2/3 innings.

Laffey underwent an MRI that revealed no structural damage, but the Indians are taking the cautious route.

“At this juncture, where we’re at as a team, it’s just not prudent for Aaron (to keep pitching),” said Soloff, who added that Laffey would rehab the injury in Cleveland over the final month of the regular season.

Laffey’s absence means that the Indians will not employ a six-man rotation, which manager Eric Wedge said was an option.

“It just doesn’t make any sense,” Wedge said. “He’d have to have some time off anyway. There’s no sense in pushing him.”

Laffey went 5-7 with a 4.23 ERA in 16 starts with the Indians as a replacement for an injured Jake Westbrook. He was demoted in late July, going 3-1 with a 5.55 ERA in six starts for the Bisons.

The rest of the Buffalo additions arrived as expected with the Indians calling up first baseman Michael Aubrey and pitchers Tom Mastny, John Meloan, Brian Slocum and Rich Rundles, while activating second baseman Josh Barfield from the disabled list.

 

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PRONK’S PROGRESS: Though Soloff wouldn’t call it a setback, Travis Hafner was re-evaluated Tuesday at Progressive Field and is still not ready to be activated from the disabled list. Hafner has yet to play on consecutive days during his rehab assignment, which ends Saturday. Soloff said the Indians are hopeful that he can play two straight days with one of the club’s minor league affiliates Friday and Saturday. If he does, Hafner, who is scheduled to be re-examined Sunday, could either be activated or sent out on another rehab assignment.

 

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CATCHING UP: Victor Martinez threw to bases from behind the plate prior to the game, with Wedge saying that he could catch for the first time since leaving the disabled list soon after Thursday’s off-day. “That’s the best we’ve seen him (throw),” Wedge said. Martinez, who was in the lineup as the DH Tuesday, has appeared in three other games since leaving the DL, twice at first base and once as a pinch hitter.

 

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GENERAL LEE: Though 20-game winner Cliff Lee has toed the company line this season, he still has a feisty side, which was on display against the White Sox on Monday night during a game-long verbal battle with Chicago catcher A.J. Pierzynski. In the clubhouse after the game, Lee was asked if he did something to anger the White Sox. “I don’t care,” he replied, matter-of-factly. “He’s got a little edge to him,” Wedge said. “There’s nothing wrong with that, as long as you can channel it in the right direction.” Lee’s 20-2 record is tied with six others for the best mark in major league history (since 1920) through 22 decisions, and he is the first Cleveland pitcher to reach 20 wins faster than anyone in the majors since Hall of Famer Bob Lemon did it in 1954. It took Lee just 27 starts to reach 20 victories, tied for the second-fastest in the Cy Young era (1956-present), and the third-fastest in franchise history since 1920.

 

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BYE-BYE, BUFFALO: Though it has been a foregone conclusion for a while, the Indians made it official Tuesday, notifying MLB of their desire to end their Triple-A affiliation with Buffalo — a pact that has been in place since 1994. With the Nationals’ Class AAA affiliate leaving Columbus, where a new stadium will be built, the Indians’ Triple-A team is expected to relocate there next season. “Buffalo was a great place to play and a great place to manage,” said Wedge, who played there as an opponent in the minors and managed the Bisons from 2001-02 before landing the job with the Indians. “But at some point in time you have to move on. I think this is an opportunity that we as an organization couldn’t pass up.” In other minor league news, Single-A Lake County will switch leagues for the 2010 season, moving from the South Atlantic League to the Midwest League.

 

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ROUNDIN’ THIRD: Catcher Kelly Shoppach’s 17 homers rank third in the majors at his position. … Lee will sign autographs at A.J. Rocco’s in Cleveland today from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Cost is $20 per item (three for $50) with all proceeds benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Lee’s 2-year-old son Jaxon is a leukemia survivor.

Assenheimer may be reached at cassenheimer@chroniclet.com or 440-329-7137.

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