Part 1: A new beginning
Assuming the job of the Cleveland Indians GM in January 2007, I set about to do a thorough housecleaning of the roster, sign minor league free agents, promote talented staff internally and try to boost attendance for a club that won just 77 games in 2006.

One of my first trades was to dump the salary of aging CL Joe Borowski, sending him with a minor league SS to the SF Giants for a RP I prized, Brian Wilson. As throw-ins, I also obtained SS Emanuel...