Most memorable Cleveland Indians November transactions since 1990

In November of 1997, MLB held yet another expansion draft as the league welcomed the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Like 1992, three Indians were drafted.

The first was left-handed pitcher Brian Anderson was selected second overall by Arizona. Anderson pitched in 18 total games for the Indians as he posted a 4.91 ERA in 10 1996 outings while posting a 4.69 ERA in eight 1997 outings.

He never would post an ERA below four in Arizona but did win a World Series ring with the Diamondbacks in 2001.

The next Indian to come off the board was right-handed pitcher Albie Lopez who was taken 48th overall by Tampa Bay.

Lopez spent four years with the Indians but outside of a small sample of success in 1995, when he posted a 3.13 ERA in six outings, he struggled.

In 1998, he was stellar in Tampa as he posted a 2.60 ERA in 54 relief outings. In 2001, he was traded from Tampa to Arizona and helped the Diamondbacks win the 2001 World Series.

Finally, corner infielder Herbert Perry was selected with the 68th pick by Tampa Bay. Perry impressed in 1995 with Cleveland slashing .315/.376/.463 with three home runs and 23 RBI’s but dealt with injuries that ended his time with the Tribe on a sour note.

He did not play at the MLB level in 1998 but did join the Devil Rays in 1999 and half of the 2000 season before finishing his career fairly strong with the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox.