Indians acquire Taubensee; Is Sandy Alomar gone?

Thursday, November 16th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CLEVELAND (AP) _ Looking for a backup catcher because their contract talks with Sandy Alomar stalled, the Cleveland Indians acquired Eddie Taubensee from the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday for pitchers Jim Brower and Robert Pugmire.

Taubensee, 32, previously played for the Indians as a rookie in 1991. He batted .267 last season for the Reds with six homers and 24 RBIs in 81 games.

He played in just 15 games in the second half of the season because of a ruptured disc in his lower back. He had surgery on Sept. 8 and has been cleared to play.

Taubensee's acquisition could mean that Alomar, a free agent, will not be re-signed by the Indians. The club has made two offers for the 34-year-old Alomar, who has played 11 seasons in Cleveland.

Alomar played in 97 games last season for the Indians, who want to give Einar Diaz a chance to be their regular catcher this season.

The Indians have said they want to retain Alomar, a clubhouse leader and one of the club's most popular players.

There is another aspect to the Indians possibly not re-signing Alomar. The club may have to worry about how his brother, Indians All-Star second baseman Roberto Alomar, might react.

Roberto Alomar signed with the Indians before the 1999 season in part because he wanted to have a chance to win a World Series with his older brother.

There have been rumors of a possible trade between Cleveland and Toronto involving Roberto Alomar, who played on two World Series championship teams with the Blue Jays.

A six-time All-Star, Sandy Alomar was the AL's Rookie of the Year in 1990 with Cleveland. He has been injury prone throughout his career and has had eight surgeries on his left knee.

Taubensee had his best pro season in 1999 with the Reds, batting .311 with 21 homers and 87 RBIs in 126 games. He appeared in 26 games for the Indians in '91 before being traded in the off-season with right-hander Willie Blair to Houston for center fielder Kenny Lofton.

``In Eddie Taubensee we are receiving a solid catcher whose left-handed bat will provide the club with much-need flexibility at other positions,'' Indians GM John Hart said.

Brower, a 27-year-old right-hander, spilt last season between the Indians and their Triple-A Buffalo club. He went 2-3 with a 6.24 ERA in 17 games _ 11 starts _ for Cleveland.

Pugmire, 22, was 1-1 in four starts at Double-A Akron this season after undergoing shoulder surgery. He was honored as the top pitching prospect in the Indians' organization in 1999.