"It sounds as if the Indians believe Fausto Carmona could be cooling his heels in the Dominican Republic for a long time.

A couple of hours after Carmona was released from jail Friday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, after his arrest Thursday for trying to obtain a visa under a false name, the Indians traded for right-hander Kevin Slowey to take Carmona's spot in the rotation. They didn't come out and say as much, but it's a conclusion that's easy to draw.

The Indians acquired Slowey and a reported $1.25 million from the Rockies for right-hander Zach Putnam. Slowey was in the Twins' starting rotation for the past five years before being dealt to Colorado in December following a season of bad results, injury and discontent.

Carmona posted $13,000 bail but was ordered not to leave his homeland. He was arrested by the Dominican National Police outside the U.S. Consulate after applying for a visa to go to spring training next month in Goodyear, Ariz. Dominican authorities say Carmona's real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia and that he's 31, not 28, as he's listed in the Indians' 2011 media guide.

"I ask for the forgiveness of my fans, the government of the United States and the Cleveland Indians for this situation," Carmona told the Associated Press upon leaving court Friday.

In September, another Dominican pitcher was arrested for using a false identity.

Leo Nunez of the Miami Marlins is really Juan Carlos Oviedo. The Marlins recently signed him to a one-year, $6 million contract, but Oviedo has been unable to obtain a visa since his arrest. If the pitcher formerly known as Carmona runs into a similar delay, he could conceivably miss a big part of the regular season.

The Indians open the season April 5 at Progressive Field.

At the end of the World Series, the Indians exercised a $7 million option in Carmona's contract for 2012. He put that contract in jeopardy by playing under a false name. At least two sources say the Indians have a good case if they want to void the contract, but that doesn't appear to be their intent. If they didn't want Carmona, they could have traded him or made him a free agent by not picking up his option. Besides, if Carmona can't get out of the Dominican Republic, he won't be paid anyway. "