"Up one blind alley, down the next. GM Chris Antonetti is still trying to improve the Indians' offense.

He didn't come out and say it Friday in a meeting with reporters, but it's clear he's still trying to acquire a first baseman. He met with owners Larry and Paul Dolan this week to see if Carlos Pena could be squeezed onto the roster. Casey Kotchman is another free-agent possibility.

Pena and Kotchman are left-handed hitters. Derrek Lee, a right-handed hitting first baseman, is still unsigned, but apparently doesn't want to play for the Tribe.

The one first baseman that could cure a lot of the Indians' ills, Prince Fielder, is strictly a look but don't touch trinket. He's going to cost way too much money, but he has definitely brought the first-base market to a standstill.

"At some point, some of these other guys are going to make a decision," Antonetti said. "Are they going to continue to wait or do they want to find a spot right now?"

If free agency doesn't offer a solution, Antonetti said there are trade possibilities.

"There are still a handful of free-agent alternatives and another handful of trade alternatives," Antonetti said. "It's not 20 guys deep, but it's more than just a couple."

The Angels, with first base reserved for Albert Pujols, have two first basemen who might be available for trade -- Mark Trumbo and Kendrys Morales. Trumbo hit .254 (137-for-539) with 29 homers and 87 RBI last year as a rookie. Morales, a switch hitter, is still recovering from a broken left leg that prohibited him from playing last year. "