"For 20 years the Indians settled their arbitration cases without going to a hearing. For a good chunk of that time Mark Shapiro, the team's president and former general manager, said, "One of these years it's going to happen."

This could be the year.

Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera's arbitration hearing is scheduled for early next week at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort hotel in St. Petersburg, Fla. Cabrera's representatives and the Indians have made little progress in talks aimed at reaching an agreement for 2012.

Cabrera is seeking $5.2 million for 2012. The Indians have offered $3.75 million. The midpoint is $4.475 million. After being named Cleveland's top professional athlete last week by the Great Cleveland Sports Commission, Cabrera told reporters that he wanted a long-term contract. GM Chris Antonetti said he was open to such a deal, but only if the two sides could agree on "value and term."

The two sides, to date, haven't been able to agree on a contract of any length.

The Indians haven't gone to arbitration since 1991, when left-hander Greg Swindell won and second baseman Jerry Browne lost. It was the Swindell hearing that caused former team executives John Hart and Dan O'Dowd to create a plan that helped produce the longest sustained run of success in franchise history. "