ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Adam Miller's blister finally healed, but
not quickly enough for the Tribe's top pitching prospect to remain in
big league camp.

Miller was one of five players who got the axe in Monday's
first round of cuts. Miller and left-hander Reid Santos were optioned
to Triple-A Buffalo, while first basemen Mike Aubrey and Scott Lewis
were optioned to Double-A Akron. Left-hander Chuck Lofgren, who is not
on the 40-man roster, was reassigned to Minor League camp and is
expected to open the season in Akron as well.

The Indians want to ensure that Miller, who strained the middle
finger on his throwing hand and his right elbow last season, can stay
healthy before they pencil him into their big league plans. But the
blister that formed on that same middle finger early in camp prevented
him from appearing in any Grapefruit League games.

Because of the blister, Miller was shut down for a week. He began throwing bullpen sessions last week.

"By the time he would be ready to get in a game, there wouldn't
be any innings to be had," manager Eric Wedge said. "You're
disappointed for him that he didn't get a chance to go out there, but
there's nothing anybody can do about it. We're hopeful it's behind him
now and he'll continue to progress with his bullpens and live BP and
then get into some [Minor League] games."

The 23-year-old Miller is slated to open the season in Triple-A
Buffalo. Last year, before the elbow problem set in, the Indians
entertained the thought of calling Miller up to pitch in their bullpen.
The club is not sure if he'd be considered for such a role this year.

"It's too early to determine that," Wedge said. "We still see him as a starter. But I would not rule that out."

Miller and Aubrey have a lot in common, in that both are premier talents who have had difficulty staying healthy.

Once again this spring, Aubrey proved that when he's healthy, he hits. He went 5-for-10 with three RBIs in five spring games.

The 26-year-old Aubrey, besieged by hamstring, back and
abdominal injuries over the years, has yet to play in 100 games in a
single season since the Indians took him with the 11th overall pick in
the 2003 Draft.

"What we need him to do now is stay healthy for an extended
period of time," Wedge said of Aubrey. "We need to be able to count on
people physically, as well. He's had some soreness the last couple
days. But overall, he's been a lot better this spring."

Wedge said Santos, in his first big league camp, made a nice
impression. Working primarily as a reliever, Santos went 8-3 with a
2.72 ERA at Akron last season. He'll bump up a level this season and
could be a depth option in the 'pen.

"He threw the ball well and trusts his stuff," Wedge said of Santos. "He didn't allow the game to speed up on him."

Lofgren and Lewis aren't in the Indians' immediate plans, as far
as big-league starting depth is concerned, but both were high-end
selections in the 2004 Draft and have the potential to contribute down
the road.

Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.