Fausto Carmona to Miss Spring Training as Identity Crisis Continues

The pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona will not be at Spring Training for the Cleveland Indians when players report in February, according to Indians manager Manny Acta.

Carmona was arrested in the Dominican Republic last week for using a false identity and trying to obtain a United States Visa. His real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia. He also faked his age, which was listed as 28, but he is actually 31. 

He was released on bail and told not to leave the country until this whole situation gets dealt with by the proper authorities. 

The Indians have kept quiet for the most part when asked about the situation. General manager Chris Antonetti spoke shortly after Carmona was arrested, but only said that the team was still "in the process of gathering information."

The odds of Carmona being available for Spring Training were slim, to say the least, so this announcement from Acta hardly comes as a surprise. The team acquired Kevin Slowey last week in the event that the Carmona wasn't available.

No one knows what the future holds for Carmona as a Major League Baseball player. The Indians picked up his $7 million option for this season, but they don't have to pay him until he returns to the team, assuming he does at some point. 

There was some talk that the team might void his contract, but, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, they are not likely to do that because the only way he gets paid is if he pitches anyway. 

It seems like there is a new wrinkle or development to this situation every day, so we have probably just begun to scratch the surface on it. Carmona may or may not pitch in the majors this season, but he has more important things to worry about right now. 

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