RHP Mitch Talbot is indeed the player going to Cleveland to complete the trade for C Kelly Shoppach.

The Indians are also sending cash to the Rays to complete the Dec. 1 trade, helping offset the $2-million-or-so salary Shoppach will end up with since he is eligible for arbitration.

Talbot was acquired from Houston in the July 2006 Aubrey Huff trade but turned out to be the other player as Ben Zobrist developed into a star. Talbot has spent most of his time with the Rays at Triple-A Durham, making just three appearances in the big leagues, and missed a chunk of the 2009 season with a right elbow injury.

He would have been a longshot, at best, to make the Rays roster and is also out of options, so there's a good chance the Rays would have lost him anyway since he would have had to be exposed to waivers before he could have been sent to the minors.

In parts of three Triple-A seasons, Talbot, a 26-year-old was was a second-round draft pick, has a 30-22, 4.23 record.