L.A. Times: Bill Shaikin: With latest trades by Indians, it’s uncertainty for Carlos Santana

The Dodgers acquired infielder Casey Blake from the Cleveland Indians for minor league catcher Carlos Santana this time last year, to great dismay among fans that closely follow the Dodgers’ farm system.

Baseball America promptly ranked Santana as Cleveland’s top prospect. The magazine last month ranked him as the seventh-best prospect in all of baseball, in a top-50 list that included no one from the Dodgers.

At the time of the trade, the Dodgers explained their rationale: Santana would hit wherever he went, but they did not believe his defense would play in the majors, at least at catcher. The Dodgers would not have the option to use him at designated hitter, but the Indians would.

Fast forward to last week, when the Indians traded ace Cliff Lee to the Philadelphia Phillies for four minor leaguers, including top catching prospect Lou Marson.

“He has a chance to be an everyday major league catcher. That’s hard to find,” Cleveland General Manager Mark Shapiro said. “We think he is a championship-caliber receiver, catcher and field leader.”

Marson should be in Cleveland within weeks. Santana needs at least one more year in the minors to work on his defense, Shapiro said. He would not say whether the acquisition of Marson means the Indians might move Santana to another position.

“This will open up multiple alternatives for us going forward,” Shapiro said.