CLEVELAND -- Just before Spring Training was shut down because of the coronavirus, Francona informed Shane Bieber that he would get the ball on Opening Day on March 26. Even though that date was pushed back nearly four months later, the Tribe is expecting their plan to remain in place.

“We have three weeks to figure that out,” Francona said. “The way the days line up, it probably lines up for him. There are some things we don’t even [know]. We don’t even quite know the exact days of our exhibition games. We’re still trying to iron all that out, but that’s the general idea, yeah.”

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Usually for the first game of the season, a team like the Indians has to be concerned about snow or freezing temperatures to compete through. But with either a July 23 or 24 start date, Bieber is looking forward to only having rain to worry about.

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“I’ll never forget it,” Bieber said. “What was supposed to be Opening Day was like 65 [degrees] and sunny. Nobody was expecting that. So, I guess that was kind of like salt in the wound. … [Being the Opening Day starter] means the same as it as it did four months ago. Obviously, different circumstances. I've had to wait a little bit longer in anticipation, but it’ll mean that much more when it comes.”

Minor League signings

On Friday, the Tribe announced the signings of catcher Steve Baron, infielder Jake Elmore and righty reliever David Hernandez to Minor League contracts. Elmore and Hernandez will report to Progressive Field, while Baron will head to Class A Lake County's Classic Park.

Beau Taylor appears to be a lock as the Tribe’s third catcher, but Baron gives them another option, along with Bo Naylor, in Lake County, if the team needs an emergency catcher. The 29-year-old Baron has 13 career Major League games with the Mariners, Cardinals and Pirates, dating back to his big league debut in 2015. Baron has a .231 average and 124 doubles, 31 home runs and 268 RBIs across 11 Minor League seasons.

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Elmore brings as much defensive versatility as a team can ask for. As a member of the Astros in 2013, he became the first player in team history to play all nine positions in a single season. Last year, he spent the majority of the season in Triple-A Indianapolis and played in 20 games for the Pirates. He posted the second-best batting average in the International League (.322) and the fourth-best on-base percentage (.327). Most of his appearances came at second base, but he also played left field, right field, third base and shortstop for Indianapolis. That versatility could be something the Indians utilize off the bench this season.

Hernandez entered 2020 as a spring invitee with the Nationals after making 47 appearances out of the Reds' bullpen last year. He’s played in parts of 10 Major League seasons, pitching to a 4.12 ERA with 664 strikeouts and 253 walks in 547 games. He’s coming off of a rocky season during which he went 2-5 with an 8.02 ERA (38 earned runs in 42 2/3 innings).