The Indians finalized their one-year, $4.5 million deal with right-hander John Axford Thursday. Axford is expected to serve as closer, a role he had for the Brewers to begin last season before losing it to Jim Henderson.

Axford finished last season with a 4.02 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings but was a different pitcher after going to the Cardinals in a late-August trade, posting a 1.69 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 19 appearances between the regular season and the playoffs.