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A trade last season to the Cardinals appears to have saved the career of new Indians closer John Axford. Upon his arrival following his acquisition from the Brewers in August, the Cardinals' coaching staff sat the right-hander down and let him know he was tipping his pitches.

"I recall, sitting in that room when they told me that, a few different games running through my mind, including blown saves, and thinking, 'Maybe that’s why they didn’t swing at that slider that was just out of the zone,'" Axford told the National Post.

The advice paid huge dividends for Axford, who posted a 1.74 ERA in 13 regular-season appearances and a 1.59 ERA in six postseason outings following the trade. Axford, who had lost his closer's job with the Brewers, had a 4.67 ERA in 2012 and a 4.45 ERA last season before the trade.

"I obviously wouldn’t have been in the World Series, and I don’t think I would be in the position I’m in right now with the Cleveland Indians if I wasn’t traded [from Milwaukee]," he said. "[The St. Louis] coaching staff really helped me out, picking that up and helping me along the way for those two months. And pitching well, and pitching well in the playoffs -- I think that’s what really catapulted the opportunity for me to be a closer again."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said reliever David Robertson will have the best chance at winning the closer's job, but he refrained from naming Robertson the closer, according to The Journal News.

The Athletics agreed to a one-year contract with reliever Jesse Chavez, avoiding arbitration. Chavez went 2-4 with a 3.92 ERA in 35 relief appearances for the A's last season.

Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said Friday the team will continue to monitor the reliever market and "see if anything makes sense," according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Fernando Rodney, who was the team's closer in 2012 and 2013, remains a free agent. While it would probably take a favorable deal for the Rays to re-sign Rodney, pitching coach Jim Hickey said he "wouldn't be surprised" if the former All-Star returns to the club.

The Orioles announced that they claimed starting pitcher Liam Hendriks off waivers from the Cubs on Monday. Hendriks had just been claimed by the Cubs from the Twins 10 days ago.

Hendriks made eight starts and two relief appearances for the Twins in 2013, going 1-3 with a 6.85 ERA.

After calling off a two-year deal with Grant Balfour due to concerns with his shoulder that came up during a physical, the Orioles are turning their attention to free-agent pitcher Fernando Rodney, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Rodney has reportedly been looking for a deal worth at least $20 million over two years, which is a sizable increase from the $15-million deal agreed to with Balfour. Rodney posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 82:36 K:BB ratio along with 37 saves in 66 2/3 innings last season.

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.

The Houston Chronicle reports that the Astros claimed pitcher Collin McHugh off waivers from the Rockies on Wednesday.

McHugh has made nine starts and six relief appearances for the Rockies and Mets, and he is winless in eight career decisions with an 8.94 ERA.

The Rockies traded infielder Jonathan Herrera to the Red Sox in exchange for reliever Franklin Morales and minor league reliever Christopher Martin, according to MLB.com.

Herrera hit .292 in 81 games for the Rockies in 2013, playing mostly in a utility role.

Morales made 19 relief appearances and one start for the Red Sox, and he recorded a 2-2 record and a 4.62 ERA. Martin went 3-3 with a 3.18 ERA and two saves at Triple-A Pawtucket.

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports that closer John Axford's deal with the Indians will pay him $4.5 million for the 2014 season. It also includes $1.75 million in incentives.

The team reached an agreement with Axford on the one-year deal earlier on Monday.