MLB Player News

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports that the Indians agreed to a deal with free agent reliever John Axford on Monday. Terms of Axford's contract have yet to be disclosed.

Axford did not earn any saves for the Brewers or Cardinals in 2013, but he is expected to inherit the Indians' closer role from Chris Perez, who was released in October.

The Indians are close to signing free-agent pitcher John Axford, ESPN reports. The terms of the expected deal have not been reported as of yet, but Axford will likely be the favorite to fill the ninth-inning role in Cleveland.

The Indians are focused on signing free-agent reliever John Axford, FOX Sports reports.

Axford would presumably close for the Indians if he signs with the team. He saved 105 games from 2010 through 2012 but didn't record any saves last season while going 7-7 with a 4.02 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 65:26 K:BB ratio in 65 innings between the Brewers and Cardinals.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that starting pitcher Alex Colome is expected to be fully recovered from an elbow strain in time for spring training.

Colome missed the second half of the 2013 season with the elbow injury. He made three starts for the Rays and also went 4-6 with a 3.07 ERA in 14 starts at Triple-A Durham.

The Cubs have claimed pitcher Liam Hendriks on waivers from the Twins.

Hendriks pitched in eight games with the club last season, posting a 6.85 ERA in 47 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old righty was designated for assignment December 5.

The Astros selected left-hander Patrick Schuster from the Diamondbacks organization with the first pick of the Rule 5 draft Thursday and then sent him to the Padres to complete Wednesday's Anthony Bass deal. Schuster had a 1.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings over 55 appearances in the California League (high Class A) last season.

"I have a little history with him," Padres general manager Josh Byrnes told MLB.com. "We drafted him with Arizona. He's progressed through professional ball. The last two years he's been a reliever and we had a really good report on him this summer from the Cal League. He's gotten some lefties out and actually has pitches for right-handed hitters and also keeps the ball on the ground. He was worth a shot in the Rule 5."

The Orioles remain in discussions with free-agent relievers Joaquin Benoit and John Axford, FOX Sports reports. The team is looking to add a closer but has been reported to prefer Grant Balfour to all other options.

The Indians are believed to have made an offer to free-agent pitcher John Axford, CBSSports.com baseball insider Jon Heyman reports.

If signed, Axford would fill the hole left by departed closer Chris Perez. Axford saved 105 games for the Brewers from 2010 to 2012.

The Padres traded pitcher Anthony Bass and a player to be named later or cash considerations to the Astros for a player to be named later or cash considerations, according to MLB.com.

Bass, who had previously served as a swingman for the Padres, pitched for them exclusively out of the bullpen in 2013, posting a 5.36 ERA over 42 innings. However, he did make 15 starts at Triple-A Tucson, going 4-6 with a 5.45 ERA.

The Rockies and Athletics have completed a trade for pitcher Brett Anderson, according to FoxSports.com.

Colorado will send pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Chris Jensen to Oakland. Pomeranz was acquired in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal, and posted a 6.23 ERA in 21 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old Jensen put up a 4.55 ERA in High A. 

Anderson had an injury-riddled season, putting up a 6.04 ERA in 44 2/3 innings last season. Anderson has been an effective player when healthy, but he's only pitched 79 2/3 innings over the past two seasons.