CLEVELAND -- Free agent Brett Myers is getting a fresh "start" with the Indians.
The veteran right-hander has agreed to a one-year contract with a club option for 2014 with Cleveland, which will give him a chance to win a starting job after he pitched in relief last season for Houston and the Chicago White Sox. Myers' deal is contingent on the 32-year-old passing a physical.
The Indians have several openings in their rotation with Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez appearing to be the only locks. Zach McAllister, David Huff, Trevor Bauer, Jeanmar Gomez and Carlos Carrasco are among the pitchers who will compete for the other spots. Also, the Indians recently invited left-hander Scott Kazmir to spring training camp on a minor league deal.
Myers, who has started for most of his career, went a combined 3-8 with a 3.31 ERA and 19 saves in 70 games -- all in relief -- last season.
He made 33 starts in both 2010 and 2011 for the Astros, who moved him to the bullpen last season before trading him to the White Sox in July. Myers started on opening day in 2011 and went 7-14 while pitching 216 innings. He won 14 games in 2010.
Myers has a 97-93 career record with a 4.20 ERA in 249 starts. He also has 40 saves, and his versatility could give the Indians other options if he's unable to win a starting job. He closed for Philadelphia in 2007 and had 21 saves.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder spent eight seasons with the Phillies before signing as a free agent with Houston in 2010.
Myers was drafted in the first round by the Phillies in 1999, selected with the No. 12 overall pick.
Abreu works out for Red Sox
Former Phillies outfielder Bobby Abreu recently worked out for the Boston Red Sox in Venezuela, according to multiple reports, but The Boston Herald cited a major league source who said the workout was nothing more than "background work."
The workout, first reported by Venezuelan journalist Rafael Tejera, entailed drills at first base, a position Abreu has never played in the major leagues.
Abreu, who will turn 39 in March, spent last season with the Angels and Dodgers, combining to hit .242 with three home runs and 24 RBIs. He's never played anything but the outfield over his 17 seasons in the majors.
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