Free agent Nick Swisher is visiting the Indians, who have a hole to fill in right field.
Swisher, who won a World Series in his first of four seasons with the Yankees in 2009, was scheduled to arrive in Cleveland last night and was to tour the team’s facilities at Progressive Field today.
Last week, the Indians traded right fielder Shin-Soo Choo to Cincinnati as part of a three-team, nine-player deal. The team can entice Swisher, who hit 24 homers with 93 RBIs last season for the Yankees, with the chance to be their full-time right fielder.
Swisher is a career .256 hitter in stops with the Athletics, White Sox and Yankees.
RED SOX: Shortstop Stephen Drew agreed to a one-year contract with the Red Sox, ESPN reported. The deal calls for a $9.5 million salary and $500,000 in performance bonuses.
Drew, 29, is the younger brother of former Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew.
ASTROS: Veteran Carlos Pena was signed to be its designated hitter as Houston prepares for its first year in the American League. The 34-year-old Pena, who spent last season in his second stint with Tampa Bay, hit .197 with 19 home runs and 61 RBIs in 2012. Terms were not released.
GIANTS: Right-handed reliever Santiago Casilla agreed to a $15 million, three-year contract.
A’S: Shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima of Japan’s Seibu Lions agreed to a $6.5 million, two-year contract that includes a $5.5 million option for a third season.
Nakajima would fill a big void for Oakland, which traded away shortstop Cliff Pennington to Arizona.
CUBS: Third baseman Ian Stewart signed a one-year deal. He is guaranteed $2 million if he makes the opening-day roster and can earn another $500,000 in incentives.