The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed free agent RHP ALEXI OGANDO and OF MELVIN UPTON, Jr. to Minor League contracts with non-roster invitations to Major League spring training camp.
Ogando, 34, owns a career record of 33-18 with a 3.47 ERA in 283 Major League appearances/48 starts across seven seasons with the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves from 2010-2016. The San Pedro de Macoris native debuted with the Rangers in 2010 following four years of visa issues after originally signing as an outfielder in the Oakland system (2002) and was selected by the Rangers in 2005 Minor League Rule V draft. He made 19 starts for Hanwha in the Korean Baseball League in 2017 and owns a career Postseason ERA of 2.37 in 18 relief appearances for the Rangers in 2010-11.
Upton, 33, owns a career Major League batting average of .243 (1260-5174) with 262 2B, 32 3B, 164 homers and 586 RBI in 1469 games over a 12-year career with Tampa Bay, Atlanta, San Diego and Toronto from 2004-16. He is one of six active players with four seasons of 20 HR/20 steals (Hanley Ramirez 5, Mike Trout 4, Carlos Gonzalez, Ryan Braun, Ian Desmond), the last of which came in 2016 with Toronto and San Diego. He is sixth among active players in stolen bases (300) and has finished in the top 10 in the A.L. in steals five times in his career. He was limited to 12 games last season at the Triple-A level (San Francisco) due to right thumb and right shoulder injuries after being released by Toronto at the end of spring training.