Indians claim right-hander Whitenack off waivers

TORONTO -- The Indians added an arm to their farm system on Wednesday, claiming right-hander Robert Whitenack off waivers from the Cubs. Cleveland optioned the starter to Double-A Akron.

In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Indians transferred right-hander Frank Herrmann to the 60-day disabled list from the 15-day DL. Herrmann will miss all of this season while recovering from Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery on his throwing elbow.

Whitenack -- designated for assignment by Chicago on Monday -- went 19-18 with a 4.13 ERA in 69 career games in the Cubs' Minor League system. The 24-year-old was selected by the Cubs in the eighth round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

Last season, Whitenack went 1-6 wth a 5.96 ERA in 15 outings for high Class A Daytona in his return from Tommy John surgery.

Whitenack went 7-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 11 starts between Daytona and Double-A Tennessee in 2011, putting himself in position to potentially reach the big leagues. That was before the elbow injury that led to season-ending surgery in June that summer.

Prior to the injury, Whitenack went 18-12 with a 3.77 ERA over 54 Minor League appearances.