CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Indians announced today the following transaction relative to the Major League 40-man roster:
Claimed RHP A.J. COLE from the New York Yankees (40-man roster now at 39 players).
Cole, 27, spent most of the 2018 season with the New York Yankees after opening the campaign
as the fifth starter for the Washington Nationals. With the Yankees, he posted a 4.26 ERA in 28 relief appearances (38.0IP, 39H, 18ER, 16BB, 49SO), fanning 11.6 batters per 9.0 innings. The Oviedo, FL native was Washington's fourth round pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft and was later acquired by the Oakland Athletics (Dec. 2011) and sent back to the Nationals in exchange for Blake Treinen prior to the 2013 campaign. He earned a spot on Washington's 2018 Opening Day roster and was purchased by the Yankees on April 24. He owns 54 Major League appearances since debuting with the Nats in 2015 and possesses a career Minor League ERA of 3.94 in 161 games/155 starts (361ER/825.2IP).
+This afternoon the club reached an agreement on a 2019 contract with SS FRANCISCO LINDOR, avoiding arbitration.