Indians sign INF Mark Reynolds

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed free agent INF MARK REYNOLDS to a one-year Major League contract for the 2013 season.

Reynolds, 29, spent the last two seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, posting an on-base percentage of .335 with 26 doubles, 23 home runs and 69 RBI in 135 games in 2012 (.221 average, 101-457).  In the second half the right-handed hitting first baseman batted .231 (61-264) with 13 2B, 16HR & 46 RBI in 74 games, ranking tied for the 8th in the AL in HR and tied for 11th in RBI in the AL after the All-Star break.  He hit 9 home runs and drove in 17 runs over a 9-game stretch, August 31-Sept. 8, and banged out 9 HR with 24 RBI during Baltimore's AL Wildcard bid in September.  For the year he hit .286 (30-105) with runners in scoring position and recorded the 5th-best fielding pct. among AL first basemen (.995, 108 games, 5E, 971TC).

The University of Virginia product began his professional career in 2004 after being selected in the 16th round of the First-Year Player Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.  He debuted with Arizona in 2007 and hit .260 (150-578) with 30 2B, 44HR & 102 RBI in 155 games for the D-Backs in 2009.  His 164 home runs since the 2008 season represent the 8th-highest total in all of Major League Baseball over the 5-year span.  He has collected at least 73 walks in each of the last 4 seasons since 2009, one of five players in MLB to accomplish the feat (Zobrist, C. Pena, Fielder, Dunn). He owns a 6-year Major League career average of .235 (699-2973) with 148 2B, 181HR and 501 RBI in 853 games.

To allow room on the 40-man roster, the Indians designated INF RUSS CANZLER for assignment.