Smoke signals

• Indians first baseman Nick Swisher, who is on the 15-day disabled list due to a left knee injury, is with the team in Texas, but is scheduled to head back to Cleveland on Sunday in preparation for a Minor League rehab assignment. Barring any setbacks, Swisher is slated to play on Tuesday and Wednesday with Double-A Akron prior to potentially being activated by the Tribe.

"Again, we'll make sure everything is OK and hopefully he'll be good to go," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "We told him that the biggest key is that he's good to go, not a specific time frame. He feels pretty good."

• Francona was saddened to learn that baseball icon Don Zimmer passed away on Wednesday. During Francona's only season with the Cubs in 1986, Zimmer served as the third-base coach. Francona maintained a long friendship with Zimmer in the following years.

"He's one of my all-time favorites," Francona said. "And if I say he's one of my all-time favorite people, I'd have to get in a long line. I'd bet you everybody is saying that. He's part of what makes baseball, baseball. I loved him."

• Francona noted on Friday that injured outfielder Nyjer Morgan (right knee sprain), who was transferred to the 60-day disabled list on May 22, is currently doing his rehab at the club's complex in Goodyear, Ariz. Morgan is expected to be sidelined until around mid-July.