By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
06/26/09 10:54 PM ET
CLEVELAND -- The only two constants in the Indians' always-evolving bullpen this season have been Jensen Lewis and closer Kerry Wood.
Make that one constant.
The Indians will add right-hander Jose Veras to their 'pen in advance of Saturday's game against the Reds, and Lewis will be optioned to Triple-A Columbus.
Veras was acquired from the Yankees for cash considerations earlier this week after he was designated for assignment last week. The 28-year-old Veras was 3-1 with a 5.96 ERA, 18 strikeouts and 14 walks in 25 2/3 innings, and the Indians hope they can sort out some of the command woes he displayed in the Bronx. He was one of the Yankees' setup men last year after Kyle Farnsworth was traded to the Tigers.
As for Lewis, he was slated to be one of the Tribe's primary setup men for Wood this season, particularly after he saved 13 games down the stretch in '08. But Lewis never got on track consistently this year. He was 2-3 with a 5.03 ERA in 28 appearances, and his nine homers allowed in 39 1/3 innings were the most of any reliever on the staff.
The final straw came Friday night, when Lewis retired the side in the eighth, only to walk the first two batters he faced in the ninth.
"He's gotten a lot of experience in a short time," Wedge said of Lewis. "He has the heartbeat and the guts. But he needs to be more consistent controlling the baseball. He needs to drive the ball down where he's trying to throw it more consistently."
One move that won't be made Saturday is the one activating infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from the disabled list, where he's been since June 3 with a sprained left shoulder joint. The Tribe had hoped to make that move, but, after watching Cabrera participate in pregame activities Friday, the Indians decided to send him back to his rehab assignment at Double-A Akron for at least one more game.
Wedge said Cabrera still has some mild soreness in his shoulder, but the hope is to have him back after one more game with the Aeros.
Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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