ATLANTA -- The Indians made a move to help their struggling offense.
Early Friday morning, they agreed to a deal that would send outfielder Jason Kubel from Arizona to Cleveland for a minor league pitcher and cash.
The trade was not announced by the Indians, but was reported as completed by MLB.com out of Phoenix, the information attributed to an MLB source.
The trade is expected be announced on Friday.
Kubel has had a rough season (.220 with five home runs while dealing with several leg injuries), but in 2012 he hit 30 home runs and had 90 RBI. From 2008-2012 he averaged 24 home runs per season.
A struggling offense that needs a boost will take a chance on Kubel, who is 31 and in the final year of a two-year contract that has a mutual $7.5 option for 2014, including a $1 million buyout.
Kubel hits left-handed and throws right, and can DH as well as play the corner outfield spots. The Indians next three games are in Detroit, where they will face three right-handed pitchers.
It’s not known how the Indians plan to use him, but it’s an effort to improve a struggling offense.
The Indians are hitting .227 in August, and have scored just 85 runs in 26 games.
