Tribe acquires Veras from Yankees; trades Aubrey to O's

Tribe acquires Veras from Yankees
Move made to bolster 'pen; club also trades Aubrey to O's

By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

06/24/09 6:44 PM ET

PITTSBURGH -- More potential help is on the way for the Indians' beleaguered bullpen. And this time, it's coming from outside the organization.

The Indians acquired right-hander Jose Veras from the Yankees for cash considerations on Wednesday. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Veras had been designated for assignment by the Yanks last week.

Veras is expected to join the Indians this week, most likely when the club returns home Friday to face the Reds.

"We're just looking to try to continue to get better," manager Eric Wedge said. "We're trying to find a combination that works. [Veras] has experience and has a pretty good arm. So we'll go from there."

In 25 appearances out of the New York bullpen this season, the 28-year-old Veras is 3-1 with a 5.96 ERA. He walked 14 and struck out 18 in 25 2/3 innings of work. He did not exactly endear himself to Yankee fans on April 16, when he gave up three runs without recording an out against the Tribe to take the loss in the first game at the new Yankee Stadium.

The outlook was much brighter for Veras last season. He went 5-3 with a 3.59 ERA in 60 appearances, walking 29 and striking out 63 in 57 2/3 innings. He became a primary setup option for the Yanks when they traded Kyle Farnsworth to the Tigers.

It is not yet known who will be removed from the active roster to make way for Veras, but the Tribe's ever-evolving bullpen is no stranger to tweaking. The club could go with eight relievers, or it could drop someone from the current group. Wedge said what happens in the days leading up to Veras' arrival would go a long way toward determining which direction the Indians take with that corresponding move.

"We'll make the move when we have to," Wedge said.

Veras hasn't pitched since June 13, so Wedge said the Indians will have to "be careful" with him early on. But he is expected to be ready to be put directly into game action upon his arrival.

The Veras acquisition wasn't the only trade the Indians were involved in on Wednesday. The club also jettisoned former top Draft pick Michael Aubrey to the Orioles for a player to be named later.

Aubrey, a first baseman, entered the organization in 2003 with all the praise and talent that comes with an advanced college bat taken 11th overall in the First-Year Player Draft. But injuries robbed him of the ability to make good on all the lofty projections placed before him.

Dropped from the 40-man roster over the winter, the 27-year-old Aubrey cleared waivers and has played the entire 2009 season so far with Triple-A Columbus. He was hitting .292 with 16 doubles, one triple, five homers and 29 RBIs in 57 games for the Clippers.

Aubrey has remained healthy for the better part of the last two years, but various ailments, including hamstring, back and knee woes, relegated him to just 107 games played in the Minors from 2003-07. He finally made his Major League debut with the Tribe last year, appearing in 15 games and batting .200 (9-for-45) with home runs in each of his first two starts.

Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.