Jul 19, 2018 4 min read

With an eye on October and beyond, the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians scooped up all-star closer Brad Hand and fellow reliever Adam Cimber from the rebuilding San Diego Padres in exchange for switch-hitting catching prospect Francisco Mejia.

The Indians need Hand, a lefty, and Cimber, a rookie right-handed sidearmer, to shore up a bullpen that has been without left-hander Andrew Miller since late May and has a 5.28 ERA, second-worst in the majors. The trade was announced Thursday, well ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline.

The Indians lead the AL Central by 71/2 games over Minnesota. After losing Game 7 of the 2016 World Series to the Chicago Cubs, the Indians returned to the postseason last year but lost in the division series to the New York Yankees.

Miller, Cleveland’s two-time all-star reliever, has been on the disabled list since May 26 with an inflamed right knee. He is currently on a minor league rehab assignment.

Cody Allen has 20 saves in 21 chances for the Indians. Miller and Allen will be eligible for free agency after the season.

The Padres claimed Hand off waivers from Miami early in the 2016 season and he developed into a two-time all-star. Known for his slider, he has 24 saves in 29 chances, with a 3.05 ERA and 65 strikeouts.

The Padres gave Hand a $19.75 million, three-year contract in the offseason, with a team option for 2021.

Cimber is 3-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 42 relief appearances this season.

The Padres are last in the NL West, 14½ games behind Los Angeles. They haven’t had a winning season since 2010 or been in the playoffs since 2006.

They’ve been rebuilding since a win-now approach with high-priced veterans flopped badly in 2015. General manager A.J. Preller has built one of the strongest farm systems in baseball, but the big league team continues to flail despite getting its first infusion of young talent late in the 2016 season.

Mejia was batting .279 with seven home runs and 45 RBI in 79 games for Triple-A Columbus. The 22-year-old made his big league debut on Sept. 1, playing in 11 games with Cleveland last year and one game this year.

Mejia can also play third base and outfield, but he’ll focus on catching at Triple-A El Paso.

Ohtani cleared to throw: The Los Angeles Angels say two-way star Shohei Ohtani’s elbow ligament is continuing to heal and he has been medically cleared to begin a throwing progression.

The team said Ohtani was given a six-week evaluation Thursday by Dr. Steve Yoon at the Kerlan Jobe Institute. The Angels said they would release specifics about his progress and rehabilitation schedule at another time.

Ohtani was placed on the disabled list with an ulnar collateral ligament sprain on June 8 after complaining about tightness in his right elbow following a June 6 start against Kansas City. The Japanese sensation has since returned to the roster as a designated hitter, but his prospects to pitch remain unclear.

He is hitting .283 with seven home runs and 22 RBI. On the mound, Ohtani won four of his first five decisions before getting injured.

Cubs’ closer Morrow to DL: The Chicago Cubs have placed closer Brandon Morrow on the 10-day disabled list with right biceps inflammation.

Morrow has 22 saves and a 1.47 ERA in 35 games in his first season with the Cubs. The DL stint is retroactive to Monday.

Morrow, who turns 34 on July 26, also spent time on the DL earlier this season with lower back tightness.

The Cubs also activated outfielder Albert Almora Jr. and relievers Carl Edwards Jr. and Anthony Bass before Thursday night’s game against St. Louis. Almora was placed on the family medical emergency list on Sunday. Edwards was on the paternity list, and Bass was sidelined by an illness.

Infielder David Bote and reliever Rob Zastryzny were sent down to Triple-A Iowa.