CLEVELAND, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- One week after being released by the team with the worst ERA in the major leagues, righthander Dave Burba Wednesday returned home, where he has enjoyed his most success.
Burba, an Ohio native who was released by the Texas Rangers on July 30, signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians.
The 36-year-old Burba went 4-5 with a 5.42 ERA in 23 games, including 18 starts, with Texas. The Rangers are last in the American League West with a 47-65 record and have a 5.30 team ERA.
Burba went 46-25 with Cleveland from 1998-00 before struggling in 2000 with a 10-10 record and 6.21 ERA in 32 games.
He will throw a bullpen session for pitching coach Mike Brown in Cleveland on Wednesday and will be assigned to Class AA Akron on Friday.
Burba also has played with Seattle, San Francisco and Cincinnati and is 109-85 with a 4.52 ERA In 431 games.
Cleveland, which dealt ace Bartolo Colon to Montreal in June and is in a rebuilding phase, also signed lefthander Travis Miller to a minor league contract Wednesday.
Miller was released by the Minnesota Twins on June 27 after making just five appearances. He is 7-18 with a 5.05 ERA in 203 games with Minnesota and will be assigned to Class AAA Buffalo.
