CLEVELAND, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Indians Friday signed outfielder Bernard Gilkey and reliever Tim Crabtree to minor league contracts.
Both players will report to the Indians' Triple-A affiliate at Indianapolis when minor league camp opens next week in Arizona.
Gilkey, a 12-year major league veteran, is joining his sixth organization since breaking in with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1990. He sat out last season.
Gilkey enjoyed his best season in 1999 while with the New York Mets, hitting a career-high .317 with 30 homers and 117 RBI. Since that big year, his numbers have steadily declined.
Crabtree, 33, also was out of the majors last season while rehabilitating a shoulder injury. He went 1-0 with an 8.53 ERA in four appearances for Single-A Vero Beach of the Florida State League.
In 342 games with Toronto and Texas, Crabtree owns a career record of 21-22 with a 4.20 ERA. He briefly was the Rangers' closer in 2001, registering four of his nine career saves.
