CLEVELAND, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Indians have acquired veteran infielder Mark DeRosa from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for three minor league pitchers.
DeRosa, 33, also can play the outfield, and in the 2008 season, batted .285 with career-bests of 21 homers, 87 runs batted in, 103 runs scored and a .376 on-base percentage.
"What's important about Mark DeRosa is he's a perfect fit for our team," general manager Mark Shapiro said on the Indians' Web site. "He's a right-handed, versatile, high-character guy with post-season experience. He fits well in our lineup and in the culture of our team. He's going to help us win from every side you look at it."
DeRosa is a career .279 hitter with 69 home runs and 352 RBI in 893 games with the Cubs, Atlanta, and Texas in 11 major league seasons.
He is in the final year of a three-year, $13 million deal that will pay him $5.5 million in 2009.
