The Indians added another non-roster invitee to the team's Major League Spring Training camp Thursday afternoon.
The Tribe signed free agent right-hander Justin Grimm to a Minor League contract.
Grimm’s deal includes an invitation to training camp where the three-time defending AL Central champions will try to patch together a bullpen missing key components from past seasons.
Grimm, 30, has played for the Rangers, Cubs, Royals and Mariners across seven seasons, and split 2018 between Kansas City and Seattle. The reliever landed on the disabled list twice in the past season with lower back stiffness followed by right shoulder impingement syndrome.
Grimm had a 13.50 ERA in 12 2/3 innings in 16 appearances with the Royals, but finished the season by posting a 1.93 ERA in five September games with the Mariners.
Grimm has gone 20-23 record 4.98 ERA in 306 games major league games.
He recorded at least 50 relief appearances with the Cubs over four straight seasons, pitching in a career-high 73 games in 2014.
Cleveland tacked on two other free-agent non-roster invitees just before the holidays, signing outfielder Brandon Barnes and right-hander Brooks Pounders to Minor League contracts with non-roster invites to Spring Training.
Barnes, 32, returns to the Indians' organization after testing free agency. He slashed .273/.347/.444 in 2018 with 14 homers and an International League-leading 39 doubles at Triple-A Columbus. He also was tied for first in the league with 75 runs scored.
Pounders, 28, split 2018 season between the Rockies and Triple-A Albuquerque, spending two months with Colorado. He posted a 3.28 ERA in 26 games with Albuquerque and had a 7.63 ERA in 14 games with the big league club.
The Indians lost reliever Andrew Miller as a free agent in the offseason. Closer Cody Allen remains unsigned, but the team’s career saves leader is unlikely to return.
