Cleveland Indians will invite shortstop Adam Everett to big-league camp in hopes of him improving leaky infield defense.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians have signed shortstop Adam Everett to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp in February.
The Indians have been looking for a backup shortstop because of Asdrubal Cabrera's penchant for injury and Jason Donald and Luis Valbuena's struggles to replace Cabrera last season when he missed time with a broken left forearm. Everett, 33, has played 832 of his 846 games at shortstop over 10 big-league seasons with Houston, Minnesota and Detroit.
The Tigers released Everett last year. In 2009, he helped settle the Tigers suspect defense. Detroit tied the Twins for first place in the AL Central that year, but lost a one-game playoff.
The Indians need a dependable glove for their leaky infield. Everett owns a career fielding percentage of .975 (85 errors in 3,558). In 2006, he finished second in fielding percentage among NL shortstops with a .990 fielding percentage while finishing third in total chances with 688.
Offense is not Everett's calling card. He's a .243 (655-for-2,698) lifetime hitter. His best season was 2004 when he batted .273 (105-for-384) with 15 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 15 steals, 31 RBI and 66 runs scored in 104 games for Houston.
Everett was Boston's first round pick in 1998 before being traded to Houston.