f hes added to the 40-man roster, and he can ea

CLEVELAND -- After considering some in-house options, the Cleveland Indians may have found their new closer on the outside. Free agent John Axford, who had 46 saves for Milwaukee in 2011 but has struggled the past two seasons, agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Indians, pending a physical. Axford, who is from Simcoe, Ont., is expected to undergo a medical exam Wednesday. Also, the Indians signed free agent starter Shaun Marcum to a minor league deal and will give him a chance to win a starting job in spring training. As long as there are no issues, Axford will likely close for the Indians in 2014, replacing Chris Perez, who was released on Oct. 31. Axford can earn an additional $1.75 million if he reaches performance bonuses. Cleveland initially considered moving either reliever Bryan Shaw or Cody Allen into the closers spot, but at last weeks winter meetings manager Terry Francona said he preferred to keep the two reliable right-handers in their setup roles. The 30-year-old Axford lost his closers job last year with the Brewers and was traded to St. Louis in August. He blew six save chances in 62 games last season with the Brewers before they dealt him to the Cardinals, who used him in a late-inning role. Axford had a 1.74 ERA in 13 games for St. Louis. The 6-foot-5 right-hander had his best season in 2011, when he went 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA and 46 saves in 74 appearances. Axford had 106 saves in five seasons with the Brewers. He has a 1.42 ERA in 12 post-season appearances. In addition to Axford, the Indians showed interest in free agents Joaquin Benoit, Grant Balfour and Fernando Rodney. Clevelands bullpen has been in flux this off-season. The club released Perez, a two-time All-Star, following a turbulent 2013 season. Cleveland lost valuable right-hander Joe Smith, who signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels. Perez was eligible for salary arbitration, but the Indians decided to cut ties with him following a rough year. The colorful closer lost his job in the final week of the regular season as the Indians were fighting for an AL wild-card berth. Perez, who had 124 saves for Cleveland, became an off-field distraction following his arrest in June on misdemeanour drug charges. Marcums deal includes an invitation to spring training, where the 32-year-old right-hander will be in the mix to join Clevelands rotation. Marcum would receive a $1 million salary if hes added to the 40-man roster, and he can earn another $3 million in bonuses. Marcum, who has a 58-46 career record in the majors, was limited to 14 games -- 12 starts -- this year for the New York Mets before he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. He went 1-10 with a 5.29 ERA before having the operation in July. Marcum has also pitched for Toronto (2005-10) and Milwaukee (2011-12). He was selected by the Blue Jays in the third round of the 2003 June draft. He pitched more than 150 innings in four of five seasons from 2007-11. Cheap Air Max Shoes For Sale . - Florida State has suspended Jameis Winston for the entire game against Clemson on Saturday, extending its initial punishment of one half after the quarterback made offensive and vulgar comments about female anatomy earlier this week. Cheap Air Max Shoes .com) - Generally you want to be the guy who replaces the guy who replaced the legend. http://www.airmaxcheapcanada.com/. Interestingly, the culprits were not rookies, but well paid, experienced pros. The first gaffe came in the 24th minute of arguably the biggest early season MLS game in history between Seattle and Toronto. Sounder newcomer Marco Pappa, (with over 100 MLS games, and 39 Guatemalan Caps to his name) attempted a back pass to one of his central defenders. Air Max Canada Online . The 19-year-old Swiss centre back will initially have to impress in Uniteds reserve side to earn a spot in the first team. Veseli says "Manchester United has a long history of younger players coming through and hopefully I can follow and do the same. Air Max Canada Sale . - Mike Magee converted two penalty kicks in a 10-minute span of the first half and the Chicago Fire beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on Sunday. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- One season after winning the World Series, the Boston Red Sox are playing spoiler -- and doing all they can to extend a playoff drought in Kansas City thats lasted nearly three decades. Allen Webster pitched six solid innings and Jemile Weeks stroked a pair of doubles and scored two runs as the Red Sox defeated the sputtering Royals 4-2 on Friday night. Kansas City lost for the fourth time in five games and fell out of first place in the AL Central for the first time since Aug. 10. The Royals, who are 0-5 against the last-place Red Sox, dropped a half-game behind Detroit, which beat Cleveland 7-2. "Any time you can spoil it for another team is big," Weeks said. Webster (4-3), who had allowed 15 runs on 16 hits and seven walks in 13 2-3 innings over his previous three starts, limited the Royals to four hits -- including Eric Hosmers two-run homer in the fourth. "I just tried to forget about it and attack hitters," Webster said. "Attack them and let the defence work behind me." Weeks, who had a two-run double in the ninth inning Thursday, doubled in the third and fifth. Mookie Betts singled home Weeks in a three-run third. He scored again on Daniel Navas two-out single in the fifth. "Theyre in the hunt," Betts said. "Since were not in it, we might as well put everybody else out of it that we can, but mostly were just having fun playing the game." The Royals, who have not reached the post-season since winning the 1985 World Series, are having anything but fun. "I think everyone is trying a little bit too hard," Alex Gordon said. "Its just not coming together right now. Theres a lot going on just because were in the middle of a pennant race and were not swinging well. Weve got to move on. "I think its just frustration. I dont think pressing as (much as) it iss frustrating.dddddddddddd The pitching is doing the job. We just need to step up and forget about what we did tonight." The Royals aided the Red Sox in the third, with Betts scoring on third baseman Mike Moustakas throwing error and Nava scoring on Yordano Venturas wild pitch. "We definitely could have played better," Royals manager Ned Yost said. Ventura (12-10), who had won his previous three starts, gave up four runs -- three earned -- and seven hits in seven innings. He also hit two batters with pitches. Red Sox relievers Tommy Layne, Burke Badenhop, Koji Uehara and Edward Mujica held the Royals hitless for the final three innings. Mujica earned his sixth save. GOT YOUR NUMBER Red Sox pitchers are 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA this season against the Royals, holding them to a .206 batting average and nine extra-base hits. TRAINERS ROOM Red Sox: DH David Ortiz (bruised right foot) and 1B Mike Napoli (sore toe and dislocated finger) did not play. ... INF Brock Holt is out with concussion-like symptoms after being examined by a specialist in Pittsburgh. Royals: LHP Danny Duffy, who missed his turn Thursday with a tender shoulder, made about 30 throws at 75 feet on flat ground. He said his goal is to make his next start, which would be Tuesday against the White Sox. ... DH Josh Willingham injured his groin in his final at-bat Thursday and will be out for at least a couple of games. UP NEXT Red Sox: Rubby De La Rosa, who is 0-2 with a 6.20 ERA in his past five starts, will pitch the third game of the series. De La Rosa has allowed 37 hits and walked 11 in 24 2-3 innings over those five starts. Royals: Jeremy Guthrie will make his 23rd appearance and 21st start against Boston on Saturday. He is 3-9 with a 5.06 ERA against the Red Sox and has not defeated them since 2011. ' ' '