"Casey Kotchman, who hit a career-best .306 last season while playing first base for the Tampa Bay Rays, accepted a one-year, $3 million deal Thursday from the Indians.

"Like I've said before, it's an honor and a privilege to put on a major league uniform," Kotchman said. "And it's an honor to have the opportunity to put on another uniform. I want to take advantage of his opportunity and help (the Indians) continue and improve upon what they started last year."

The Seminole product, playing in front of his hometown fans for the first time since high school, enjoyed the best offensive season of his career in 2011 while providing his normal steady glove at first.

In addition to his career-high batting average, Kotchman set career highs in games (153) and on-base percentage (.378). Kotchman finished eighth in the AL in batting, making him the third Ray to finish in the top 10. Jason Bartlett (.317) was seventh in 2009 and Aubrey Huff (.311) was ninth in 2003.

Kotchman credited treatment to cure the infection in his eyelids in December 2010 for his resurgence at the plate."