"The Indians have acquired right-hander Winston Abreu from Tampa Bay. They sent the Rays right-hander John Meloan, who is pitching at Class AAA Columbus, and cash.

Abreu, 32, is expected to join the Indians over the weekend in Cleveland. A player must be dropped to make room for him. He will wear No. 36.

This year Abreu has spent much of the season at Class AAA Durham where he went 3-0 with 10 saves and a 1.41 ERA. He struck out 49, walked 10 and allowed five runs in 32 innings. He appeared in 23 games.

He joined the Rays on June 14 and appeared in two games before being designated for assignment. Triple-A hitters batted .123 (14-for-109) against Abreu. Right-handers hit .061 (4-for-66).

Abreu, 6-2, 170 pounds, pitched for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan last year. In 20 appearances he was 1-2 with a 3.32 ERA before having surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow on June 6. In 2007, Abreu made 26 appearances for the Nationals, going 0-1 with a 5.93 ERA. He struck out 26 and walked nine in 30 1/3 innings."