Tue May 6 11:52:18 2008

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Indians designate OF Michaels for assignment

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Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians designated Jason Michaels for assignment Tuesday, effectively ending the outfielder's stint with the club.

The defending AL Central Division champions are scuffling at the plate as they enter Tuesday with a mark of 14-17. Cutting Michaels, who batted .207 in 21 games this season, and calling up outfielder Ben Francisco from Triple-A Buffalo is a move intended to improve the struggling Cleveland lineup.

Michaels, 32, is a career .277 hitter with 37 home runs and 203 runs batted in for the Indians and Phillies. The eight-season vet drove in nine runs in 58 at-bats for the power-challenged Indians this season.

The Indians acquired Michaels from the Phillies before the 2006 season, and the bench player hit. 270 with seven home runs and 39 RBI in 267 at-bats in 2007. Cleveland has 10 days to trade or release Michaels.

This will be Francisco's second stint with the Indians this season. He played with Cleveland from April 22-26, going 2-for-6 with a double and a run batted in.

Francisco, 26, batted .274 with three homers and 12 RBI in 62 at-bats with the Indians last season. He has struggled since returning to Buffalo, though, batting .228 with one home run and six RBI for the Bisons.