AMERICAN LEAGUE Tribe signs Wohlers, Bere, Lee to minor league deals

None of the three are expected to make much of an impact next season.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Cleveland Indians signed three pitchers on Monday, but aren't counting on any of them to help next season.
Right-handers Mark Wohlers, Jason Bere and Dave Lee agreed to minor league contracts with the Indians, who invited each of the three to spring training.
That's as far as Wohlers got with the Indians last season.
He pitched only one inning during camp before having an operation to have bone spurs removed from his elbow.
He was on a minor league rehab assignment in May when he tore the tendon graft in his elbow from ligament replacement surgery he had in 1999.
Wohlers has surgery
Wohlers had another "Tommy John" elbow reconstruction in August. Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said Wohlers should be ready to pitch by early next summer.
In 2002, Wohlers went 3-4 with a 4.79 ERA while pitching a team-high 64 games.
Shapiro wants to keep Wohlers as a mentor for some of the young pitchers.
"In the time he has been here he has had an impact on our young pitchers as a leader," said Shapiro. "There's very little risk for us. If Mark is ready to contribute, we want him around our players."
Two weeks ago, the Indians declined Wohlers' $8 million option, instead paying a $1 million buyout.
Bere signed as a free agent with Cleveland before last season. The Indians hoped he could pitch at least 200 innings and stabilize their young starting staff.
However, Bere began the season on the disabled list and made just two starts before shoulder surgery in June.
He has a 71-65 career record with the Chicago White Sox and Cubs, Milwaukee and the Indians.
Bere expected to be ready
Shapiro said doctors expect Bere to be ready for spring training and he'll compete for one of two open spots in Cleveland's starting rotation.
Shapiro expects the No. 4 and No. 5 spots to be filled by either free agents or non-roster invitees.
Lee, 30, was acquired on Sept. 6 from Los Angeles for minor league outfielder Alex Requena. He went 1-0 with a 4.70 ERA in eight appearances for Cleveland after going 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA in 56 games for Triple-A Las Vegas.
Shapiro wants to add a veteran starter to his staff this winter. The club is hoping to re-sign Brian Anderson, who pitched well in his return to Cleveland last season but was traded to Kansas City on Aug. 25.
Shapiro has spoken to Anderson's agent, who said his client wants to pitch for the Indians again.
No. 1 priority
Shapiro has identified second base as his No. 1 priority during free agency, followed by a set-up reliever and starter.
He said the Indians have not decided what to do with potential free agent pitcher Danys Baez, who lost his closer's job last season.
The Indians will not pick up Baez's $5 million option for 2004. They are not permitted to cut his salary by more than 20 percent, but even at $4.1 million, Baez is too expensive.
A more likely scenario is that the club will non-tender Baez, making him a free agent, and they will then try to re-sign him to better fit their budget.
The Indians also could trade Baez.
"Danys' situation will become much clearer by the middle of the month," Shapiro said.