TRADE The Indians deal Michaels to Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired outfielder Jason Michaels and cash from the Cleveland Indians on Thursday for a player to be named. Michaels was designated for assignment Tuesday after hitting .207 with no home runs and nine RBIs in 21 games this season.

“We had a chance to get an established major league player, albeit one that is struggling a little bit this year,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. “But he’s a guy who brings a veteran presence to the clubhouse and can legitimately play left and right field.”

Michaels is a career .277 hitter with 37 homers and 203 RBIs in 632 games. The 32-year-old was in his third season with Cleveland after being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1998 and making his debut with them in 2001.