The Tampa Bay Rays traded infielder Russ Canzler to the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday for cash considerations.
Canzler, 25, was the 2011 Most Valuable Player of the International League and received a September call-up to the Rays. He appeared in three games as a pinch-hitter and designated hitter and had one hit.
Canzler was designated for assignment Friday to clear room on the 40-man roster for veteran utility infielder Jeff Keppinger.
Canzler was drafted in the 30th round by the Chicago Cubs in 2004 and signed as a minor-league free agent by Tampa Bay in November 2010.
Playing above Class AA for the first time in his career, Canzler hit .314 with 18 home runs and 83 RBIs last season for the Triple-A Durham Bulls.
Canzler led the IL in doubles (40) and slugging percentage (.530), finished second in runs (78) and third in hits (149). He appeared in 41 games in right field, 33 in left, 40 at third base and 17 at first.
A native of Rays manager Joe Maddon's hometown of Hazleton, Pa., Canzler was the fifth Bulls player to win the MVP award, following Steve Cox (1999), Toby Hall (2001), Kevin Witt (2006) and Dan Johnson (2010).
His lone big-league hit came in his first at-bat, a single off New York's Aaron Laffey at Yankee Stadium. He drove in his lone RBI later that night with a sacrifice fly.
The right-handed-hitting Canzler will have a better chance of making the Indians Opening Day roster than he would the Rays. Keppinger, who can also play third base, gives the Rays a right-handed bat off the bench. Luke Scott will serve as backup to first baseman Carlos Peña.
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