Indians signed RHP John Axford to a one-year, $4.5 million contract.

Axford, who will close for the Indians, can earn an additional $1.75 million in incentives based on games finished. "We thought he was the right guy to take a chance on," general manager Chris Antonetti said. "We feel like we added an experienced, power arm to the back of our bullpen." Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen will help set up for Axford.

According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, John Axford's one-year deal with the Indians is worth $4.5 million.

Axford can also earn a bit more through incentives. The 30-year-old right-hander has been mediocre over the past two seasons, but he was one of the top closers in baseball in 2011 and the Indians plan to use him in the ninth inning in 2014. Chris Perez was released earlier this winter, and Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw will remain in setup roles.

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com believes that John Axford's agreement with the Indians will be a one-year deal, as he still has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining after the 2014 season.

Meaning that Axford would still be under team control through the 2016 season when inking a one-year pact. The Tribe will be hoping for a return to Axford's 2011 form, where he led the National League with 46 saves while posting a stellar 1.95 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 86/25 K/BB ratio in 73 2/3 innings.

Buster Olney of ESPN reports that the Indians are on the verge of signing free agent reliever John Axford.

The 30-year-old right-hander will be tasked with protecting leads in the ninth inning as manager Terry Francona prefers a veteran option with closing experience in that role. He has proven in the past that he's capable of being a dominating presence in the late inning and he gains immediate relevancy in mixed leagues.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Indians are focused on signing free agent right-hander John Axford.

The Indians have made it clear in recent days that they are intent on signing an experienced closer from the free agent market, and have expressed interest in both Axford and Joaquin Benoit. The 30-year-old posted a 4.02 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 65/26 K/BB ratio over 65 innings with the Brewers and Cardinals in 2013.

Indians president Mark Shapiro told Jim Bowden of SiriusXM in an interview Sunday that the club "will get a back end bullpen arm with closing experience in (the) next week or two."

The Tribe has been connected to both John Axford and Joaquin Benoit and seems likely to land one or the other soon. Benoit is reportedly leaning towards signing with the Padres, so Axford could be the favorite to wind up in Cleveland. Current Indians relievers Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw have been mentioned as possible closer options, but it appears the team is more comfortable having someone with ninth inning experience.

The Indians have made an offer to John Axford, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

The Indians are still searching for next year's closer after releasing Chris Perez earlier this offseason. Axford began last season as the Brewers' closer but struggled in the role, eventually being traded to the Cardinals and finishing the season in a middle relief role. The Orioles, Cubs and Mariners are all in on the 30-year-old as well.

FOX Sports' Jon Morosi reports that the Orioles "have had talks" with free agent reliever John Axford.

The Indians, Mariners and Cubs have also been tied to Axford in the past week, and it sounds like the 30-year-old right-hander could wind up with a ninth-inning gig. He posted a 4.02 ERA and tallied 65 strikeouts in 65 frames this summer between the Brewers and Cardinals. Axford is still regularly clocked in the high-90s with his fastball.

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports that the Indians are among the teams interested in free agent relievers John Axford.

The Indians cut ties with Chris Perez after the season, so they monitoring the market for alternatives. Axford comes with previous closer experience and could sign at a reasonable price. The Mariners, Orioles, and Cubs have also expressed interest.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Cubs, Orioles and Mariners are among the teams interested in John Axford.

All three clubs have unsettled ninth inning situations, which would certainly appeal to Axford. The 30-year-old was non-tendered by the Cardinals last week but isn't going to have trouble getting someone to bet on him bouncing back. He put up a 4.02 ERA with 65 strikeouts over 65 innings for the Brewers and Cardinals in 2013.

Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com reports that there is "mutual interest" between the Cubs and John Axford.

Axford was non-tendered by the Cardinals earlier this week, but his agent, Dan Horwits, said Wednesday that his client has already received interest from 14 teams. Not only is Axford an intriguing bounce-back candidate, but the team that signs him would also have control of him through 2016. That kind of interest could lead to someone giving him a shot as a closer, and it sounds like the Cubs could be that club.

Cardinals non-tendered RHP John Axford.

Axford is due to make over $5 million in the arbitration process, which the Cardinals deem too much for a guy that wouldn't even be a setup man for them. The reliever did finished the year strongly in St. Louis, though, and will likely see if he can find a closing job somewhere.

Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that the Cardinals are unlikely to tender a contract to John Axford before Monday's deadline.

This wouldn't come as a huge surprise, as Axford is in his second year of arbitration eligibility and would likely earn between $4 and $5 million through the process. He could attract interest on the open market from teams in search of a closer, so fantasy owners speculating for saves in early drafts would be wise to give him a look in the later rounds.

John Axford was ejected from Friday's game against the Pirates after beaning Tony Sanchez in the eighth inning.

It's unclear why there was such a quick ejection, as no Cardinals hitters had been hit in the ballgame, and the Cardinals were leading 12-1 at the time. Jake Westbrook replaced Axford on the mound for the Red Birds.

Cardinals acquired RHP John Axford from the Brewers in exchange for a player to be named later.

Axford has been up-and-down since his breakout 2011 season, posting a 4.57 ERA over 137 appearances. He's struck out 147 over 124 innings over that span, though, and could potentially give the Cards a nice righty to pair with lefty Kevin Siegrist in the seventh ahead of Trevor Rosenthal and Edward Mujica.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that the Brewers are "getting a lot of calls" on their relievers.

John Axford, Francisco Rodriguez and Mike Gonzalez are among the bullpen guys currently drawing trade interest. Axford has gone 20 appearances without allowing a run -- good timing for the prospect-needy Brew Crew.

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke indicated Saturday that he would prefer not to use John Axford at closer while Jim Henderson (hamstring) is out.

"I don't know," Roenicke said. "I like what we're doing with Ax. I'd like to continue to do it in that way." Axford has been unscored upon in his last six appearances, but Roenicke seems hesitant to thrust the hard-thrower back into the closer role. Francisco Rodriguez closed out Friday's win after Henderson got hurt and seems like the best bet for saves in Milwaukee over the next few weeks.

John Axford hasn't allowed a run since May 14.

This stretch of effectiveness couldn't have come at a better time for the Ax Man. With Jim Henderson shelved with a hamstring injury, Axford could enter into a ninth-inning committee with Francisco Rodriguez and Mike Gonzalez. Axford held a 9.20 ERA on May 14. Six straight scoreless appearances have it down to 6.64.

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said he does not have a set eight-inning man at the moment.

John Axford had been setting up and looked to be on his way to getting his closer job back, but that went out the window after he was knocked around on Wednesday. "Right now, [Jim] Henderson will be the closer," Roenicke said, "but the other guys, we'll look at the lineups. What worked really well is when we figured out what lineup for Ax, what lineup fit the left-handers [Michael] Gonzalez and [Tom] Gorzelanny, and do it that way."

John Axford surrendered four runs -- three earned -- in two-thirds of an inning to take a blown save and a loss in the eighth inning Wednesday against the Pirates.

Axford didn't get any breaks today. Starling Marte's game-tying two-run homer came on a 95-mph fastball just above his ankles, and Brandon Inge's go-ahead double was a soft liner that was placed perfectly in between first and second base (and then kicked into foul territory by Rickie Weeks). Axford has certainly been more bad than good this year, but he wasn't nearly as bad today as the line suggests. Still, it's certainly a big setback as far as his hopes of regaining the closer's role.