GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Cleveland Indians third baseman Andy Marte cleared waivers and was sent outright to the club's Triple-A Columbus affiliate on Wednesday.
Marte, a major disappointment since coming to Cleveland in a 2006 trade from Boston, was designated for assignment by the Indians last week. He has been working out at the club's new minor league development complex and will rejoin the team's major league camp on Thursday as a non-roster invitee.
The 25-year-old Marte batted .221 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 80 games last season. The Indians had hoped he could take over as their everyday third baseman when they traded Casey Blake to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but Marte never produced the way they wanted and Cleveland traded for Mark DeRosa in December.