The Associated Press

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Cleveland Indians are meeting with free-agent Ugueth Urbina, four days after losing closer Bob Wickman for at least half the season.

Urbina, who helped the Florida Marlins win the World Series last season, took a physical for the Indians on Monday.

"We are not at the stage where we are discussing terms, nor are we anywhere close to it," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said.

The 30-year-old Urbina was 3-4 with a 2.81 ERA last season and converted 32 of 38 save opportunities for Texas and Florida. He saved four games for Florida during the postseason.

Pittsburgh and Minnesota reportedly made offers that did not approach what Urbina was hoping to be paid. He earned $4.5 million last year.

YANKEES: Center fielder Bernie Williams is expected to play Wednesday for the first time this spring.

Williams' appendix was removed Feb. 26, and he is slated to make his debut in a minor league exhibition. He will miss the Yankees' regular season opening two-game series in Tokyo on March 30 and 31 against Tampa Bay.

The Yankees have not determined whether Williams will start the season on the disabled list.

PHILLIES: First baseman Jim Thome was cleared to start hitting Monday, less than three weeks after breaking the middle finger on his right hand.

Thome was examined by a hand specialist in Philadelphia, and was returning to spring training on Monday. He injured his throwing hand during fielding drills on March 5, and initially was concerned he might need pins inserted into the finger, which would have sidelined him up to two months.

Thome will wear a special splint on his finger for two weeks and his activity will be limited.

ESPN: Former All-Star outfielder/first baseman John Kruk was hired by ESPN as a Major League Baseball commentator.

Kruk will join host Karl Ravech and analysts Harold Reynolds and Peter Gammons on Baseball Tonight, a studio show that runs throughout the season. He'll also work as a commentator on some of the cable network's game telecasts.

Kruk retired in 1995 after 10 years with the Phillies, White Sox and Padres. The three-time All-Star had a .300 career average with 100 home runs and 592 runs batted in.

Baseball Tonight is the team every former player wants to join," Kruk said in a statement.

MARLINS: Juan Pierre will miss just a few days of workouts because of a dislocated right pinkie finger.

Pierre was examined by team hand specialist Dr. Brian Fingado on Monday, and the Marlins said their center fielder will miss no more than five days of workouts.

SHORT HOPS: Odalis Perez wanted to be nearly perfect against Curt Schilling and the Boston Red Sox. Perez pitched five scoreless innings as the Dodgers topped the Red Sox 3-2 before 7,863, the largest Holman Stadium crowd in 12 years. Perez has given up one run in 15 innings this spring.

• Woody Williams cruised through two innings in his only his second start because of tendinitis. Williams allowed only one hit - Andruw Jones' solo homer - and struck out two in the Cardinals' 7-2 victory over the Braves.