Burks signs with Cleveland

Burks signs with Cleveland

CLEVELAND -- Former White Sox outfielder Ellis Burks said he wanted a chance to play in the World Series.

The Cleveland Indians happened to need a right fielder and could offer Burks as good a chance as any team of getting to the Series. The move to sign Burks might have been prompted by the fact current right-fielder Manny Ramirez refused Cleveland's latest contract offer.

On Monday, Burks inked a three-year deal to pursue that dream.

Now that Burks and the Indians have a deal, where does that leave hard-hitting right-fielder Ramirez?

Burks became the first free agent hitter to change teams this off-season, agreeing with Cleveland on a deal worth nearly $21 million.

Burks hit .344 with 24 home runs and 96 RBIs in only 393 at-bats last season for the San Francisco Giants. The NL West Champions, however, did not make a firm, multi-year offer to keep him.

Burks narrowed his choice to the Indians and the Texas Rangers. The Colorado Rockies had made a strong bid, and the New York Yankees dropped out after expressing early interest.

"It was a tough decision," Burks said Monday from his home in Englewood, Colo. "I looked at every different scenario possible and Cleveland was the route that I decided to go."

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