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CLEVELAND -- Right-hander Bryan Bullington, the No. 1 pick in the 2002 amateur draft, was claimed off waivers Thursday by the Cleveland Indians from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pittsburgh had planned to reassign the 27-year-old Bullington to Triple-A Indianapolis if he cleared waivers. He was 4-6 with a 5.52 ERA in 15 starts for Indianapolis this season.

Bullington was designated for assignment on June 27. He was recalled by the Pirates for two weeks earlier in the season but never pitched.

Bullington was 0-3 with a 5.89 ERA in six games, including three starts, with Pittsburgh in 2005 and 2007. He missed the 2006 season for right shoulder surgery.

The former Ball State pitcher was drafted ahead of players such as B.J. Upton, Prince Fielder, Scott Kazmir, Nick Swisher and Cole Hamels, mostly because the Pirates felt they had a better chance of signing him.

The Indians announced moves involving closer Joe Borowski and right-hander Rick Bauer, who were both designated for assignment on July 4. Borowski was officially released and the team said Bauer chose to become a free agent.

Cleveland signed second baseman Cord Phelps of Stanford, its third-round pick in last month's draft.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press