CHICAGO - Reliever Jason Motte and the Chicago Cubs have finalized a $4.5 million, one-year contract that allows the former St. Louis closer to earn $2.5 million more in performance bonuses.Motte was one of baseballs top closers in 2012, when he had 42 saves in 49 chances and helped St. Louis reach the NL championship series. The right-hander had elbow-ligament replacement surgery in May 2013 and missed the season. He returned last season and went 1-0 with a 4.68 ERA in 29 games.Motte is eligible for up to $2.5 million of $3 million in available performance bonuses under Fridays deal, including $250,000 each for 60 and 65 games pitched. He would earn $250,000 for 50 games finished and each additional game finished through 59.He made his major league debut with the Cardinals in 2008 and had spent his entire career with the team that selected him in the 19th round of the 2003 amateur draft.The Cubs went 73-89 last season and finished last in the NL Central. Their bullpen had a respectable 3.61 ERA, good for 15th in the majors. Hector Rondon emerged as the closer with 29 saves and a 2.42 ERA, but it was his first year in the role and Motte provides another option should the righty falter.Also Friday, the Cubs claimed catcher Ryan Lavarnway off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Shane Peterson off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Donn Roach and infielder Logan Watkins were designated for assignment.Lavarnway spent the last seven seasons in the Red Sox organization, including 97 games at the big league level. He is a career .201 major league hitter with five home runs and 34 RBIs. Peterson batted .308 with 40 doubles, 11 homers and 90 RBIs with Triple-A Sacramento last season. He was originally selected by St. Louis in the 2008 draft and acquired by Oakland as part of the trade that sent Matt Holliday to the Cardinals. Under Armour Shoes Australia . 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Sociedad forward Carlos Vela chipped goalkeeper Jaime Jimenez after receiving an equally exquisite lobbed pass from Ruben Pardo to set him up in the 23rd minute at Anoeta Stadium. Under Armour Shoes Discount . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season.CLEVELAND - A year after flourishing down the stretch and landing a playoff spot, the Cleveland Indians are trying to do it again. Manager Terry Franconas one-day-at-a-time approach last season paid off with a wild-card berth. The Indians went 21-6 in September, including a 10-game winning streak to end the season. Cleveland, which is five games out in both the AL Central and wild-card race, will need a similar finish this time. The Indians and Minnesota Twins will play a doubleheader Thursday after Wednesday nights game was postponed by rain. Francona realizes that every day is crucial with 19 games to play, but his philosophy is staying the same. "Changing your colours, changing your stripes doesnt help players play better," he said. "Thinking too far ahead doesnt help. The best way to put yourself in that position is to take care of your business at hand. I just think that makes sense." The Indians dropped the series opener 4-3 on Tuesday, a difficult loss to a team that has the second-worst record in the AL. "Screaming and yelling doesnt make guys swing the bat and doesnt make you score runs," Francona said. "This is a game of almost who can handle frustration the best because theres so much of it." Francona admits its not always easy to maintain that philosophy on a personal level. "I probably dont on the inside," he said. "I do the best I can on the outside.dddddddddddd This games really hard. I know that better than anybody." The Indians won six of seven before dropping three of four in a crucial series to Detroit last week. Cleveland swept three games from the Chicago White Sox before losing Tuesday. "Weve got a good group," Francona said. "We show up and play as well as we can and see where it takes you. You get down to the last week and maybe be aware of your surroundings, but I dont know if you can start doing crazy stuff. That doesnt really work." Wednesdays game was called off about two hours before the scheduled first pitch. Strong storms were in the forecast into early Thursday morning. The day off will give the Twins some rest before they try to do more damage to Clevelands playoff hopes. "Weve got to hold on to that mentality, to be honest," said reliever Brian Duensing, one of five pitchers the Twins used in Tuesdays win. "I think we owe it to the game of baseball. If we were to just come out and shut it down and not really give 100 per cent, its not fair to the game. Weve got to try and play spoiler and make it as difficult as possible on people." Indians ace Corey Kluber (14-9) will start game one against right-hander Kyle Gibson (11-10). Left-hander T.J. House (2-3) will pitch game two for the Indians against Ricky Nolasco (5-10). ' ' '