Jason Michaels was packaged with cash Thursday by the Indians to the Pirates. Jason Michaels was packaged with cash Thursday by the Indians to the Pirates. (Elaine Thompson/Associated Press)

Cleveland Indians outfielder Jason Michaels was traded Thursday to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named.

Cleveland further committed to paying a large chunk of the $1.68 million US remaining on his $2.15-million US deal.

"He brings a lot of experience to the table," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said.

Michaels, 32, is hitting just .201 with nine runs batted in and three runs scored in 21 games this season.

"We had a chance to get an established major-league player, albeit one that is struggling a little bit this year," Huntington said. "But he is a guy who will bring a veteran presence to the clubhouse and can legitimately play left and right field."

Michaels is a .277 hitter overall with 37 home runs, 203 runs batted in and 257 runs scored in 632 games since he debuted in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies on April 6, 2001.

With files from the Associated Press