The veteran right-hander was first spotted at Progressive Field on May 8 following a disastrous seven-game trip for the Indians' bullpen. The Indians said they were interested in him and checking him out.

What an examination it turned out to be.

Vizcaino threw at least three times for the Indians and boarded the team charter Wednesday to St. Petersburg, Fla., still in limbo. The Indians finally announced Thursday morning that they'd signed him and optioned left-hander Jeremy Sowers to Class AAA Columbus.

"I didn't feel strange," said Vizcaino on Thursday. "I felt like I was part of the team. I know Fausto Carmona and Jhonny Peralta from the Dominican Republic."

While Vizcaino, 34, didn't feel like an interloper, his presence couldn't have been too comfortable for the seven relievers wondering which one of them he was going to replace. At least for the present, he didn't replace any of them. The Indians opened their four-game series against the Rays with an eight-man bullpen.

It won't stay like that way long because the Indians need a starter for Sunday to take Sowers' spot.

Vizcaino started the year with the Cubs after being acquired from Colorado for Jason Marquis in January.

He made four scoreless appearances before being designated for assignment April 23. He's 34-27 with seven saves and a 4.31 ERA in 532 career appearances.

"They haven't told me how they're going to use me," said Vizcaino.

There's a reason Vizcaino hasn't been given a role in the Tribe's muddled pen.

"We really don't have established roles just yet outside of Rafael Betancourt in the eighth and Kerry Wood in the ninth," said manager Eric Wedge.

Wedge added that Aaron Laffey will get meaningful innings when the Tribe has a late-inning lead.

Vizcaino throws a fastball, slider and split.

He'll make $3.5 million this year with the Indians liable only for the pro-rated version of the major-league minimum.

Merry-go-round: It sounds like Ryan Garko better get used to riding the bench.

If Wedge's latest infield experiment takes hold, Garko will fight for at-bats at DH and in the outfield because first base is going to be crowded.

Thursday night, Peralta and Mark DeRosa made their season debuts at third and first base, respectively. Asdrubal Cabrera was at short and Luis Valbuena at second.

"It's something we could see more of," said Wedge. "I wouldn't go so far to say we'll settle in at this. We're doing everything we can from a pitching standpoint, offensively and defensively to get better and try to win ballgames."

Wedge said Martinez and DeRosa are the Indians most athletic first basemen.

"DeRosa is more athletic at first than Garko," said Wedge. "That helps us a little bit. Obviously, Victor does a good job over there."

When asked if he'd rather not play Garko at first, Wedge said: "No, I'm just saying if we're trying to get better defensively, DeRosa and Victor are our best options. And we're still trying to get a feel for Matt LaPorta."

Finally: Class AAA starters David Huff, Jack Cassel and Zach Jackson are all candidates to make Sunday's start. Wedge said Laffey is not, but he could return to the rotation later in the season. . . . The Indians still view right-hander Hector Rondon as a starter, but he's been moved to the bullpen at Class AA Akron to see if he can help them this year. "We're going to watch him from outing to outing," said Wedge. "We want to see how he takes to it. For him to be an option for us this year, it has to be in the bullpen. He's a power arm.". . . Wedge said Sowers must improve his command to stay in the big leagues. "He has to put the ball where he wants to put it," said Wedge. . . . Right-hander Vinnie Chulk cleared waivers and accepted his assignment to Columbus.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158