Kazmir looks for redemption with Indians

On one of his first days in camp this spring with the Indians, Kazmir was summoned to Terry Francona’s office for a chat.

At one point in time, several years ago, Kazmir was the kind of pitcher that ate hitters up and tested managers.

Then there is Kazmir, who at 23 years old led the AL in strikeouts and at 27 was without a job.

It has been nearly two years since Kazmir pitched in a Major League game.

Between the 2005-08 seasons with Tampa Bay, Kazmir went 45-34 with a 3.51 ERA and 742 strikeouts in 689 2/3 innings.

Francona managed the Red Sox when Kazmir was on top of his game.

Things began to unravel for Kazmir in ’08 and the Rays dealt him to the Angels in August of ’09 when the pitcher’s ERA climbed to 5.92.

In 2010, Kazmir went 9-15 with a 5.94 ERA in 28 starts for Los Angeles and, by ’11, the lefty’s fastball was down to about 86.5 mph.

Last summer, Kazmir suited up for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters in the Atlantic League, posting a 5.34 ERA in 64 innings while focusing more on his mechanics than his results.

Carolina manager Edwin Rodriguez, who is also a Double-A manager in Cleveland’s system, put Kazmir in touch with the Indians.