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Left-hander Scott Kazmir made a strong case to make the Indians' starting rotation.

(Photo by Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians announced this afternoon that left-hander Scott Kazmir has been named the fifth starter.

Kazmir will be added to the roster on April 6 so he can face his old team, the Tampa Bay Rays. Righthander Carlos Carrasco will start with the big league club and serve a six-game suspension.

In other moves, Jason Giambi was placed on the disabled list with a lower back strain. Pitchers Nick Hagadone and Bryan Shaw will be added to the 25-man roster, along with utility man Ryan Raburn. Yan Gomes and Cord Phelps were optioned to Class AAA Columbus.

GM Chris Antonetti said that outfielder Ezequiel Carrera and left-hander David Huff, both out of options, will not make the 25-man roster and he'll try to trade them. The team originally said they put Frank Herrmann on the 60-day disabled list, but later announced that Carrera had been designated for assignment to make room for Giambi on the 40-man roster. Herrmann, who underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this spring, is still on the active roster.

The Indians will open the season April 2 with the four-man starting rotation of Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Brett Myers and Zach McAllister. There will be eight pitchers in the bullpen including Chris Perez, Vinnie Pestano, Joe Smith, Cody Allen, Matt Albers, Rich Hill, Hagadone and Shaw.

When Carrasco is done serving his six-game suspesnion on April 7, he will be optioned to Class AAA Columbus. When Kazmir is added to the roster, a player will have to be sent down to make space.

Giambi, whose unexpected back injury gave the Indians some wiggle room, can be activated on April 9. He's expected to travel with the Indians when they break camp Saturday.

Kazmir signed a minor-league deal with the Indians on Jan. 8. He'll make $1 million with a chance to earn another $1.75 million in incentives.

In six appearances this spring, including two "B" games, Kazmir struck out 23, walked three and allowed eight earned runs and 29 hits in 21 innings. He'd been nearly flawless until Saturday when Seattle scored five runs on 13 hits against him.

Kazmir has not pitched in the big leagues since 2011 and has not taken a regular turn in a big-league rotation since 2011. Last year he went 3-6 with a 5.34 ERA in 14 starts for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League.

Carrasco missed last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He's 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA in five Cactus League appearances, including four starts.

Giambi, 42, signed a minor-league deal with the Indians on Feb. 9. He is scheduled to make $750,000 plus incentives.

This spring, Giambi is hitting .207 (6-for-29) with one double, three homers and five RBI. He is expected to DH against right-handed starters a couple of times a week. He enters the season with 429 homers and 1,405 RBI.

Giambi spent the last three-plus seasons with Colorado.

Raburn signed a minor-league deal which will pay him $1 million with a chance to earn $750,000 in incentives. He's had a great spring, hitting .359 with four HRs and 11 RBI, and is expected to play second and third base and left field.

Here's what the Tribe's 25-man roster will look like come opening day.

-Rotation (4): Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Brett Myers and Zach McAllister.

-Bullpen (9): Chris Perez, Vinnie Pestano, Joe Smith, Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Matt Albers, Ken Hill, Nick Hagadone and Carlos Carrasco (serving six-game suspension).

-Catchers (2): Carlos Santana, Lou Marson.

-Infielders (7): Nick Swisher, Jason Kipnis, Asdrubal Cabrera, Lonnie Chisenhall, Mike Aviles, Mark Reynolds, Ryan Raburn.

-Outfielders (3): Michael Brantley, Michael Bourn, Drew Stubbs.