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Indians sign RHP Atchison for next season

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians have signed veteran right-handed reliever Scott Atchison to a contract for next season.

Atchison’s deal, which was finalized Tuesday, includes a team option for 2016. Financial terms were not immediately available.

The 38-year-old Atchison has been major contributor out of Cleveland’s bullpen this season, posting a 6-0 record and a 2.95 ERA in 53 appearances. He signed a free agent minor league contract with the Indians in January and made the 25-man roster out of spring training.

Cleveland manager Terry Francona, who had Atchison on his last two teams in Boston, was “thrilled” by the news.

“He’s great in the bullpen. Guys look up to him. He’s just a really good influence, and he gets people out,” Francona said in Minnesota, before the Indians started a three-game series against the Twins. “And because of guys like him and their attitude, it’s allowed our bullpen to kind of flourish.”

Atchison has held hitters to a .218 average and ranks among American League relief leaders in wins, inherited runners scored and innings.

“I think Atch really values a place where he’s comfortable, where he knows he’s respected by his teammates, by the coaches, by the press, everybody,” Francona said. “And I think it’s a good fit for him and us.”

Atchison is 16-10 with a 3.51 ERA in 258 major league games since breaking in with Seattle in 2004, six years after being drafted in the 49th round out of TCU. He pitched two seasons for the Mariners, one for the San Francisco Giants and two for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan. Then he signed with the Red Sox in his return to the majors and spent three years with them. Atchison pitched in 50 games last season for the New York Mets.

Despite the age jokes, the Indians have valued his presence.

“What’d they give him, a year, an option and an AARP card?” Francona quipped.

The Indians also placed outfielder Ryan Raburn on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and recalled outfielder Tyler Holt from Triple-A Columbus to take his roster spot.

Raburn, who has been bothered by soreness in his right wrist most of the season after hurting it in spring training, aggravated the injury last week with a diving catch. He’s batting .191 with three home runs and 21 RBIs in 188 at-bats over 70 games.

___

AP Sports Writer Dave Campbell in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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