Indians, RHP Corey Kluber agree to five-year deal
The Cleveland Indians and defending AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber have agreed to terms on a five-year deal, the team announced Sunday.
The contract was first reported by CBSSports' Jon Heyman and MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
Terms of the contract were not immediately disclosed, but the deal includes two option years. Kluber, who turns 29 on Friday, was set to make $601,000.
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[daily_cut.mlb]Last season, Kluber won the Cy Young after going 18–9 with a 2.44 ERA, 269 strikeouts and 51 walks in 235 2/3 innings.
Over his four MLB seasons, all with Cleveland, Kluber is 31-19 with a 3.34 ERA, 464 strikeouts and 105 walks.
"What we try to do is, once the season starts, have all of our focus be on preparing and winning games and trying to minimize distractions," Indians general manager Chris Antonetti told MLB.com on Thursday, without mentioning Kluber by name. "That's a clear preference. It's how we've tried to operate in the past, so I expect that's how we'll move forward again this year with it."
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Kluber is set to start the Indians' Opening Day game on Monday against the Astros in Houston.
- Mike Fiammetta
