The Indians announced that they have agreed to a five-year extension with switch-hitting catcher Carlos Santana. The deal, which includes a club option for 2017, is worth $21MM in guaranteed money. Santana is represented by Andy Mota of the Wasserman Media Group.
The contract covers the 2012-16 seasons: Santana's final two pre-arbitration seasons and his three arbitration seasons. If exercised, the club option would keep Santana in Cleveland for his first free agent season.
Cleveland acquired the switch-hitting Santana from the Dodgers for Casey Blake at the 2008 trade deadline. The 26-year-old went on to blossom into one of the game's best catching prospects, twice ranking in the top-30 of Baseball America's annual top 100 prospects list. Santana has hit .244/.364/.464 in roughly a year and a half as a big leaguer, and last season he hit .239/.351/.457 with 27 homers while splitting time behind the plate and at first base.
Santana was called up in early-June of 2010 and appeared likely to fall short of qualifying as a Super Two after the season. The Indians controlled him through 2016 before the extension. Not too many catchers with 1-2 years of service time have signed multi-year deals recently, as Jonathan Lucroy (four years and $11MM) represents the only notable example.
The Indians signed Asdrubal Cabrera to a two-year deal recently, buying out one free agent year. Chances are they will explore an extension with Justin Masterson at some point as well.
MLB.com's Jordan Bastian first reported the extension and Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweeted the financial terms of the deal. Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.
Ugh.
-Dodgers fans everywhere
“What? Ned Colletti is a great GM…”
-29 other GMs…
Exactly.
Anyways, I’m voting for a name change to mlbextensionrumorscom
You do realize its a really slow time of year for trades and rumors right? Besides, some people enjoy seeing the extension news, if you don’t, then don’t read it.
You’re a little trigger happy, no? I read this site everyday because I love baseball, contract negotiations and trades included. I’ve observed a big change in the business side of the game, and I made a light hearted stab at it. No biggie.
8 years 183 million. Take that Mauer.
he’s a great young catcher. as always (with catchers), i’m concerned about how he will age and deal with the grueling seasons behind the plate. But he’s an awesome young hitter and locking him up this young is great for the indians.
this is the best news for indians fans since last wednesday
Reports are Antonetti was visited by a black magic woman shortly before news of the extension broke
They didnt trade him? Wow!!
all non boras clients, young and talented will never see FA in their primes.
And I’m okay with it. Besides, they bought out at most one FA year.
If I was Santana I would of held out and got big money later
given the injury risk most catchers carry, I think he did the smart move. Besides he is giving up only one FA year.
he definetely could have gotten more, but when you are in his situation, if he gets injured he winds up with not much, but he at least will end up with $21M guaranteed, which is enough to live on.
Curse you Colletti/McCourt!
highly underrated, highly awesome player. here’s hoping the price is right
Is it just me or are teams way more eager to lock up way more of their players to long term deals lately? Probably a result of ridiculous free agent contracts, but this could make star players that reach free agency even more valuable.
if they lock them up now then they won’t have to deal with them wanting ridiculously huge contracts like Pujols or Fielder
I think it started with Longoria, teams want to get a good investment for a player, if he performs at an MVP-caliber rate (like Longo) then they underpaid him & it looks better, if he underperforms, it’s not that bad because they aren’t paying him Alfonso Soriano money (just needed an example of a player who is making a lot of money but isn’t worth it anymore)
It started long before Longoria. Jon Hart started doing this in the 90s with the Indians. He hated arbitration so would lock up guys when young (see Manny Ramirez). Tribe hasnt gone to arby since 1991. Shapiro continued it with guys like Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez.
Just saw him in Cleaveland – he’s a real tank, it’s fun watching him warm up.
man that was a dumb trade
Ubaldo Jimenez is gonna be piiisssseed.
Great move by the Tribe, this kid is a stud, wow he would have fit perfect with that Dodgers lineup.
awesome for the indians..
but seriously, free agency is going to be slim pickings moving forward
5 years $21M with club option. Great deal for both sides involved.
If he is healthy he could get way more, but it provides stability, and means he prob gets money now instead of waiting.
Just keep him away from Grady Sizemore
Framework for an Avila extension maybe?
I knew he played a mean guitar, but $21 million?
over 5 years, that is a great deal for the tribe,
figure 1 million for 12,13 for pre arb. Then $20M for 3 years, He had .350 obp and almost 30 hr as a rookie CATCHER.
I don’t know if Santana got such a bad deal. For his first two years, he’s still probably making the league minimum as all pre-arbitration players do. Signing or not signing a contract wouldn’t help in the regard. In 2007, Mauer got 20.5 million for his arbitration years (Twins also bought out a year of FA at 12.5 Mil). In 2012, Santana is getting 20. Sure, salaries have gone up since 2007, but Mauer put up a .950 OPS and a 6.4 fWAR before getting his contract extension. Mauer was clearly the better player.
Seems to me that it all evens out and Santana got about what he deserved.
He’s my favorite player on the Tribe right now, such a great thing to wake up to. Well worth it.
Welcome back, Rip