Hafner to remain with Indians
COMBINED DISPATCHES
CLEVELAND — Travis Hafner isn’t going anywhere.
According to a report on MLB.com, the Indians’ designated hitter reportedly reached agreement with the team late Wednesday night on a four-year contract extension worth $57 million that will keep him in Cleveland through the 2012 season with a club option for 2013.
Hafner, who has struggled through the first half of the season, entered the All-Star break batting .262 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs.
He could have become a free agent after next season.
Hafner, 30, was acquired by the Indians in a 2002 trade with the Texas Rangers for catcher Einar Diaz and pitcher Ryan Drese.
Hafner was originally a 31st-round draft pick by the Rangers in 1996. For his career, he has a .292 average with 132 homers in 604 games.
Career year in 2006
Hafner had a career-year in 2006, batting .308 with personal-bests in homers (42), RBIs (117), runs (100) and walks (100). He also tied the major league record for grand slams in a season with six, tying former Yankee Don Mattingly, who also accomplished the feat in 1987.
He finished eighth in the AL MVP balloting and became the seventh Indians player to top the 40-homer mark, despite missing the last 29 games due to a broken right hand.
It’s the second major extension for a Tribe player this season.
The Indians signed pitcher Jake Westbrook to a three-year extension in April.
Ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia is inked through next season but his stellar season may have priced him out of the Indians’ budget.