Brantley, Indians finalize new deal

Associated Press

GOODYEAR, ARiz.

Michael Brantley was smoothly sidestepping a question about whether he should have won the Gold Glove for going an entire season in the outfield without an error. His boss interrupted him in midsentence.

“He should have won the Gold Glove,” Cleveland Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said.

Brantley’s response matched his “Dr. Smooth” nickname. He kept right on going, talking about everyone except himself.

“It’s about winning baseball games,” Brantley said.

His devotion to that answer helped him get a $25 million, four-year contract on Thursday as the Indians opened spring training. A player who was the last piece in the deal for pitcher CC Sabathia in 2008 is now recognized as one of the Indians’ core players.

Brantley batted a team-leading .284 last season, when Cleveland ended a five-year playoff drought. The Indians lost to Tampa Bay 4-0 in a wild-card game.

The challenge is to keep getting better. The Indians decided that the 26-year-old can be instrumental that way. He avoided arbitration by agreeing to the deal, which he signed after passing a physical.

Brantley gets a $3.5 million signing bonus and salaries of $1.5 million this year, $5 million in 2015, $6.5 million in 2016 and $7.5 million in 2017. Cleveland has an $11.5 million option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout.

His 2017 salary would increase by $1 million if he’s among the top five in MVP voting in any year from 2014-16 and would go up by $500,000 if he finishes sixth to 10th. The option would be boosted by $1 million if he’s among the top five from 2014-17 and by $500,000 if he finishes sixth to 10th.

Last season, Brantley was slotted as the leadoff hitter and center fielder until the Indians signed Michael Bourn. He agreed to move to left field and floated around in the order, hitting everywhere from first through eighth as manager Terry Francona rested regulars.

Brantley set career highs with 26 doubles, 10 homers, 73 RBIs and 66 runs. He also stole 17 bases in 21 attempts. And he went the entire season without making an error in his new outfield spot.

“Those are the players that you value because regardless of what their personal goals are or their aspirations, they’re able to put the team goals ahead of it,” Francona said.