Kluber, Indians agree to five-year contract

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber and the Indians have agreed to a five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The deal includes two club options, the person said Saturday night. Kluber’s deal is contingent upon him passing medical tests, which should be concluded within the next few days, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Indians do not comment during contract talks.

Kluber went 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA for Cleveland last season, his first full year in the majors. He’s scheduled to pitch Monday’s season opener at Houston, and it’s possible the Indians will wait until later in the week to announce the deal.

The club signed second baseman Jason Kipnis to a six-year, $52 million deal last season hours before the home opener. Cleveland opens redesigned Progressive Field on Friday against AL Central rival Detroit.

Kluber signed a one-year deal worth $601,000 last month as talks initially failed to produce a long-term deal. However, his agent, B.B. Abbott, continued to have discussions with the club and the sides were able to reach a deal on the Indians’ last day of spring training.

Kluber will turn 29 on April 10, and general manager Chris Antonetti made it clear during camp that the club was interested in investing in him for the future.

The team would also like to lock up No. 2 starter Carlos Carrasco, who was one of the AL’s top pitchers in the second half last season.

BREWERS TOP TRIBE

Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy each ended the spring with two more hits and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Indians 4-3 Saturday.

Lucroy hit his team-leading fifth homer and Braun had an RBI double in the spring training finale for both teams.

Milwaukee starter Jimmy Nelson stuck out seven in 41/3 innings but was in constant trouble, allowing three runs on nine hits and three walks. He left after a two-run homer by Brandon Moss was followed by a double from Lonnie Chisenhall.

Nelson will begin the season as the Brewers’ fifth starter.

Luis Sardinas brought home Hector Gomez with an RBI single in the ninth to win it.

Braun’s double into the left-field corner in the first drove in Lucroy, who had singled. Braun, who started the spring hitless in 13 at-bats, had 15 hits in his last 25 at-bats to finish at .395 for the spring with eight hits for extra bases.

Indians starter Trevor Bauer, No. 3 in the rotation, struck out eight in six innings. He gave up three runs and eight hits.