Just days after locking up their ace for the next five years, the Cleveland Indians have signed another one of their top pitchers for the long term.
The Indians announced Tuesday that Carlos Carrasco has agreed to a four-year contract that includes club options for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Though financial terms were not disclosed, multiple outlets have reported that Carrasco will be guaranteed $22 million over the next four years. According to MLBtraderumors.com, the right-hander will receive $4.5 million in 2016, $6.5 million in 2017 and $8 million the following season.
Carrasco had been slated to become a free agent after the 2017 season.
One of the centerpieces of the July 2009 trade in which the Indians shipped former American League Cy Young winner Cliff Lee to Philadelphia, Carrasco put together a career turnaround over the final two months of last season. The 28- year-old posted an AL-low 1.30 earned run average over his final 10 starts and struck out 78 batters in 69 innings over that stretch.
Carrasco finished 2014 with a 2.55 ERA along with an 8-7 record over 12 starts and two relief appearances, while racking up 140 strikeouts in 134 innings.
The deal comes two days after the Indians officially signed 2014 AL Cy Young recipient to a five-year, $38.5 million extension that contains team options for 2020 and 2021.
Carrasco, who went just 11-19 with a 5.29 ERA over his first four seasons in Cleveland, is scheduled to make his 2015 debut in Wednesday's game at Houston.
[SportsNetwork.com]
