Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians Agree on 2-Year Extension
There have been extensions galore so far this spring, and yet another All-Star caliber player was locked up to an extension on Wednesday.
Asdrubal Cabrera and the Cleveland Indians have agreed upon a two-year extension worth $16.5 million. The deal runs through the 2014 season and will delay Cabrera's free agency by one year.
The deal also buys out his final season of arbitration.
Cabrera enjoyed a breakout season in 2011. In 151 games (604 at-bats), the Venezuelan native hit .273/.332/.460 with 25 home runs, 92 RBI and 17 stolen bases.
He finished 20th in the AL MVP voting, was named to the AL All-Star team and awarded the Silver Slugger for AL shortstops.
This deal is great for the Indians, as they will presumably have Cabrera at a discounted rate during the 2014 season, a year after he would have been eligible for free agency.
In free agency, Cabrera would likely be able to command about $12 million per season. His combination of speed and power is very rare, especially at the shortstop position.
The Indians may not have the firepower to overtake the Tigers in the AL Central this season, but the team has a nice core of young players that will eventually come together to be the class of the division.
Although they will be semi-competitive this season, it will be over the course of the next two seasons that they will really come together.
Cabrera will be a key to their success in the middle of the lineup, and the Indians will be much better off if he puts together another season like he did in 2011.
