Cleveland Indians Contractual Obligations Going into 2017

Before things get too crazy this off-season as the Indians spend their play-off winnings to improve the team further and sign everyone to ten year extensions, it’s time to get a look at how things currently stand. The chart below shows each player currently on the 40 man roster and under team control through at least 2017. Light blue means the amount is guaranteed, dark blue is an option year and the total the team owes if they use the option, dark red is prearbitration and light red is an arbitration season. Actual arbitration seasons for those not yet in arbitration could vary from these expectations.

Options & Buyouts:

• Crisp’s 2017 option was a vesting one, but he did not reach the required number of games or at bats. The Indians could still use it or pay him the $750K buyout.
• The Indians have exercised Santana’s option for the final year of his contract originally signed in 2012.
• Tomlin’s buy out for his 2018 option is almost as much as his salary would be otherwise at $1.2M to not play compared to $3M should he remain on the team.
• The Indians hold a $750K buy out for Brantley’s 2018 option.
• Carrasco has two option seasons, 2019 and 2020 and the Indians have a $662.5K buy out for the first season.
• Kipnis has a $2.5M buyout for his 2020 option.
• The buyouts for both of Kluber and Gomes’ two option seasons have been set at $1M

Notes:

• With some integral players nearing free agency, particularly Shaw and Santana after 2017 and Allen after 2018, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Indians try to sign multiple players to extensions this off-season.
• Other players who are not nearing free agency that the Indians could try to lock up are Salazar and Bauer, who are looking at significant raises in their first years of arbitration with Super 2 status.
• Chris Johnson’s full salary will finally come off the books after the 2017 season, although he will still need to be paid his $1M buyout in 2018. He is the final evidence on the roster of the Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn signings.
• While options aren’t denoted above, it’s important to note that Aguilar, Gonzalez and Adams among others will be out of options and thus would have to be on the 25 man roster next season or be exposed to waivers. Most likely, some of these players will be released prior to the Rule 5 draft.

Starting Rotation

Prior to the 2016 season, Salvador Perez was able to renegotiate his salary with Kansas City as he signed a long term contract before he became a household name. While this would hurt the Indians, it’s hard to see their already under contract starting staff not wanting to use this as an example to get their due. Despite Kluber’s incredible career success and Carrasco’s recent good years, the highest paid pitcher for the Indians is Miller at $9M in 2017. Tomlin was the pitcher in 2016 who most outproduced his salary and he could do the same in 2017 easily. At the same time, having Kluber under contract under $10M and Carrasco at less than $10M through 2020 is straight thievery.

The fact is, the players signed these contracts and the Indians took risks with many players in giving them so many guaranteed seasons when they could have just went through the arbitration process, but it doesn’t mean they’ll be happy with their paltry salaries compared to the rest of the league.

Injury Risks

In the notes section, one upcoming free agent that was not discussed as an extension candidate was Brantley (after 2018) and that is because of his recent injury problems. Rarely do these things come up at a convenient time, but for the team this was the perfect time in his contract for him to get hurt. Obviously it would have been preferable had he just stayed healthy, but with a year and an option left, it gives Brantley the chance to get a healthy season in before the Indians have to decide on his $11M option for 2018. Other than Crisp’s (and possibly Gomes’ down the line), this option for Brantley is the only one in question for the Indians as they should feel pretty comfortable if they activated the rest right now. If he returns to anything near his former self in 2017, the option is an easy yes and an extension could be discussed, but having that extra year gives the Indians time to make that decision.