Cleveland Indians: 3 players the Tribe must ink to long-term deals this offseason

3 players the Cleveland Indians must ink to long-term deals this offseason

The Cleveland Indians are notoriously one of the most frugal teams in baseball. Yet, somehow, they haven’t had a losing season since 2012. That’s in large part to trading away talent before contracts expire to keep the farm system circulating top talent to the majors. But what if, just hear me out, the club signed a few players long-term?

It’s a wild concept, I know, but teams around baseball have been doing it for years. Now, the Cleveland Indians might be able to also. It might take some convincing, but if ownership can agree to sign a few players now, they could end up saving money in the long run while keeping players in town rather than trading them.

Sarcasm aside, this is a trend that is becoming more popular throughout the league. Instead of using every year of a player’s arbitration, teams are jumping the gun and signing lengthy extensions. The team has to pay a bit more now, but when it’s all said and done the team will surely save money.

The Atlanta Braves did this recently with both Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies. Both were budding stars so instead of paying them the league minimum for a couple seasons and then going through arbitration, they just signed them long term.

Now, Acuna is signed on through at least the 2026 season, making between $15-17 million a year, a bargain for one of the best players in the game. As for Albies, he’s inked through at least 2025 on a deal worth $3-7 million a year. Again, a huge bargain.

Even the San Diego Padres did something similar with Fernando Tatis Jr. It cost them a bit more, though, as players are catching on. Still, the Padres signed Tatis through the 2034 season with his salary ranging anywhere from $5.7 million in 2022 to $36.7 in 2034 when he’s 35-years old.

Now, a contract of that length isn’t always necessary, but paying up early can, well, pay off. The Tribe did it with Jose Ramirez and they should be inclined to do it again this offseason with these three players.

Cleveland Indians, SP, Shane Bieber

For the first time in his career, Shane Bieber will enter the arbitration process for the Cleveland Indians this offseason. While his injury this season will bring his price down a bit, the Tribe are surely going to have to pay up for the defending American League Cy Young.

Playing on rookie deals, Bieber has cost the Tribe a combined total of less than $2.15 million since entering the majors, and that includes his signing bonus. He’s signed on for just $623,200 this year, but once arbitration kicks in, that price will jump each year from now until the 2025 offseason when he becomes a free agent, assuming he continues to play at this level. That is, however, if he doesn’t sign long-term.

It will cost the Tribe a bit more now, but signing Bieber long before he hits free agency could be a key move. He’s still only 26-years old, so signing him to a six-year deal could be more than worth it. For Bieber, he makes more money now while still being more than capable of being a top pitcher, in his early-to-mid 30s, when entering free agency. For the Tribe, they get to keep Bieber for an extra three years or so on what will eventually be a bargain deal.

The barrier will be convincing the front office to do it. It would likely cost in the range of $8 million more in Bieber’s salary in the short-term, but the sustained security could be more than worth it.

Cleveland Indians, DH, Franmil Reyes

Like Bieber, Franmil Reyes will enter the arbitration process for the first time this upcoming offseason. Currently making just $602,400, Reyes is going to likely see his salary at least triple for the 2022 season and continue increasing from there, especially if he continues to tap into his potential.

Reyes has been one of the Tribe’s best hitters this season, slashing .275/.330/.578 with 12 doubles and 20 home runs. If those stats continue, he will quickly outprice himself in Cleveland before he becomes a free agent after the 2024 season. However, the club could of course extend him now.

Being a power hitter, there’s a higher likelihood that Reyes can sustain his production over a longer period of time. That means that signing him to an eight-year deal could be more than worth it. Eight years means that Reyes would become a free agent after his age 34 season. To put that into perspective a bit, Nelson Cruz is 41-years old and still swinging the lumber with the best of them.

This would allow Reyes time to have another big contact after Cleveland and the Tribe could get him on a bargain deal through his prime. Reyes has already shown signs of what is to come in his career, increasing his average while maintaining his power. Again, it might cost a bit more now, but will save the organization money in the long run while retaining the offensive’s best weapon far longer than currently anticipated.