/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/31130191/20130928_mbr_ai9_181.0.jpg)
The Cleveland Indians have agreed to sign second baseman Jason Kipnis to a six-year, $52.5 million extension that includes a $16.5 million club option for 2020, as first reported by Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.MLB.com's Jordan Bastian has a complete breakdown of the deal:
Kipnis breakdown: $1M signing bonus, $2M '14, $4M '15, $6M '16, $9M '17, $13.5 '18, $14.5 '19. 2020 club option: $16.5M or $2.5M buyout.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) April 4, 2014
Kipnis, who turned 27 yesterday, is the third Indian to receive a long-term extension in the last few months, joining outfielder Michael Brantley (four years, $25 million) and catcher Yan Gomes (six years, $23 million). Kipnis' deal covers all three of his arbitration years along with two (potentially three with the team option) free agent years, guaranteeing to keep him in Cleveland through his age-32 season.
Kipnis has been working on an extension with the Indians since the beginning of spring training, and has been the team's main focus since talks about a long-term deal with Justin Masterson fell apart in mid-March. Kipnis' deal could reach $69 million in total value over seven seasons, and is comparable to Matt Carpenter's six-year, $52 million deal with the Cardinals that could reach $70.5 million in total value.
Kipnis was named to his first AL All-Star team last season en route to hitting .284 with 17 HR and 84 RBI in 149 games last season. In 340 games over a four-year major league career, he is a lifetime .270 hitter with 38 HR and 179 RBI.