Indians, Corey Kluber agree to five-year, $38.5 million extension

The Indians and right-hander Corey Kluber have agreed to a long-term contract extension that will keep Kluber under team control through the 2021 season, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com and Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.. The deal comes with a $38.5 million guarantee over the first five seasons, with two club options for 2020 and 2021 along with escalators and incentives that could raise the total value to $77 million over seven seasons. It is the largest guarantee ever for a pre-arbitration pitcher, according to Rosenthal.

Kluber, who turns 29 next week, won the AL Cy Young award after a breakout season for Cleveland in which he won eighteen games and posted a 2.44 ERA in 34 starts. He was not slated to become a free agent until after the 2018 season, though his new deal will give the Indians three more

In four seasons with the Indians, Kluber has posted a lifetime 31-19 record and 3.34 ERA in 75 appearances (70 starts), with drastic improvement coming in every season since he broke into the majors in 2011. He was originally acquired from the Padres as part of a three-team deal that sent Ryan Ludwick to San Diego in 2010.

In addition to Kluber, the Indians came to terms with with righty Carlos Carrasco on a three-year extension on Sunday, ensuring that two of their top starters will be under control for the long-term.