Indians sign Roberto Perez to 4-year extension

The Indians have locked up catcher Roberto Perez on a four-year, $9 million extension, per MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. The deal includes a $5.5 million option for 2021 and a $7 million option for 2022, with the deal maxing out at $20.6 million over six seasons.

Perez is the second Indian to receive a long-term deal this week, joining Jose Ramirez. The catcher is locked up for a timeframe similar to starter Yan Gomes, whose extension includes options for 2020 and 2021.

Perez, 28, hit .183/.285/.294 with three homers for the AL Champions last season, his third in the majors. He is a career .220/.318/.318 hitter with 11 homers in three seasons, but is better valued as a plus defensive catcher who ranks among the best in the game at pitch framing.

Cleveland now moves forward with a core of Gomes and Perez behind the plate and prospect Francisco Mejia also serving as a future option. The Tribe made an attempt to acquire Jonathan Lucroy at last year’s trade deadline, but that swap fell through when Lucroy exercised his no-trade clause and he was eventually sent to the Rangers.