The Indians signed shortstop Jhonny Peralta to a 5 year deal worth a reported $13M today, which will keep him in Cleveland through the 2010 season. The deal also includes an option for a 6th year in 2011.
Barring a trade, the deal guarantees Peralta will be in an Indians uniform for several more seasons at a fixed cost, and will carry him through his arbitration years. If the Indians pick up the option in 2011, it will carry him through his first free agent year.
Reports also have been made in the last 24 hours that the Indians are in active talks for multi-year deals with the agents for Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee. It is highly likely long-term deals for Sizemore and Lee will be announced sometime between now and the start of the season.
The Indians plan of developing and keeping a core of young players is starting to take shape, and as promised, Indians owner Larry Dolan is anteing up. The signing of Peralta to a multi-year deal, along with the potential signings of Sizemore and Lee, comes almost exactly a year after the Indians signed Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner and CC Sabathia to long-term deals last April.