Indians Sign Carmona to Historic Long-Term Deal

[NYgiantsfan5689]

The Cleveland Indians have signed Fausto Carmona to a long term deal. 4 years and $15 million are guaranteed, and the deal also includes 3 club options after that, giving the deal 7 year potential. The whole 7-year deal has the potential to be (with incentives) $48 million.

The contract is historic because Carmona becomes the highest paid pre-arbitration starting pitcher and the highest guaranteed paid starting pitcher with only one previous full year of experience.

Carmona has been in the Indians organization since 2000, when he was signed to their Dominican Republic academy.

mlb.com story

[love_that_reefer]

I would have held off on this one. One good year doesn't tell you a lot.

[BronxBomberz]

Carmona is a great pitcher.

[love_that_reefer]

He's good but not great. Carmona has had one good year. two years ago he was 1-10. I trust the Indians front office as they are one pf the best in the game but this I would have given it one more year. Especially with Sabathia's possible free agency.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

and considering Carmona hadn't even reached arby yet

[Pronk48]

I'm on the fence about this.

For one, it's not like he was going to be a free agent after next year. They could have waited to offer a deal like this, at least until he got to arbitration.

On the other hand, it shows the Indians are commited to being a winning orginization. Maybe showing that commitment will help resign Sabathia.

However, I don't think giving him this record deal is a mistake. By the end of this contract, he may have a few Cy Young awards on the mantle of his fireplace.

[Saber]

Good is worth a lot. Remember, mediocre gets you 10 million a year on the free market.

[browntown653]

So wait a minute, the Indians are giving Carmona a long term deal, but their ace who's going to be a FA doesn't have an extension? Anyone else think this is crazy?

[NYgiantsfan5689]

It probably has something to do with the players' desires as well. Maybe Sabathia wants to test the free agent market or he wants to wait until the end of the season to talk extension. It does seem a bit far'fetched, but there might be a reason. However, I do agree that if I were the Indians' GM, my first priority would definatly be Sabathia and not Carmona.

[love_that_reefer]

Good is worth a lot. Remember, mediocre gets you 10 million a year on the free market.

i don't think I have ever read truer words.

[Pronk48]

So wait a minute, the Indians are giving Carmona a long term deal, but their ace who's going to be a FA doesn't have an extension? Anyone else think this is crazy?

Sabathia has tabled contract talks with the Indians until after the season. He did this just before the start of spring training.

I think he wants to test the FA waters and see what other teams will be offering, and then compare that to what the Indians are offering. Will he give the Indians a discount? He possibly could, but I think he'd want to get as much out of them as possible, and the only way to do that is to have other teams offer him contracts.