The Cleveland Indians busy off season is underway with the team picking up the club option of starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco. The Indians declined the club option on outfielder Brandon Guyer.
We have made the following moves today:
– Exercised the 2019 club option on RHP Carlos Carrasco
– Declined the 2019 club option on OF Brandon Guyer pic.twitter.com/YODLPugviu— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) October 30, 2018
Carrasco is part of a starting pitching staff that had four starters tally 200 innings pitched and recorded 200 strike outs. The option for 2019 is worth $9.75 million. Cleveland has another club option on Carrasco for the 2020 season.
The Indians have picked up the 2019 option for Carlos Carrasco worth $9.75 million (they possess another club option for Carrasco for 2020). They've declined to exercise Brandon Guyer's $3 million option. They will be responsible for the $250k buyout.
— T.J. Zuppe (@TJZuppe) October 30, 2018
The guy nicknamed cookie went 17-10 with a 3.38 earned run average in 2018 for the American League Central Division Champions. Carrasco struck out 231 batters.
“We believe Carlos has established himself as one of the top starters in the American League,” Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “We’re obviously elated to continue his time with the team and the organization. We expect him to make a big impact on our team in the next few seasons.”
Injuries led to the Indians decision to decline the 2019 club option on Guyer. The veteran outfielder hit .206 with seven homers and 27 runs batted in. Guyer is now a free agent and will receiver a $250,000 buyout. There is a chance Guyer could return under a new deal.
“With Brandon it was a very difficult decision for us to make,” said Antonetti. “We had to assess where we are in the off season. Making a decision now to allocate those payroll dollars, we thought it would be best to decline the option, leaving the door open to bring Brandon back under potentially different terms.”
The Indians have eleven players who are now free agents. Cody Allen, Lonnie Chisenhall, Melky Cabrera, Guyer, Andrew Miller, Oliver Perez, Adam Rosales, Michael Brantley, Rajai Davis, Josh Donaldson and Josh Tomlin.
Extending qualifying offers to the other ten free agents have to be made by Saturday. The free agents then have ten days to accept or decline the offer.
Scott Piker is the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage.com. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport
