GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Corey Kluber’s big season hasn’t been followed by a big contract. Not yet.
The AL Cy Young Award winner agreed to a one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians, who may still sign the steady right-hander to a long-term deal.
Kluber gets paid at a salary of $601,000 while in the major leagues and $308,400 while in the minors, up from $514,000 and $277,300 last year. Kluber was the last Cleveland player on the 40-man roster to agree to terms.
Kluber vaulted from the middle of Cleveland’s rotation to become the league’s top pitcher last season, going 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA and 269 strikeouts.
The Indians have expressed interest in signing Kluber, who will turn 29 on April 10, to a longer deal and have had preliminary talks with his representatives. The team has Kluber under contractual control through 2018.
Kluber was acquired in a three-team trade from San Diego in 2010. He’s 31-19 since joining Cleveland.
Last season, Kluber joined Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson as the only pitchers since 1987 to record at least 18 wins, an ERA under 2.50 and 260 strikeouts.
