CLEVELAND (AP) -- AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians have agreed to a five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The deal includes two club options, the person said Saturday night. Kluber's deal is contingent upon him passing medical tests, which should be concluded within the next few days, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Indians do not comment during contract talks.
Kluber went 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA for Cleveland last season, his first full year in the majors. He's scheduled to pitch Monday's season opener at Houston, and it's possible the Indians will wait until later in the week to announce the deal.
The club signed second baseman Jason Kipnis to a six-year, $52 million deal last season hours before the home opener. Cleveland opens redesigned Progressive Field on Friday against AL Central rival Detroit.
Kluber signed a one-year deal worth $601,000 last month as talks initially failed to produce a long-term deal. However, his agent, B.B. Abbott, continued to have discussions with the club and the sides were able to reach a deal on the Indians' last day of spring training.
Kluber will turn 29 on April 10, and general manager Chris Antonetti made it clear during camp that the club was interested in investing in him for the future.
The team would also like to lock up No. 2 starter Carlos Carrasco, who was one of the AL's top pitchers in the second half last season.
