CLEVELAND (AP) The Cleveland Indians made a $17.4 million qualifying offer to free agent first baseman Carlos Santana on Monday.
One of six Cleveland players eligible for free agency, Santana has 10 days to accept or reject the club’s offer. If Santana takes it, he will make $17.4 million next season. If he turns down the offer and decides to sign elsewhere, the Indians will receive draft compensation.
Santana has played his entire big league career with the Indians, who acquired him in a 2009 trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 31-year-old Santana has developed into a consistent run producer, and after catching and playing third, he has become one of the league’s best fielding first basemen. He’s a Gold Glove finalist this year.
The switching-hitting Santana batted .259 with 23 homers and 79 RBIs last season for the AL Central champions. He has a career .249 average with 174 home runs in eight seasons for Cleveland.
The Indians also declined their $7 million option on reliever Boone Logan, who will receive a $1 million buyout.
Logan pitched in 38 games before a strained back muscle ended his season in July. The Indians signed him in February to a one-year deal with a $5.5 million salary for 2017, giving them a second left-hander to complement All-Star Andrew Miller.
The 33-year-old Logan, however, was unable to make it through the entire season. He decided not to have surgery after he was hurt, but it was unlikely he would’ve pitched again in 2017 even if he’d had surgery.
He finished 1-0 with a 4.71 ERA. Logan struck out 28 in 21 innings.
Logan previously pitched for Colorado, the New York Yankees, Atlanta and the Chicago White Sox.
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