Indians, Sizemore close to 1 year deal

[elcheato]

The Cleveland Indians and outfielder Grady Sizemore are on the verge of agreeing on a one-year deal, sources told ESPN.com's Buster Olney.

The Indians declined a $9 million option and allowed Sizemore to become a free agent less than three weeks ago.

Sizemore, 29, has generated interest from at least eight teams and appeared ready to let the market play out over the coming weeks. But the Indians moved to the front of the line Friday.

"The Indians came at us with an aggressive offer,'' agent Joe Urbon told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. "Grady has always maintained that he would be interested in returning to Cleveland.''

Sizemore, who began his career with Montreal in 2000, came to Cleveland with Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips in 2004 as part of a six-player trade that sent Bartolo Colon to the Expos. He emerged as a star at age 22 and made three straight All-Star teams from 2006 through 2008, but in recent years he's had trouble staying on the field because of injuries.

Sizemore hit .224 with 10 homers in 71 games this year, and the Indians recently declined his 2012 option and paid him a $500,000 buyout.

Since becoming a free agent, Sizemore has generated interest from the Philadelphia Phillies, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees -- teams that viewed him as an intriguing bounce-back candidate on a one-year deal. Those clubs either called Urbon to express interest in Sizemore or asked to check out his medical records as a prelude to contract talks.

Uhhh, didn't really care that he was gonna leave, but I guess it's alright on a one year deal. Probably weren't many better options on the market.

 

[RipCity32]

Certainly a nice deal. No point not giving him a 1 year deal.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Well it sounds like other teams were interested but he pulled away from them. I get the feeling a lot of teams were looking at him as a 1-year deal, but probably more in the $4-5M range and less incentives.

Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer says the one-year deal would include a low base salary and incentives that could push the total value to $9MM, the same amount as the option the Indians declined after the season. Hoynes also mentions that the two sides discussed a deal like this before the option decision was made.

Noone doubts his talent, it's just staying healthy. If he can put together a healthy 2012 he'll probably draw a 3 year deal next offseason.

 

[playmaker7]

Good thing its not long term

I see him leaving soon though.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

[font="Arial]Grady Sizemore gets a $5 million base salary, plus $4 m. in incentives, to re-sign with the Indians. 1 yr deal[/font][/color]
[color="#444444"][font="Arial]
[/font][/color][color="#444444"][font="Arial]Can't give up on Grady, he just needs to overcome them injuries and he'll be fine. [/font]