Tribe avoids arbitration with Lindor, not Bauer

Tribe avoids arbitration with Lindor, not Bauer

January 12th, 2019
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 05: Francisco Lindor #12 congratulates Trevor Bauer #47 of the Cleveland Indians as he is taken out of the game during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees during game one of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 5, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)Jason Miller/Getty Images

CLEVELAND -- It looks like Mr. Smile has yet another reason to flash his pearly whites.
MLB.com confirmed Friday evening that the Indians were able to come to terms with shortstop to avoid arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $10.55 million contract.
The three-time All Star slashed .277/.352/.519 last season with 42 doubles, 38 homers and 92 RBIs. Lindor had a 131 OPS+ and ranked fifth in WAR (7.6) among qualified position players, according to FanGraphs.
Starting pitcher and the club were unable to reach an agreement, leaving the possibility for an arbitration hearing between the two for the second consecutive year.
Last year, Bauer won his case, receiving a salary of $6.525 million. It was just the third time since 1991 that the Indians required a hearing to determine a player's salary. It is unknown whether the club will take a file-and-trial approach this season, as it did in 2018.
The soon-to-be 28-year-old is coming off a career year, posting a 2.21 ERA in 28 appearances (27 starts). Bauer logged a 1.089 WHIP and fanned 11.3 batters per nine frames. He is currently projected to make $11.6 million in 2019, per MLB Trade Rumors.