Indians, catcher Yan Gomes agree to long-term contract

CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed C YAN GOMES to a six-year contract extension thru the 2019 season with club options for 2020 and 2021.

Gomes, 26, established himself as the club's everyday catcher in the second half of 2013, hitting .294 (86-293) with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 11 home runs and 38 RBI in 88 games. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native also had a large impact behind the plate, as the club went 49-30 (.620) over his 79 starts at catcher while Indians pitchers recorded an ERA of 3.56 (281ER/710.0IP) when Yan was catching. He also threw out an AL-high 38.3% (18-of-47) of the runners attempting to steal while registering a .996 fielding percentage.

Yan was acquired from Toronto along with INF Mike Aviles on November 2, 2012 from the Toronto Blue Jays after beginning his professional career with the Jays in 2009. He made history with Toronto in May of 2012, becoming the first Brazilian-born player in Major League Baseball history.