CLEVELAND – Eddie Rosario has gone from hammering to helping the Indians.
The free camper, who has spent the past six seasons with the Minnesota twins, agreed to a $ 8 million one-year deal with the Cleveland Indians on Friday, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday.
According to sources, Rosario’s contract is pending the completion of a physical document.
The Indians know Rosario, 29, well. He has been an enemy with rival AL Central Twins, getting more career homers (22 in 93 games) against Cleveland than any other team. He hit 11 of those homers at Progressive Field, his highest at any road dance stadium.
Earlier Friday, the Indians ended a one-year, $ 5 million contract with free agent baseman Cesar Hernandez, who was a solid free agent pickup in 2020 when he won his first free agent glove. ‘or.
Rosario is a great addition to the Cleveland field, which has been a problem for the past two seasons as the team has used a group of players.
After the Indians sent Francisco Lindor and incumbent Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets earlier this month and cut more than $ 30 million from his payroll, Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations at the New York Mets team, tried to calm some outraged Cleveland fans by pledging to put money back on the list.
He has done so by reclaiming Hernandez and acquiring Rosario, who will provide the pop needed for manager Terry Francona’s training following the losses of Lindor and Carlos Santana.
Rosario had his best season in 2019, when he reached career highs with 32 homers and 109 runs in 137 games. During the 2020 season the COVID-19, which he shortened, hit .257 with 13 homers and drove in 42 runs in 57 games.
Rosario, who was eligible for his third and final year of refereeing, became a free agent a season before the Twins refused to offer him a contract for 2021. Left-footed, he has an average career of .277 with 119 home runs and 388 RBI.
Hernandez’s deal with the Indians includes a $ 6 million club option in 2022 with no purchases.
Hernandez, 30, was an invaluable addition last season. He led the AL with 20 doubles and helped the Indians get a wild card spot. He hit .283 with three homers, 20 RBI and 35 RBIs in 58 games.
Cleveland acquired midfielders Amed Rosario and Andres Giménez from the Mets in the Lindor trade on Jan. 7, a four-time All-Star entering its final year under contract and had turned down numerous long-term offers.
MLB Network first reported on the Rosario deal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.