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08/08/2006 10:59 AM ET
Indians sign left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee to a multi-year contract
More than $103 million now committed to core of team; The 27-year-old lefty finished fourth in 2005 AL Cy Young voting
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CLEVELAND -- The Indians today announced the club has signed LHP CLIFF LEE to a three-year contract extension through the 2009 season with a club option for the 2010 campaign.
Lee owns a career Major League record of 44-25 with a 4.47 ERA in 99 career starts (582.0IP, 589H, 289ER, 202BB, 445K) with the Indians since being acquired from the Montreal Expos in June of 2002. His .638 winning percentage (44-25) currently ranks 12th among active Major League pitchers with at least 40 career wins. In 2005 finished tied for second and led all American League left-handers in wins after going 18-5 with a 3.79 ERA in 32 starts, becoming the first Indian since Bob Feller in 1951 to lead the AL in winning percentage. His fourth place finish in the AL Cy Young Award voting was the highest by an Indian since 1999.
So far this season Cliff has gone 9-8 with a 4.75 ERA in a team-high 23 starts (138.1IP, 160H, 73ER, 41BB, 91K). He went 4-0 with a 3.09 ERA in June (35.0IP, 31H, 12ER, 9BB, 20K) and has won six of his last nine decisions since the beginning of June. The contract also includes an annual donation to Cleveland Indians Charities.
"This signing is a continued demonstration of the Dolan family's commitment in maintaining the present core of Cleveland Indians players," said Cleveland Indians Executive Vice President & General Manager MARK SHAPIRO. "Cliff's willingness and concern to complete a new contract demonstrates his desire to be a part of that core. These resulting partnerships will best allow us to grow the team around our core."
Since April of 2005 the Indians have signed DH TRAVIS HAFNER, LHP CC SABATHIA, CA VICTOR MARTINEZ, OF GRADY SIZEMORE, INF JHONNY PERALTA and LEE to long-term contracts totaling more than $103 million dollars in guaranteed player salaries.
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