CLEVELAND -- One by one, members of the Indians' young core have been committing long-term to Cleveland. Ask the players, and they would probably say that one extension is not more important than the next. Tribe fans might not agree.The signing they have been waiting for came down on Friday.On the morning of their home opener, the Indians announced that they have signed All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis to a six-year contract extension with a club option for a seventh year worth $52.5 million. It is the latest in a series of signings by Cleveland aimed at keeping a handful of key players under control into their first free-agent years. 
Indians general manager Chris Antonetti and Kipnis are scheduled to meet with reporters to discuss the deal prior to Friday's game at Progressive Field.The Indians discussed a long-term deal with Kipnis leading up to last season, but the sides tabled talks until this past spring. Both Kipnis and Cleveland kept any details of the negotiations close to the vest, but the second baseman made it known that he did not want to keep talking about his contract once Opening Day arrived.During the Indians' season-opening series in Oakland, Kipnis remained coy when asked if talks had ended. One day after his 27th birthday, and on the day Cleveland is scheduled to open its home slate with a matinee against the Twins, Kipnis received the gift of security.The contract covers this season, all three of the second baseman's arbitration years (2015-17) and extends through at least his first two free-agent seasons (the club option is for 2020). The deal is similarly structured to others that Cleveland has doled out to players already under contractual contract.Prior to Monday's Opening Day tilt against the A's, the Indians announced a five-year, $23-million pact with catcher Yan Gomes, who also has a pair of club options that could keep him in the fold through 2021. On Feb. 13, when the Tribe was beginning Spring Training, the club inked outfielder Michael Brantley to a four-year deal worth $25 million that includes a club option for 2018.Gomes' contract marked the largest financial sum in baseball history for a catcher in his pre-arbitration years. It surpassed the five-year, $21-million deal that Cleveland handed to Carlos Santana in April of 2012. Santana's deal also includes a club option for 2017.During their run to the American League Wild Card Game last season, the Indians found success via the sum of all their parts. That said, Kipnis is unquestionably an integral piece within the puzzle.Kipnis made his first AL All-Star team last summer and finished the year hitting .284 with 17 home runs and a team-high 84 RBIs in 149 games. In only his second full season, the second baseman added 36 doubles, four triples, 76 walks, 86runs and 30 stolen bases. Kipnis became the first Indians second baseman to lead his team outright in RBIs since Joe Gordon in 1948.Last year, he became only the sixth player to turn in a season with at least 15 homers and 30 steals, joining Grady Sizemore (2007-08), Roberto Alomar (1999-2001), Kenny Lofton (2000), Joe Carter (1987) and Bobby Bonds (1979).For his career, Kipnis has posted a .270/.349/.424 slash line with 38 home runs, 66 stolen bases and 179 RBIs in 337 games. The Indians selected Kipnis in the second round (63rd overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft as an outfielder, but he began a transition to second base in 2010.Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
Indians general manager Chris Antonetti and Kipnis are scheduled to meet with reporters to discuss the deal prior to Friday's game at Progressive Field.The Indians discussed a long-term deal with Kipnis leading up to last season, but the sides tabled talks until this past spring. Both Kipnis and Cleveland kept any details of the negotiations close to the vest, but the second baseman made it known that he did not want to keep talking about his contract once Opening Day arrived.During the Indians' season-opening series in Oakland, Kipnis remained coy when asked if talks had ended. One day after his 27th birthday, and on the day Cleveland is scheduled to open its home slate with a matinee against the Twins, Kipnis received the gift of security.The contract covers this season, all three of the second baseman's arbitration years (2015-17) and extends through at least his first two free-agent seasons (the club option is for 2020). The deal is similarly structured to others that Cleveland has doled out to players already under contractual contract.Prior to Monday's Opening Day tilt against the A's, the Indians announced a five-year, $23-million pact with catcher Yan Gomes, who also has a pair of club options that could keep him in the fold through 2021. On Feb. 13, when the Tribe was beginning Spring Training, the club inked outfielder Michael Brantley to a four-year deal worth $25 million that includes a club option for 2018.Gomes' contract marked the largest financial sum in baseball history for a catcher in his pre-arbitration years. It surpassed the five-year, $21-million deal that Cleveland handed to Carlos Santana in April of 2012. Santana's deal also includes a club option for 2017.During their run to the American League Wild Card Game last season, the Indians found success via the sum of all their parts. That said, Kipnis is unquestionably an integral piece within the puzzle.Kipnis made his first AL All-Star team last summer and finished the year hitting .284 with 17 home runs and a team-high 84 RBIs in 149 games. In only his second full season, the second baseman added 36 doubles, four triples, 76 walks, 86runs and 30 stolen bases. Kipnis became the first Indians second baseman to lead his team outright in RBIs since Joe Gordon in 1948.Last year, he became only the sixth player to turn in a season with at least 15 homers and 30 steals, joining Grady Sizemore (2007-08), Roberto Alomar (1999-2001), Kenny Lofton (2000), Joe Carter (1987) and Bobby Bonds (1979).For his career, Kipnis has posted a .270/.349/.424 slash line with 38 home runs, 66 stolen bases and 179 RBIs in 337 games. The Indians selected Kipnis in the second round (63rd overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft as an outfielder, but he began a transition to second base in 2010.Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
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