Westbrook prefers new deal ASAP

Print Story

Email to Friend

Discuss this story

He's due to make $6.1 million this year, then get a substantial raise.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — Jake Westbrook has helped bring consistency to the Indians' rotation over the last several years.

That reliability also has put the right-hander in a powerful position.

The 29-year-old could be eligible for free agency after the World Series — unless the Indians sign him to a new contract by then. Westbrook figures sooner would be better.

"I'm comfortable here, definitely," Westbrook said. "I'd like something to get done so that I don't have to talk about it every day."

His agent, Michael Maas, had not started talks with the Indians, Westbrook said.

That could change after general manager Mark Shapiro signed the final four members of the team's 40-man roster Friday. Second baseman Josh Barfield and pitchers Fausto Carmona, Tom Mastny and Rafael Perez all received one-year contracts.

Patience is a virtue

Westbrook may feel at home in Cleveland as he enters his seventh season there, but he realizes being patient and waiting could pay off in a lucrative multiyear deal.

Reliable starting pitchers are worth much more on the open market than the $6.1 million he'll get in 2007 in the final season of a three-year contract.

Gil Meche, with a career 55-44 record and 4.65 ERA, got a five-year $55 million contract from Kansas City this winter. Ted Lilly, 59-48 with a 4.60 career ERA, received $40 million for four years from the Chicago Cubs.

"It feels good to be in the situation I'm in," said Westbrook, 56-53 with a 4.35 ERA in his career, including 44-34 with a 4.01 ERA and one All-Star trip since 2004. He and teammate Cliff Lee, along with 2006 Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana of Minnesota and Detroit veteran Kenny Rogers are the only AL pitchers with at least 14 wins in each of the last three seasons.

"Jake is just so reliable," manager Eric Wedge said.

Get it done now, or wait

For now, Westbrook isn't fretting over his contract status, but is weary of answering questions about it.

"If it doesn't happen during spring training, then I don't want to address it and would prefer just concentrating on the season," he said.

Whether Westbrook's asking price will be too high for the financially conscious Indians will be seen. The team must consider the impact any deal will have on future negotiations, especially with the contracts of No. 1 starter C.C. Sabathia and slugger Travis Hafner expiring after the 2008 season.

"It's a business and I hope things work out," Westbrook said.

Saturday, March 3, 2007