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Indians avoid arbitration

CLEVELAND — Shortstop Francisco Lindor avoided salary arbitration and agreed Friday to a $17.5 million, one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians, who have so far rejected trade offers for the four-time All-Star. Lindor received the second-largest one-year deal for a player in his second season of arbitration eligibility, only behind the $20 million Mookie Betts agreed to last year with Boston.

Lindor, 26, hit .284 with 32 home runs and 74 RBIs last season. He scored 101 runs and stole 22 bases.

The Indians also avoided arbitration with pitchers Mike Clevinger ($4.1 million) and Nick Wittgren ($1,125,000), and outfielders Tyler Naquin ($1.45 million) and Delino DeSheilds ($1,875,000).

Clevinger got a large bump in pay after making $592,200 last year. The right-hander went 13-4 with a 2.71 ERA in 21 starts. DeSheilds, who came over from Texas in a trade, batted .249 in 118 games for the Rangers last season.

Naquin agreed to a raise from $574,800. The 28-year-old batted .288 with 10 homers and 34 RBIs in 89 games before he got hurt when he collided into the outfield wall trying to make a catch. Wittgren agreed to a raise from last year’s major league salary of $564,300. He began last season at Triple-A Columbus before joining the Indians and becoming a valuable piece of their bullpen. Wittgren went 5-1 with four saves and a 2.81 ERA in 55 games.

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