Guardians sign Trevor Stephan to long-term contract extension
The Guardians have locked another reliever into a long-term deal.
The club and right-hander Trevor Stephan have agreed to a four-year contract extension that includes two club option years, according to multiple reports, including cleveland.com and the New York Post.
Financial details of the extension have not yet been released, and the team has not yet confirmed the deal.
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Stephan joins closer Emmanuel Clase as relievers signed to long-term extensions dating back to last spring. Prior to Opening Day in 2022, Clase was signed to a five-year, $20 million extension that also included two club options.
The Guardians have also reportedly agreed to terms with second baseman Andres Gimenez on a seven-year, $106.5 million extension that includes one club option year.
Once official, Gimenez and Stephan would join Clase, third baseman Jose Ramirez and center fielder Myles Straw as Guardians players locked into extensions that potentially reach at least the 2028 season with the club options.
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Stephan had a breakout 2022 season in which he posted a 2.69 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings while often handling high-leverage situations ahead of Clase. Stephan proved to be a key part to a Guardians bullpen that finished the 2022 season as one of baseball’s best, as they ranked fifth in ERA (3.05), third in WHIP (1.11), fifth in FIP (3.39) and fourth in fWAR (6.6).
The Guardians open the 2023 season Thursday night in Seattle against the Mariners.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.
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