Asdrubal Cabrera

CBSSports.com Insider Jon Heyman reports that the Indians have agreed to terms with shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera on a two-year contract extension that will run through 2014. FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi places the value of the deal at $16.5 million. Cabrera is under contract for 2012 at a cost of $4.55 million. In essence, the new contract buys out his final year of arbitration and first year of free agency.

While Cabrera doesn't grade out especially well with the glove, he's very much an asset offensively, particularly by shortstop standards. In 2011, the switch-hitting Cabrera enjoyed a breakout campaign in terms of power, as he totaled 25 home runs and slugged .460. In large part, he accomplished that spike by significantly upping his fly-ball percentage and also increasing his HR/fly ball rate.

If Cabrera's newfound power levels are sustainable (the increased fly-ball percentage is a good sign, but HR/FB rate is prone to fluctuation), then the Indians are going to get quite a bargain over the next three seasons. To put a finer point on it, consider that Cabrera in 2011 was, in hypothetical dollar terms, worth roughly $16.4 million, which, you might have noticed, is about what he'll be paid for 2013 and 2014 combined. So Cabrera could regress quite a bit and still be worth what he's being paid by a comfortable margin. Cleveland, though, is hoping that 2011 was a sign of things to come for the 26-year-old.