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On the same day the Cleveland Indians exercised an option on pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, the club also declined to pick up the contracts of both Travis Hafner and Roberto Hernandez (Fausto Carmona), as reported by Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.
Faced with a possible $13 million price tag for Hafner, a 35-year-old designated hitter who hit just .228 this past season, the Indians made the move to take his contract off their books for a $2.75 million buyout fee. Hafner has played more than 100 games in a season just one time since 2007 and is no longer the elite power threat from the left side of the plate like he was in his prime.
Hernandez, who had his reputation tarnished significantly after his false identity of Fausto Carmona was exposed, immediately had his contract option re-negotiated with the Indians soon after his legal issues became public. Although Hernandez carries a $6 million option for next season, the Indians were clearly not impressed with his three-game stint in 2012 and opted to let him test out free agency.