The Cleveland Indians are getting closer and closer to arbitration with shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, but there are signs that the team might avoid the hearing. They haven't gone to a hearing with a player since 1991, when the team went to arbitration with Greg Swindell and Jerry Browne. There's no public date for the potential hearing with Cabrera, but it has been scheduled, at any rate.
Still, it might not come to that. Though most assumed there would be a short deal early on in the process, Cabrera has since been adamant that he wants something long term, and that he wants to remain with the Tribe. Cabrera has been in town for the past few days and the sides have been meeting to discuss the contract. Cleveland has not ruled out a long-term deal, with general manager Chris Antonetti previously saying that they were open-minded.
Nick Camino of WTAM 1100 took to Twitter with three separate tweets (here, here and here) about the situation, but the gist is that the Indians have a multi-year deal on the table:
Source:
#Indians have a multiyear deal on the table for SS Asdrubal Cabrera. Things could change (i.e. one-year deal)...sides negotiating.
That's a sign that there's progress, at least - the Indians are not only entertaining the idea of a multi-year deal, they've got one on the table. Another tweet says that there's not much change of a deal being reached on Friday, but that there is one on the table, so arbitration could still be avoided at this point.
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