From 2005 through 2008, Grady Sizemore was the best player the Cleveland Indians had and one of the best players in the American League; over those four seasons he averaged an .868 OPS (.281/.372/.496), hit 107 home runs, received MVP votes all four years, played Gold Glove center field, and helped Cleveland to a postseason berth in 2007.
Indians Try It Again With Grady Sizemore
Then the injuries hit. Sizemore has averaged only 70 games played over the last three seasons and has hit .234/.314/.413 over that span with a total of 28 home runs after averaging 27 dingers for the four years prior to that.
That led the Indians to decline the $8.5 million 2012 option on Sizemore’s contract and pay him a $500,000 buyout last month. At 29, if healthy, Sizemore could still have some productive seasons. And so, the Indians are taking a chance that he’ll rebound in 2012:
@Buster_ESPN
Buster Olney Grady Sizemore gets a $5 million base salary, plus $4 m. in incentives, to re-sign with the Indians.
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If healthy and productive, and if he meets the incentives, Sizemore will make more than the original option promised him. If he doesn’t, he becomes a free agent again at the end of 2012 and the Indians will likely cut ties at that time. According to beat writer Jordan Bastian, the incentives begin to kick in at 450 plate appearances, and Jon Morosi tweets that Sizemore would get an additional $500,000 if he wins the Comeback Player of the Year award.
The Tribe had a lot invested in him for many years, and it appears Cleveland management is willing to take a chance that they’ll be getting the 2007 version of Sizemore instead of the 2011 version. Only time will tell if this will pay off.
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