Indians, Perez avoid arbitration
The Associated PressThe Cleveland Indians kept their arbitration streak intact by coming to terms with reliever Rafael Perez on a $795,000 deal.
The club was scheduled to exchange salary figures Tuesday with Perez, the only player on Cleveland's roster eligible for arbitration. The Indians have not gone to arbitration since 1991.
Perez, who can earn another $25,000 with an All-Star appearance, was a major disappointment last season. The left-hander went 4-3 with a 7.31 ERA in 48 innings with Cleveland and was twice sent down to the minor leagues.
The Indians are counting on him to regain the form that made him one of the AL's premier setup men. In 2008, he was Cleveland's most reliable reliever and in 2007 he had a 1.78 ERA in 44 appearances.
(This version CORRECTS the contract terms in lead and headline)