OAKLAND, Calif. Kris Versteeg Authentic Jersey . -- Catcher Yan Gomes finds no issues in making a long-term commitment to the Cleveland Indians. He is confident the franchises strides in a turnaround 2013 season will carry over to future success starting this season. Gomes and the Indians completed a $23 million, six-year contract Monday after his breakout performance last season. "It goes into what it means to be in this organization. Youve got younger guys like ourselves just wanting to be here," Gomes said. "Were potentially signing a big amount of our careers. Theres not another place I would want to be with, especially from the top to the bottom here. Its the organization you want to be with." That feeling is mutual, even if Gomes provided a small sample size of the impact he can make behind the plate and with the bat. Assistant general manager Mike Chernoff and others in the front office are impressed with Gomes constant work to better learn Clevelands pitchers so they all find a comfort zone together. Gomes deal includes club options for 2020 and 21 that could bring the total to $42 million over eight years -- or even $48 million with escalators. "This is the organization I want to be with, that actually made it pretty easy," Gomes said before the scheduled opener in rain-soaked Oakland. "Im so thankful for that. My wife and I are excited to be Cleveland Indians for a while now. ... We got a little taste of the post-season last year. Thats what we play for." Gomes hit .294 with 11 homers and 38 RBIs in 88 games last season, his first with the Indians. The Indians went 49-30 when Gomes started, and manager Terry Francona went with Gomes during crucial games down the September stretch. "Its kind of been the motto of my career -- Ive always had to battle. Its not going to stop," Gomes said. "This is a huge blessing getting a contract like this, but now were talking about taking this team to another level." His new deal supersedes a previous one-year contract for 2014. The deal replaces a contract he agreed to in early March calling for a $513,000 salary in the majors and $281,000 in the minors. Gomes receives a $500,000 signing bonus, payable within 30 days of the contracts approval, and salaries of $550,000 salary this year, $1 million in 2015, $2.5 million in 2016, $4.5 million in 2017, $5.95 million in 2018 and $7 million in 2019. Cleveland has a $9 million option for 2020 with a $1 million buyout, and if that is exercised the Indians would have an $11 million option for 2021. The options may escalate by up to $3 million each based on MVP voting, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, and All-Star appearances. "Hes shown us that hes worth this contract," Francona said. "We have that much faith in him, and thats pretty amazing for a young kid with that kind of track record, or lack of track record, for us to buy in that much. So thats a pretty good compliment to him." Negotiations began during spring training. The deal with Gomes will keep Clevelands young core together for years to come. "You hope that these deals are win-win deals," Chernoff said. "They all want to be here. Its an environment, a culture, that people want to be a part of." The 26-year-old -- the first Brazilian-born player in the majors -- began last season at Triple-A Columbus, but after being brought up in April he stayed the rest of the year and was a major contributor as the Indians made the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Gomes was acquired from Toronto on Nov. 2, 2012. "He is the guy that, in spring training as were having these talks with him about a long-term contract, hes putting in more and more time to try to get to know the pitchers to build on where he was last year," Chernoff said. "Hes also a great organizational story. Our scouts worked really hard to identify Yan with Toronto and find a way to get him in a deal." Gomes was set to start and bat ninth in the season opener. Francona expressed his gratitude for the process. "I got a chance to maybe have a little bit of a front-row seat and it was kind of cool," he said. "Because those things just dont happen, in todays game especially, with the amount of dollars were talking about. ... To see them kind of work through it was really interesting. Its kind of a proud moment for our organization, because we got a guy that we really think a lot of tied up for a long time. Hes going to be a big part of what we do." Wendel Clark Authentic Jersey . Then Ryan Raburn came to the plate and did what he usually does against the Chicago White Sox. Raburn hit a tiebreaking single and David Murphy drove in four runs, leading the Indians to a 12-6 victory over the White Sox. Darcy Tucker Leafs Jersey . For now, Joe Girardi and the rest of the New York Yankees are just thankful they have the Japanese right-hander pitching like one of the best in baseball. PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired catcher Chris Stewart from the New York Yankees on Monday for a player to be named. Stewart and the Pirates then agreed to a $1 million, one-year deal. The 31-year-old Stewart hit .211 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in a career-high 109 games for New York in 2013. He threw out 17 runners, the fifth-highest total in the American League. To make room for Stewart on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated catcher Michael McKenry for assignment -- they then non-tendered McKenry before the midnight deadline. McKenry hit .217 in 41 games last season for Pittsburgh before tearing cartilage in his left knee in July. Stewart will contend with former first-round pick Tony Sanchez as the primary backup to ex-Yankee Russell Martin when spring training opens in February. Stewart because expendable to the Yankees when they agreed Nov. 23 to an $85 million, five-year contract with Brian McCCann, a deal likely to be finalized this week. Kris Versteeg Jersey. After making $515,100 this year, Stewart is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. Teams faced a midnight deadline to offer 2014 contracts to unsigned players on their 40-man rosters. Pittsburgh chose to let go first baseman Garrett Jones and right-hander Kyle McPherson. Both had been designated for assignment last week, when the Pirates acquired outfielder Jaff Decker and right-hander Miles Mikolas from the Padres. Jones hit .233 with 15 homers and 51 RBIs in 144 games this year. The 32-year-old played at least 144 games each of the last four seasons for Pittsburgh. McPherson was 0-2 with a 2.73 ERA in 10 games in 2012. He had ligament reconstruction surgery on his right elbow this July. Francisco Cervelli, who figures to be the McCanns backup, didnt play after April 26 because of a broken hand. He also served a 50-game drug suspension. wholesale jerseyscheap jerseys ' ' '
