Indians and Danny Salazar settle for $4.5 million, avoiding arbitration

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY SportsThe Cleveland Indians and pitcher Danny Salazar have agreed to a salary of $4.5 million for next season, avoiding arbitration. The deal currently makes him the fourth-highest paid pitcher on the Indians roster for next season, behind Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, and Brad Hand.

This represents a $4.5 million gamble for the Indians, considering Salazar spent all of last season on the DL and missed huge chunks of the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Salazar was a Cy Young candidate in the first half of 2016 before being sidelined with right elbow inflammation. He was able to return for the postseason, but was relegated to mop-up relief out of the bullpen. Salazar made it…