CLEVELAND (AP) — Catcher Austin Hedges re-signed with the Cleveland Guardians, agreeing Wednesday to a one-year contract worth $4 million.

Hedges, who had been eligible for free agency, gets the same base salary he had this season. He can earn $500,000 in performance bonuses for starts as a catcher: $125,000 each for 70, 75, 80 and 85.

Even though Hedges is the backup catcher, he has emerged as a key clubhouse leader on a squad that has won the AL Central three of the last four seasons.

Hedges said on Wednesday that both sides began to discuss a new deal toward the end of the regular season

“I told them this is where I want to be for years moving forward. I want to finish my career in Cleveland, whatever that means. If that means a year, if that means I can grind another 10 years out,

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