Cardinals, Martinez announce $51M deal

In the final days of negotiations, the biggest thing standing in the way of the St. Louis Cardinals signing pitcher Carlos Martinez to a long-term extension was a few hundred miles of ocean.

“It’s not easy to get in touch at sea,” general manager John Mozeliak said.

But once Martinez had wrapped up the team’s annual Caribbean cruise over the weekend, the two sides were able to put the finishing touches on a record-breaking deal. During a news conference Thursday, the Cardinals announced their five-year pact with the talented young right-hander that includes a pair of club options that could keep him in St. Louis through the 2023 season.

The contract is worth $51 million, and includes a $4.5 million bonus and salary this season and $11.5 million each of the next four years, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

Orioles: Catcher Caleb Joseph, who set major league records for most at-bats and plate appearances in a season with no RBIs, was awarded the team’s $700,000 offer rather than his $1 million request in arbitration. Joseph, 30, hit .174 last year with three doubles in 132 at-bats and 141 plate appearances.

Diamondbacks: Pitcher Shelby Miller asked for $5.1 million in his salary-arbitration case after an awful first season in Arizona. The club argued that the 26-year-old right-hander should be paid $4.7 million after going 3-12 with a 6.15 ERA in 20 starts.

Indians: Free agent lefthander Boone Logan and Cleveland have agreed to a one-year contract including a 2018 club option. The 32-year-old Logan pitched for Colorado last season, going 2-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 66 appearances.