Indians exercise options on Francona, Santana

The Cleveland Indians took care of a pair of essential pieces of their World Series run Friday.

Manager Terry Francona had both his 2019 and 2020 options picked up by the club, and first baseman/designated hitter Carlos Santana had his $12-million option exercised for the 2017 season.

Francona has spent the last four seasons in Cleveland, compiling a 352-294 (.545) record. He helped lead the franchise to its first American League pennant since 1997.

"Tito did a masterful job throughout the regular season and the postseason," Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti told Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com. "The way in which Tito is always thinking about how to put players in a position where they can be most successful and most impact the team is always extraordinary.

"He does that first and foremost by building deep relationships with guys. They know he has their best interests in mind. He will find a way for guys to be the best versions of themselves."

Santana, meanwhile, is coming off one of the best seasons of his seven-year career. The 30-year-old hit .259/.366/.498 with a career-high 34 home runs and 87 RBIs in 158 games. He split time between first base and DH this season, and offers Francona another option at first should Mike Napoli not re-sign.