CLEVELAND /December 23, 2017 (AP)(STL.NEWS) —  The Cleveland Indians have signed free agent first baseman Yonder Alonso to a two-year, $16 million contract, a less expensive replacement for Carlos Santana.

Alonso’s deal, which includes a $9 million club option in 2020, was agreed to earlier in the week. The 30-year-old passed medical tests on Friday to finalize the package.

The Indians had a hole at first after Santana signed a three-year, $60 million contract with Philadelphia. Alonso may not be as productive as Santana, but he’s a solid player who is coming off his best season.

Alonso made his first All-Star team while batting .266 and hit a career-high 28 homers — he entered the season with 39 in his career — with 67 RBIs for Oakland and Seattle. He also posted personal bests in runs (72), walks (68), on-base pct. (.365), slugging pct. (.501) and OPS (.866).

Alonso credited a change in his swing with the uptick in his power numbers.

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By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer, by Associated Press, published on STL.NEWS by St. Louis Media, LLC (AS)

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