CLEVELAND — Casey Blake proved that his compromises aren’t limited to the baseball field.
The 34-year-old Blake, who has filled a number of positions during his tenure with the Indians, allowed Cleveland to keep its arbitration streak intact Friday, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $6.1 million.
The Indians have not gone to arbitration with a player since 1991, but went to the final weeks with Blake, who was scheduled for a hearing Feb. 11 — after reliever Rafael Betcanourt signed a multiyear contract Jan. 23, to leave Blake as the club’s only arbitration-eligible player.
Blake, who hit .270 with 18 home runs and 78 RBIs in 156 games last year, asked for $6.9 million at arbitration after making $3.75 million in 2007. The Indians offered $5.4 million.
“Although we recognize that the arbitration process provides an acceptable alternative in the event we can’t find common ground on a contract, we begin each negotiation with the intent of trying to find a mutually acceptable value,” said Cleveland assistant general manager Chris Antonetti, who handled the negotiations with Blake and his agent. “Fortunately, we were able to agree to a contract with Casey that made sense for both him and the club.”
Since joining the Indians as a free agent from the Minnesota Twins in 2003, Blake has played three different positions — third base, first base and right field — beginning last year at first before taking over at third when prospect Andy Marte struggled and was sent to the minors.
His versatility and professionalism have made him a valuable commodity for the Indians, who return nearly their entire roster after winning the Central Division for the first time since 2001 and advancing to the American League Championship Series.
After a slow start last year, Blake, a career .263 hitter, caught fire in May and began the American League’s longest hitting streak, which ended at 26 games. It was the seventh-longest streak in franchise history.
He hit .311 with three homers and 17 RBIs from Aug. 31 to the end of the season, batting .265 (11-for-43) with a homer and four RBIs in the postseason.   
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
 

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