Indians Exercise Options Manager Francona, Slugger Santana

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians exercised two future contract options on manager Terry Francona, who is under contract with the club through 2020.

The 57-year-old Francona helped the Indians push through adversity this season, getting them to the World Series for the first time since 1997. Two years ago, he signed a two-year contract extension, which included club options for 2019 and 2020.

As expected, the club also picked up slugger Carlos Santana's $12 million option. He hit 34 homers this season.

In their fourth year under Francona, the Indians won their first AL Central title since 2007 and beat Boston and Toronto in the postseason before losing to the Chicago Cubs in an epic Game 7 in extra innings.

Francona was forced to juggle his lineup all year and had to get creative with his starting rotation over the final month after starters Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar got hurt.