Indians re-sign second baseman Cesar Hernandez to one-year deal

Per ESPN and Mandy Bell of the league's official website, the Cleveland Indians are bringing second baseman Cesar Hernandez back on a one-year contract. 

ESPN added the agreement includes a club option for the 2022 season and is pending a physical.

Hernandez, who turns 31 in May, spent his first seven MLB campaigns with the Philadelphia Phillies before he joined Cleveland in late December 2019. The switch-hitter impressed in his American League-debut year, hitting .283 with three home runs, 20 RBI, 20 doubles and 35 runs scored across 58 regular-season appearances. 

He also earned the first Gold Glove Award of his career. 

The Indians completed the biggest blockbuster trade of the offseason, to date, earlier this month when they sent four-time All-Star Francisco Lindor and right-hander Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets for shortstops Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez, as well as a pair of prospects. Both Rosario and Gimenez were contenders to play second base when it appeared Cleveland and Hernandez would part ways after one season, and Tuesday's developments will do little to silence trade speculation regarding two-time All-Star and one-time Most Valuable Player candidate Jose Ramirez. 

While the Indians can hold Ramirez's rights through the 2023 season, as noted by Spotrac, Cleveland is rebuilding and looking to acquire assets for later in the decade and not an upcoming playoff run.