Indians Sign Pitcher Finley

December 16, 1999 / 2:16 PM EST / CBS/AP

Chuck Finley insists he's a young 37 in body, mind and soul.

Finley looks 26 and still plays like the 8-year-old kid who grow up in Louisiana dreaming of one day pitching Game 7 of the World Series.

The Cleveland Indians just hope Finley's left arm has at least three more good years in it.

Finley agreed Thursday to a $27 million, three-year contract with the Indians, who think he left-hander is the missing piece to finally bring them a World Series title.

That's the same reason Finley, who spent his entire 14-year pro career with the Anaheim Angels, turned down better offers elsewhere to sign with Cleveland, who offered him a deal that includes $7 million deferred without interest.

"I dream every night about pitching in the playoffs and getting a chance to go to the World Series," Finley said. "I couldn't have found a better situation than here in Cleveland. It's a perfect fit for me."

Indians general manager John Hart said the same thing.

Hart has been chasing Finley for months. He nearly sent four players utilityman Enrique Wilson and three minor league pitchers

to the Angels just before the Aug. 31 trading deadline for Finley.

Hart backed off, but when Finley became available on the free-agent market, the GM zeroed in on his target and went after it.

"I think the match with the Indians and Chuck Finley is at the absolute right time," Hart said. "This ballclub offers what Chuck Finley is looking for, and that's ability to pitch in the postseason. It's a mature club and we're adding a mature, quality pitcher."

Finley's agent, Tim Shannon, said he received offers from Baltimore and Seattle and that the New York Yankees were still calling him as late as Wednesday.

"We talked to everyone," Shannon said. "There were some very fair offers, but this is where Chuck wanted to come. He turned down more money to come here."

The Indians have always needed pitching help, and that became even more apparent during the AL playoffs when the staff fell apart in the division series against Boston.

Hart was determined to find help during the offseason, and by signing free agent Scott Kamieniecki ($3.6 million), Cuban defector Danys Baez ($14.5 million) and Finley, the Indians will pay $45.1 million.

Finley, who has a career record of 165-140, will move to the front of the Indians' starting rotation behind right-hander Bartolo Colon. Charles Nagy, Dave Burba and either Jaret Wright or Baez, round out a staff the Indians think can get them over the top.

Finley, who was joined at a Jacobs Field news conference, by his wife, actress Tawny Kitaen, knows there are some questioning why the Indians would sign a 37-year-old.

"I would strip down buck naked and let you take a look at me right now," he said, his Cajun accent coming through. "I did that the other day in front of about 15 doctors like I was putting on a burlesque."

"I'm 37 years old and I guarantee you this, I am as strong and in as good of shape as any 26- or 27 year-old-guy in this league. I've never been cut (operated) on. I've never had any kind of arm trouble at all."

Hart said the Indians' team doctors were amazed at Finley's physical condition.

Finley, Cleveland's first left-handed starter since 1991, went 12-11 with a 4.43 ERA and one complete game in 33 starts last season for the Angels, and for the eighth time in 14 years pitched more than 200 innings.

Durability was one of the biggest reasons the Indians chased Finley. Another is his ability to beat the Yankees. He has a 16-9 career mark against the World Series champions and went 1-1 last season with a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings against them.

"I've got a track record of going out there," Finley said. "I'm one of those guys you can hand the ball to, turn around and I've got 36 starts, 200-some innings, 12, 15, 17 wins. And with a little luck, I'll hit the 20 (win) mark."

But what Finley, who has never started a postseason game, wants more than anything is a World Series ring.

"The ultimate goal is to be the last guy playing on the last day," he said. "I just want to be out there having Jimmy (Thome) on my back jumping up and down and hitting me over the head saying, 'We did it. We did it."'

Finley gets an $11 million signing bonus, of which $2 million is payable now, $2 million on Jan. 15, 2002 and the rest in equal installments of $2,333,333 on Jan. 15 in 2003, 2004 and 2005. He gets annual salaries of $5 million, $6 million and $5 million and in a sign of hope a $500,000 bonus if he's MVP of the World Series.