Veteran catcher Gimenez opts for free agency

CLEVELAND — There are unsung heroes for every team each season. For the Indians, catcher Chris Gimenez filled that role this year, stepping up amidst injuries and providing a veteran voice behind the scenes for a team that went on to reach the World Series.

On Monday, Gimenez officially informed the Indians that he has elected free agency in lieu of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus. Given Gimenez’s contributions this past season, Cleveland has interest in retaining him on a Minor League contract, but the club plans on heading into 2017 with Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez as its top two catchers.

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“We feel similarly this year as we did last year,” Indians team president Chris Antonetti said at the end of the season. “Which is, that’s a position of strength for us where we have two really good, high-quality, capable Major League catchers.”

The biggest problem last season was that both catchers — Gomes and Perez — dealt with a variety of issues, including injuries that cost each of them significant time. That is where Gimenez came up big. Cleveland acquired him from Texas on May 4 after Perez was shelved with a fractured right thumb, and Gimenez stayed on the roster through the American League Division Series due to Gomes’ health woes.

Playing in his eighth Major League season, the 33-year-old Gimenez hit a career high in games (67), batting .216 in 155 plate appearances. That batting average does not properly display Gimenez’s value, though. The catcher quickly earned the trust …

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