CLEVELAND -- Beloved Guardians catcher and team leader Austin Hedges is sticking around.

The Guardians have reached a one-year contract with Hedges, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, who reported the deal is worth $4 million plus $500,000 in incentives. The deal has not been confirmed by the club.

Hedges was one of three Guardians players who was set to become a free agent this offseason, along with outfielder Lane Thomas and reliever Jakob Junis. Instead, the 33-year-old backstop will return for a sixth season in Cleveland.

While Bo Naylor has emerged as the Guardians’ starting catcher, Hedges has remained a key cog to the team’s success behind the plate and inside a clubhouse full of many up-and-coming players.

The Guardians once were 15 1/2 games out of first place in t

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