"Three days after the final game of the World Series, the Indians must decide whether to exercise the 2012 club options of Grady Sizemore for $9 million and Fausto Carmona for $7 million.

If they don't, Sizemore is eligible for free agency and Carmona for salary arbitration.

The Indians don't have an option on Travis Hafner for 2012, but they do have a decision to make. They could bring him back next year to honor the final year of his contract for $13 million, or they could cut the cord on the biggest deal in Indians history and start over at DH.

On Thursday, GM Chris Antonetti said Hafner would be back, despite making two trips to the disabled list this year and not playing more than 118 games a season since 2007. For a while, there has been a feeling among the Indians string-pullers that if Hafner's production ever dropped low enough, ownership might be willing to eat a part of the contract.

Hafner played only 94 games this year. He hit .280, with 16 doubles, 13 homers and 57 RBI. Apparently that was enough to persuade owners Larry and Paul Dolan to put down the knives and forks.

"What Travis has continued to demonstrate is that, when he's healthy and on the field, he's a productive hitter," said Antonetti. "So when we look to next year's team, we think Travis is going to be healthy and if he is, he'll be a productive player for us."

Here are some other points Antonetti and manager Manny Acta touched on during their wrap-up of the 2011 season:

Sizemore will go to Vail, Colo., on Monday to have his bruised right knee examined by Dr. Richard Steadman. The information the Indians receive will help determine if they exercise his option. "