Career
He was one of 24 ballplayers who profited from the advent of MLB free agency following the 1976 season. A torn rotator cuff rendered his playing career into a cautionary tale of the risks of signing pitchers to free-agent contracts of seven years or longer. He signed a 10-year, $2.3 million contract with the Indians as a free agent prior to the 1977 season (which was the first season of large-scale free agency in Major League Baseball).
Despite being released by the Indians five years into the deal on January 29, 1982, he was still paid by the ballclub an estimated $210,000 a year through 1986.
He later served as a minor league manager.