The Indians will have an ace on their pitching staff for years to come.

The team, which might lose its No. 1 starter in C.C. Sabathia after this season, ensured it will keep another top starter through 2014 when it signed Fausto Carmona to a four-year deal starting with this season and an additional three years of club options. The Associated Press is reporting that the four-year deal is worth $15 million. The value of the contract could reach as high as $48 million if the Tribe exercises the three club options that it holds, according to several Web sites.

The Tribe will officially announce and discuss the signing at a 3 p.m. news conference today.

It's hard to imagine that news conference being anything but giddy.

Because it's hard to see this deal as anything but good for the Indians — and their fans. The contract is player and team friendly.

The first four years are guaranteed, and the Indians have options for the final three seasons (2012, 2013 and 2014).

Carmona went 19-8 and had a 3.06 ERA last season. He also finished fourth in the AL Cy Young voting. The 19 wins were the most by an Indians pitcher since 1984 and tied for second overall in the American League.

Carmona is 24, and pitchers generally are in their prime between the ages of 27 and 30. This contract ensures that Carmona will be with the Indians at least through the start of those ''prime'' years. However, the way that he pitched last season and the start of this season (1-0, 0.69 ERA in two starts) the case could be made that Carmona's prime might be earlier than usual.

The team's seven-year commitment to Carmona — albeit with options — is significant, and near historic. Typically the Indians would be reluctant to give seven-year contracts to a pitcher. But the contract, the first of its kind in team history, shows the commitment the Indians have to maintaining their team.

If Sabathia does leave after this season, Carmona would step into the No. 1 starter's role and be under contract.

If the Indians find a way to re-sign Sabathia, they'll have two top starters under contract for a good length of time, a pair that would be the envy of the league both for their talent and their contractual situation.

It gives Carmona security, and it does so by avoiding the crazed bidding that goes on when a player hits the free agent market.

The Indians clearly would miss Sabathia if he signs elsewhere — though he keeps saying he loves Cleveland and talks about the long-term future of the team.

The organization's moves and planning and drafting appear, though, to have the Indians positioned to actually absorb his departure. They now have Carmona and Jake Westbrook signed. Cliff Lee is pitching better, and the top starters in the minor leagues include Jeremy Sowers, Aaron Laffey and Adam Miller.

The Indians have insisted that they did not want last season's success to be a one-year event, that they want to build for the long term.

The signing of Carmona should tell fans those statements should be taken seriously.