CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians are building for their future up the middle.

One week after locking up their All-Star shortstop, the club has reached an agreement with catcher Carlos Santana on a multiyear contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday night.

Santana, who hit 27 homers in his first full season in 2011, is expected to sign his new contract on Tuesday, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Indians have not yet announced the deal. Terms of the contract were not yet known.

On Sunday, Santana celebrated his 26th birthday by hitting two homers in a 4-3 win over Toronto. The Indians regard him as one of their core players and wanted to ensure they would have him beyond 2016, when they lose contractual control of the talented switch-hitter.