The core group of leaders on the Cleveland Indians recently put their goals and beliefs down in writing, creating an accountability contract for the club.

Corey Kluber, Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis and Yan Gomes created the contract. Terry Francona looked it over and passed it out on Saturday.

"If you sign your name on the dotted line," Gomes said, "you're telling everybody else that you're in. If you fall off that track, it comes back down to, 'You gave your word.' We're going to hold everybody accountable for it."

The concept of the contract came up when Francona met with the group of four players -- all signed to long-term deals -- after some veterans were dealt at the July trade deadline.

"In the midst of all of those conversations," Francona said, "I had asked Kluber, Brantley, maybe both, I was like, 'How would you feel if I passed out almost like a contract?' And they [liked the idea]. I said, 'It's got to come from you guys.' They did a great job, man. They worked at it."