The Cleveland Guardians‘ key player, the one who will define their future, is Jose Ramirez.
The talented infielder, capable of defending both second and third base, will make $12 million in 2022 and has a club option worth $13 million for the 2023 campaign.
After that, he will be a free agent… unless the Guardians, of course, successfully extend him.
Ramirez, however, has already signed a team-friendly extension, right before the 2017 season, and as a 30-year-old star at the peak of his abilities, Cleveland may not be able to afford him.
In any case, the two sides are reportedly talking, and those conversations are reportedly heating up.
MLB reporter Hector Gomez quoted a tweet by The Athletic’s Zack Meisel, saying that Ramirez’s camp and the Guardians are discussing a long-term pact.
Mike Rodriguez of Univision was the first one to break the news of the extension talks yesterday.
“As we reported yesterday, the #Guardians and Jose Ramirez are working really hard to try to reach a contract extension before the Opening Day’s deadline. 1st on it @mikedeportes,” Gomez tweeted on Wednesday.
As we reported yesterday, the #Guardians and Jose Ramirez are working really hard to try to reach a contract extension before the Opening Day's deadline. 1st on it @mikedeportes. https://t.co/myBBq0Qux7
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) March 30, 2022
Ramirez Will Shape Cleveland’s Future
Extending Ramirez would be a fantastic good-faith move by the Guardians, who made virtually no additions during the offseason while the rest of the four teams spent millions of dollars bringing in talent.
If they can secure the services of Ramirez, they can build around him for the next decade or so.
He will be a big fish, and getting him to commit his future to Cleveland won’t be easy.
Ramirez is perennially in the MVP discussion.
Last year, he slashed .266/.355/.538 with 36 home runs and 27 stolen bases while playing good defense at third base.
He is one of MLB’s best and most valuable players, and will be paid as such when it’s time, whether it is by the Guardians or any other team.
NEXT: MLB Rumors Point Towards A Jose Ramirez Extension
