Wednesday was a good day to be a Cleveland Guardians fan.
That’s actually something we haven’t said in quite some time, as the team didn’t make any major offseason moves and has been among the lowest payrolls in MLB for the last few years.
But today, the team agreed to terms with their biggest star, Jose Ramirez, on a long-term extension to keep him in Cleveland for the foreseeable future.
The Guardians and Ramirez announced a five-year, $124 million contract extension for the perennial MVP contender.
It was a necessary move to show fans that they remain interested in competing.
Jose Ramirez’s Extension Impressed Shane Bieber
As it turns out, the move also showed a fellow star that they want to build a competitive team, which is actually huge because this player, Shane Bieber, is also an extension candidate in the next couple of seasons.
“Shane Bieber on José Ramírez: ‘He’s an incredible guy, an incredible player. We’re about to see it for 162 straight games, probably. … To continue to have him for the foreseeable future is important to me & the rest of the team & him & the front office. I’m glad he’s staying’,” MLB.com reporter Mandy Bell tweeted on Wednesday after speaking with the ace.
Shane Bieber on José Ramírez: "He's an incredible guy, an incredible player. We're about to see it for 162 straight games, probably. … To continue to have him for the foreseeable future is important to me & the rest of the team & him & the front office. I'm glad he's staying."
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) April 6, 2022
For Bieber, who will be a free agent after the 2024 season, seeing that the Indians extended their best offensive player was a breath of fresh air, and he made it clear with his comments.
In fact, if you read between the lines, he sounds like a guy who may actually consider staying in Cleveland long-term after hearing Ramirez’s news.
“It’s important to me” is probably the biggest line he said, at least for Guardians fans.
For now, Bieber will use the 2022 campaign to prove he is healthy, after missing most of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury.
Any contract talk will likely come at its due time, but the Ramirez’s extension certainly had an impact on how the pitcher views the future of the franchise.
NEXT: Guardians Retained Jose Ramirez Well Under His Value