The Cleveland Guardians locked up Jose Ramirez with a seven-year, $124 million extension in 2022 that runs through 2028. Everyone knew it was below market value for one of the game’s best players. What we didn’t know was how long those negotiations actually took.
Turns out the talks started in 2020.
“We went through a year and a half of negotiations, and when I finally signed, I got a significant salary bump,” Ramirez told Hector Gomez. “I knew it wasn’t fully reflective of my market value, and plenty of people made sure to point that out. But I’m a veteran, I understand how the game works. Cleveland is a small-market team, and they simply can’t pay me what I could command on the open market.”
The eight-time All-Star had options. Real ones. Other teams made trade offers and were willing to pay his full asking price. But Ramirez’s heart was set on Cleveland for reasons that go beyond baseball.
“First and foremost, my children were born here,” he explained. “My wife feels comfortable in Cleveland and so do I. I owe this city a lot. Since the day I arrived, I’ve never once been booed by these fans. I’ve seen how crowds in other stadiums treat players when results don’t come quickly, and that’s never happened here.”
It’s easy to see why Cleveland means so much to him. The franchise’s third baseman has been in the Top 6 of AL MVP voting seven times, cementing his status as one of the American League’s elite position players. He’s rewritten the organization’s record books along the way.
Ramirez now holds the franchise record for most plate appearances and sits:
- Seventh in hits
- Third in doubles
- Second in home runs
- Second in RBIs
- Second in stolen bases
- Fourth in WAR among position players
When he retires, there’s a strong case he’ll be the most beloved player in franchise history. There’s an even stronger case he’ll head straight to Cooperstown.
That’s what makes his decision to stay even more meaningful. Ramirez could’ve maximized his earnings elsewhere, but he chose loyalty over money. In today’s game, that kind of commitment to one organization is rare.
The Guardians got a franchise cornerstone at a hometown discount. Ramirez got to build his legacy where his family calls home. Sometimes the best deals aren’t just about the dollars.
