CLEVELAND — Thursday was a day that Cleveland baseball fans have waited a long time for.

What You Need To Know

The Cleveland Guardians signed 7-time All-Star 3B José Ramírez to a 7-year, $175 million contract extension through the 2032 season 

Ramírez said in a press conference on Thursday he is going to finish his career in Cleveland

Guardians owner & CEO Paul Dolan said he thinks Ramírez will go down as the greatest player in the team’s history

It was a day that a superstar commited to the Guardians for the long haul and expressed his desire to spend the rest of his career in Cleveland. That’s exactly what franchise icon José Ramírez did. 

Chances are if you’ve attended a game at Progressive FIeld in the last decade, you’ve heard the chants for Guardians superstar José Ramírez. He officially signed the largest contract in team history to remain with the franchise through 2032. It’s a restructured seven-year deal worth $175 million. 

“When this contract is done, and Jose’s contract here is complete, he will have established himself not only as one of the best baseball players of our generation, but an icon in Cleveland’s sport history,” Guardians’ President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti said. 

It’s rare in Cleveland’s long baseball history to get a long-term commitment like this from a player of Ramirez’s caliber. Names like C.C. Sabathia and Francisco Lindor fill a list of Cleveland stars who left for more money. Antonetti says it takes a special player and person to change that narrative, ultimately taking less money to stay in Cleveland.  

“It’s rare that you look with three years left on a contract that you would look to restructure things,” said Antonetti. “We’re talking about a very unique player with Jose Ramirez. There’s no one else like him in our organization’s recent history.” 

Ramírez said Cleveland has become his home and hopes to finish his career with the Guardians because of the support he’s received from the organization and the community. 

“It’s important to be here, this is where my family is and what I want them to be,” said Ramírez. “Most importantly, it’s where I look forward to completing my career. I feel I have the same sense of pride from Cleveland that I have from the D.R. I can call myself a 50/50, 50% Dominican and 50% Clevelander.” 

When Ramírez completes his new contract, he’ll become just the 20th player to spend an entire career of at least 20 seasons with one team.

“I think José will go down as the greatest player in the history of our franchise,” Guardians’ owner & CEO Paul Dolan said. 

Ramírez will become the franchise leader in games played this season and already ranks in the top 10 in several other categories. There’s still one elusive goal that remains. 

“The ultimate goal remains the same, which is a World Series,” said Ramírez. 

“He said he wanted to spend his entire career in Cleveland,” Antonetti said. “He wanted his jersey retired here. He wanted to go to the Hall of Fame as a Cleveland Guardian, and he wanted to win a World Series here. I have no doubt by the end of this contract, he will have achieved them.”

 

The Cleveland Guardians’ equipment trucks left for Spring Training in Goodyear, Arizona on Thursday. Guardians’ pitchers and catchers will report to Spring Training on Feb. 10. Ramírez and other postion players will report on Feb. 15.