CLEVELAND, Ohio – I asked José Ramírez if he first asked the Guardians for a contract extension.
At his Thursday press conference, Ramírez confirmed that was the case. He had been thinking about it for a long time.
“For me, it’s important to be here,” Ramírez said through interpreter Agustin Rivero. “This is where my family is and where I want them to be. And most importantly, where I look forward to completing my career. So for me, it’s important to stay here, the commitment to continue to compete and win a World Series.”
Ramírez also called himself, “50% Dominican, 50% Cleveland.”
The Guardians said talks about a new contract for Ramírez began almost a year ago. Ramírez urged his agent Rafa Nieves to find a way to extend his contract, which ran through the end of the 2028 season. Nieves and the Guardians went to work, knowing it’s rare to add years to a contract when a player has three years left on his deal.
Furthermore, there is some risk because Ramírez is 33. Long-term deals for players 36 and older tend not to be financially wise as their skills decline with age. Ramírez’s new deal will take him through his 40th birthday.
Then again, there is only one José Ramírez, perhaps the greatest player in the history of Cleveland baseball. He’s a seven-time All-Star. Only Bob Feller (8) has been picked for more All-Star teams. He’s also been on seven playoff teams, the most in Cleveland baseball history.
He’s a great player, period.
And he wanted to stay in Cleveland, period.
Guardians Owner Paul Dolan wanted to find a way for the team to give Jose Ramirez a new contract. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.comThe new deal
Ramírez had three years left on the seven-year, $141 million deal he signed in 2022. The new contract is worth $175 million for seven seasons – $25 million annually. He has agreed to defer $10 million each season for a total of $70 million deferred. Those payments begin in 2036.
This is the richest contract in Cleveland baseball history.
Guardians owner Paul Dolan and team president Chris Antonetti were the driving force on Cleveland’s end to reach a deal. As things came close, a meeting was set up with Ramírez, Nieves (his agent), Antonetti, Dolan and minority owner David Blitzer. The Guardians wanted Ramírez to realize how much they respect him, and he appreciated his time with both owners.
I asked Ramírez about taking a contract that is well below the market, especially compared to other players.
“Whoever earns those contracts congratulations to them, kudos,” he said through his interpreter. “But for me it’s just what I can control and what matters to me. And for me it’s my desire. My desire is to be here.”
Ramírez doesn’t care what other players make. He keeps score on the diamond, not on the listing of baseball’s highest-paid players.
His agent (Nieves) recently posted this on X:
“The deal brings his total career earnings to $272 million. It also comes with a statue in CF, his number retired, a first ballot HOF entrance almost guaranteed, a baseball field and also a street named after him in Cleveland.
“José marches to the beat of his own drum, and I respect that. He will laugh at the critics all the way to the bank on his way to Cooperstown.”
Jose Ramirez is aiming to have most of the all-time Cleveland baseball records for hitters.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.comAn amazing story
It’s doubtful we’ll ever see a baseball star the magnitude of Ramírez give such a “hometown discount” to a small-market franchise in order to remain with that team. Most players (and their agents) are wired to win on game day and pay day. It’s their right, and this is a business. Sometimes, teams make long-term commitments to a player, then trade him a few years later.
Ramírez had a “no-trade” clause in his 2022 deal and that remains in place.
Ramírez signed with Cleveland in 2009 for $50,000 – basically the minimum bonus for players coming out of the Dominican Republic. Cleveland was his only offer to play pro baseball.
“I want to highlight that this is the organization that gave me the opportunity in professional baseball,” Ramírez said . “I know there’s a lot of discussion about the nature of this contract and why this contract happened. But for me it’s important to be here. This is where my family is and where I want to be.”
Ramírez first mentioned wanting to spend his entire career in Cleveland in the spring of 2017 when he signed a four-year, $26 million extension. Cleveland was pleased to hear that, but he was only 24 years old at the time. A lot could change.
Only nothing did, at least when it came to Ramírez and his love for Cleveland. He talked about how the fans have always cheered for him “through the good and bad.” The Guardians have had the same ownership and the same front office leadership with Antonetti and GM Mark Chernoff during his entire career. Ramírez first came to the majors 13 years ago. He’s played for two managers – Stephen Vogt and Terry Francona.
The stability means a lot. So does the chance to be the greatest player in Cleveland baseball history. His goal now is to win his first Gold Glove award. The third baseman has been nominated seven times.
“Most importantly, this is where I look forward to completing my career,” he said. “(This) team has given me that opportunity… That’s the reason I decided to complete my career here in Cleveland.”