All-Star third baseman and American League MVP finalist Jose Ramirez has agreed to a seven-year, $175 million contract with the Cleveland Guardians, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Saturday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is pending a medical and has not yet been announced.
advertise
The 33-year-old Dominican Republic native has spent his entire 13-year major league career in Cleveland. He is signed with the team until the 2028 season. The extension he signed in 2022 has three years and $69 million left, but his average salary over the next seven years is now $25 million.
The extension also includes a no-trade clause and performance bonuses tied to his place in MVP voting. Ramirez has six top-five finishes. He was third last year and fifth in 2024.
Cleveland has made the postseason eight times since Ramirez was called up to the majors in 2013, including a seven-game loss to the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 World Series. The Guardians have won the AL Central the past two seasons.
Ramirez became the first player in team history to hit at least 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases last season, and the second change-hitter after Carlos Beltran (435 home runs, 312 stolen bases). He will enter 2026 with 285 home runs and 287 stolen bases.
advertise
Robin Yount, Craig Biggio and Derek Jeter are the only players on one team to accomplish the 250-250 feat.
The seven-time American League All-Star had a career-high 44 stolen bases last season, becoming just the fourth player in MLB history to hit at least 30 homers and 40 steals in multiple seasons. He batted .283, including a career 21-game hitting streak from May 6-28.
Ramirez also leads the team in extra-base hits with 726 games and 27 multi-homer games. He ranks second in home runs and RBIs (949).
___
Associated Press MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
