Guardians: Jose Ramirez left ‘millions’ on the table to stay in Cleveland

Third baseman Jose Ramirez signed a multi-year contract extension with the Cleveland Guardians, but he left millions on the table.

Ahead of the start of the 2022 season, the Cleveland Guardians and third baseman Jose Ramirez agreed to terms on a seven-year, $141 million contract extension. After moving on from Francisco Lindor the year prior, the Guardians managed to keep Ramirez for the foreseeable future. But did he leave millions on the table?

Ramirez’s agent, Rafa Nieves of Republik Sports, spoke with ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez (subscription required) and said that he and other “tried to talk him out of” agreeing to the contract extension with the Guardians.

“They told him that they can’t afford what he’s worth, and he told them that he didn’t care,” said Nieves, via ESPN. “He wanted to stay there, and they made it work. He knows that he left money on the table, but he says ‘$150 million or $200 million, my life is gonna be the same. I’m happier with $150 million in Cleveland than $200 million somewhere else.'”

Jose Ramirez left millions on the table to remain with Guardians

Ramirez has three Silver Sluggers and three All-Star Game appearances to his credit. Not to mention he has three top-three finishes in the AL MVP award voting process. Yet, instead of wanting to become one of the highest-paid players at his position, he wanted to stay in Cleveland.

Included in his seven-year, $141 million contract extension is a full no-trade clause.

Ramirez posted a message to his Instagram account on Apr. 14, where he thanked the Guardians for “making an effort to help [him] fulfill [his] desire of never wearing another uniform.”

While the Guardians were 12-13 entering Friday, May 6, Ramirez has been lighting it up in the batter’s box. Through 25 games, the third baseman is slashing .315/.413/.641 while recording seven home runs, 29 hits and a league-leading 29 RBI.

Even after insistence from those around him, Ramirez’s goal was to stay in Cleveland, and he got exactly that.