José Ramírez, Cleveland for Life: Guardians Lock In Franchise Cornerstone Through 2032
The Cleveland Guardians may have had a quiet offseason, but they just made the kind of noise that echoes for years. José Ramírez - the face of the franchise, the engine of the lineup, and one of the most consistent stars in the game - is reportedly staying in Cleveland for good. According to reports, the Guardians and Ramírez have agreed to a seven-year, $175 million extension that would keep him in a Guardians uniform through the 2032 season.
Let’s break it down: the deal appears to build on Ramírez’s current contract, which already had him set to earn $21 million in 2026, $23 million in 2027, and $25 million in 2028. Add those figures to the new four-year extension reportedly worth $106 million - with $70 million deferred - and you land right at that $175 million mark over seven years. That would take Ramírez through his age-40 season.
For Cleveland, this isn’t just a contract. It’s a statement.
A commitment to a player who’s meant everything to the franchise over the past decade. And for Ramírez, it’s a decision to ride out his career with the team that signed him, developed him, and trusted him to lead.
A Legacy in the Making
Since signing his previous extension - a team-friendly seven-year, $141 million deal back in 2022 - Ramírez has done nothing but validate the Guardians’ faith in him. He’s been a perennial MVP candidate, a four-time All-Star, and a three-time Silver Slugger in that span. And he’s done it all while carrying a lineup that, for much of that time, lacked serious firepower around him.
Let’s talk numbers. Over the last four seasons, Ramírez has hit at least 24 home runs every year, racked up 36 or more doubles annually, and stolen 20+ bases each season - including a career-high 44 last year.
That’s elite production, and he’s doing it without the kind of raw speed you typically see from base-stealing threats. It’s all instincts, timing, and pure baseball IQ.
He’s been the guy opposing pitchers circle on the lineup card. The guy fans come to see.
The guy teammates lean on. And now, he’s the guy Cleveland can count on to be there for the long haul.
More Than Just a Star
What makes Ramírez so valuable isn’t just the numbers - though those are certainly eye-popping - it’s the way he produces in context. He’s done this with minimal protection in the order. Steven Kwan has emerged as a reliable table-setter, and Kyle Manzardo is starting to show flashes of the power the Guardians have been missing, but for most of the past few seasons, Ramírez has been the centerpiece and the safety net.
Even in an offseason where Cleveland’s front office focused more on fortifying the bullpen than addressing lineup holes, Ramírez’s presence gives the Guardians a fighting chance. He’s not just a star - he’s the kind of player who makes everyone around him better, who buys into the culture, and who wants to win here.
A Player Who Wanted to Stay
This wasn’t a case of the team twisting a player’s arm or overpaying to keep him. Ramírez has made it clear - both before his 2022 extension and again leading up to this new deal - that he wanted to stay in Cleveland. According to reports, it was Ramírez and his camp who initiated extension talks last season, signaling a desire to lock in his future with the Guardians.
And now, it’s official: Cleveland fans can look forward to watching No. 11 anchor the hot corner - and the heart of the lineup - for years to come.
The Bottom Line
This deal doesn’t just preserve a franchise icon. It gives the Guardians a foundation to build around as they look to stay competitive in a changing AL Central. Locking in Ramírez through 2032 offers stability, leadership, and elite production - all from a player who’s proven time and again that he’s willing to do more with less.
In a league where stars often chase bigger markets and bigger paydays, José Ramírez choosing to stay in Cleveland is a rare and refreshing storyline. And for the Guardians, it’s the kind of move that gives their offseason - and their future - a whole lot more clarity.