Sources: All-Star 3B Jose Ramirez agrees to 5-year, $124M extension with Cleveland Guardians

[Auggie]

All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez and the Cleveland Guardians are in agreement on a five-year, $124 million contract extension, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN.

The deal includes a full no-trade clause, per sources. With this year and the pickup of a 2023 option, Ramirez is guaranteed $150 million.

Cleveland set the table for this move during the offseason, picking up Ramirez's $12 million contract option on Nov. 5 after an MVP-caliber campaign for the 29-year-old. The formal transaction allowed the franchise some room for longer-term negotiations once baseball's work stoppage ended.

Ramirez, who has finished in the top three of the American League MVP voting three times in his career, was one of few bright spots for Cleveland's inconsistent offense during the team's final season with its old nickname. He hit .266 with 36 home runs, 103 RBIs and 27 steals in the final year of what was a team-friendly $26 million, four-year contract.

More: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33682653/sources-all-star-3b-jose-ramirez-agrees-5-year-124m-extension-cleveland-guardians

Wow, never thought I'd see a deal like this offered by Cleveland. Fans gotta love this.

[Diamond_Dog]

1. This is great news!

Also, Emmanuel Clase has been locked up for 5 years as well.

[Auggie]

2. Saw that about Chase. So now I have to ask, why?

It’s unlike ownership to commit long-term for big $, at least in the past decade.

So I think perhaps (total speculation on my part) …

the front office is expecting talent from the minors to emerge and contribute in a big way and very soon. This could be exciting.