Report: Guardians, three-time All-Star Jose Ramirez have 'exchanged proposals' on possible extension

The Cleveland Guardians and three-time All-Star infielder Jose Ramirez have been in discussions regarding a possible contract extension and talks are expected to "soon reach a critical point", as an "artificial deadline of Opening Day" approaches, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. The Guardians open the 2022 regular season at 4:10 p.m. ET on April 7 against the Kansas City Royals.

"The Guardians are motivated to secure a foundational piece of their roster beyond his two remaining years of team control. They are prepared to hand out a contract that would almost certainly more than double the largest in team history, the three-year, $60 million pact granted to Edwin Encarnación five years ago," Meisel wrote. "Ramírez is content to spend the rest of his career in Cleveland, both he and those close to him have expressed. Over the past five years, Ramírez has been perhaps the best bargain in MLB as he became one of its most prolific hitters and baserunners. He signed a five-year, $26 million deal after a breakout season in 2016. That deal included a pair of club options that increased in value to $12 million for 2022 and $14 million for 2023 because of bonuses tied to his three top-three finishes in the American League MVP race."

Per Meisel, Cleveland and Ramirez's camp began to "swap contract ideas" last weekend and the negotiations have continued throughout the week. The insider added that the three-time Silver Slugger award winner is the lone player on the Guardians' roster set to make over $6 million this season and that "the club has no future salaries on the books; no player is guaranteed a cent beyond 2022."

"J-Ram" is set to make $12 million this year and his current contract has a $13 million team option for 2023.

"The Guardians would strongly consider a trade this summer if the two sides can’t strike a deal and the team is out of the playoff race," Meisel reported. "If not this summer, Ramírez would be one of the most popular hot stove targets next winter."

Ramirez's first All-Star season in 2017 was arguably his best to date, as he led MLB in doubles by a wide margin at 56, while also posting career highs in hits (186), triples (six), batting average (.318), slugging percentage (.583) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.957). The native of the Dominican Republic recorded career bests in home runs (39), RBIs (105), stolen bases (34) and walks (106) in 2018 and hit 36 home runs and had 103 RBIs in 2021.

In 980 career regular-season games and 3,545 at-bats, Ramirez has 163 home runs, 540 RBIs and 154 stolen bases along with a .278/.354/.501 slash line.