Report: Padres were 'waiting' on Jose Ramirez trade call before extension

Word broke back on April 6 that the Cleveland Guardians had agreed to a long-term contract extension with star infielder Jose Ramirez. 

For a piece published Thursday, ESPN's Jesse Rogers explained how that deal likely changed the trajectories of multiple clubs for the 2022 MLB season. 

"On the final day of spring training, the Guardians' front office had hit its deadline -- if it couldn't get a contract extension done with its All-Star third baseman that day, he was going to be traded before Opening Day," Rogers wrote. "The San Diego Padres, among other contenders, were waiting for a call." 

The Padres never received that call, as Ramirez ultimately put pen to paper on a five-year extension reportedly worth $124 million. The four-time All-Star selection then helped the Guardians win the American League Central title and finished the regular season third in all of MLB with 126 RBI. Ramirez also hit .280 with 29 home runs and had the league's 13th-highest OPS among eligible players of .869.

San Diego didn't completely strike out despite failing to acquire the 30-year-old who finished second in AL Most Valuable Player voting for 2020. The Padres later landed two-time All-Star outfielder Juan Soto and one-time All-Star first baseman Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals ahead of the August trade deadline, and they've since advanced to a National League Division Series matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers that is currently tied 1-1. 

Cleveland, meanwhile, is down 1-0 in its ALDS showdown with the New York Yankees.