Jose Ramirez isn't the only player on the Cleveland Guardians roster who deserves an extension candidate this offseason.
The Cleveland Guardians have largely had a quiet offseason, outside of a few bullpen additions. However, they did make a franchise-altering move, reportedly signing fan favorite superstar Jose Ramirez to a deal that will keep him with the team for the foreseeable future.
Ramirez reportedly signed a contract extension and restructuring with the Guardians that is worth $175 over the next seven years, making him a member of the Guardians through 2032. Considering this would be his age-40 season, this deal almost solidifies his goal of remaining with Cleveland throughout his career.
Ramirez’s extension is a win for the Guardians organization, Ramirez’s family, and the city of Cleveland.
The thing is, Ramirez shouldn’t be the only player on the Guardians who warrants an extension this offseason. In fact, there’s an argument to be made that he didn’t even need one, considering he still had three years remaining on his initial deal.
Cleveland has multiple candidates on its current roster who it would be wise to explore keeping beyond their current contracts. As long as the Guardians are willing to commit money to the future, there are a few other players they should extend.
Apr 20, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) greets first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) crossing home plate on a two run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesThe most obvious candidate is Steven Kwan, who currently has two more years of team control left. After the 2028 season, Kwan will become a free agent and could be in store for quite the payday, considering the reputation that he’s built as one of baseball’s best leadoff hitters and one of the best overall defenders in the league.
We know that Ramirez plays his best baseball when he has protection in the lineup, and it doesn’t get much better than having Kwan at the top of the lineup.
Speaking of protection, knowing that an up-and-coming slugger in Kyle Manzardo is hitting behind Ramirez for the foreseeable future would be a nice thought, too. That said, Manzardo should be another player Cleveland considers signing to an extension this offseason.
Finally, now is a perfect time to explore an extension with Gavin Williams. He showed the potential to be an ace of a rotation in 2025, but still has some room to improve, especially with his walk-rate. Now could be a great time to at least explore a deal that wipes out his arbitration years before he hits that point of team control next winter.
If the Guardians were to actually extend a Kwan, Williams, or Manzardo, when would those deals come?
In a way, Ramirez’s contract news comes at an unconventional time considering Cleveland’s history. The Guardians typically negotiate an extension once players report to Goodyear for spring training.
That’s when Tanner Bibee’s deal came in 2025, Ramirez’s second extension came in 2022, and even Myles Straw, Emmanuel Clase, and Trevor Stephan’s deals came a few years back, too.
Hopefully, Ramirez isn’t the only player the Guardians ink to a new deal in 2026.
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