Jose Ramirez is going to make history for the Cleveland Guardians

Chad Porto

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Jose Ramirez is going to make history for the Cleveland Guardians image

The Cleveland Guardians have secured their leading man, as Jose Ramirez has agreed to a new extension that will keep him in Cleveland until his age 39 season. The Guards are giving Ramirez a raise of sorts, with the long-time third baseman agreeing to terms on a seven-year, $175 contract extension that runs through 2032. Ramirez had three years and $69 million left on his current deal, so this new deal will see him get a bump while adding four more years to his current deal.

The extension also all but guarantees Ramirez the ability to finish his career with the Guardians and as Cleveland's all-time leader in multiple categories. Thus cementing him as the de facto all-time face of the franchise.

Assuming he can stay healthy for most of the deal, he's looking at taking the top spot in numerous categories, including, but not limited to;

  • Offensive WAR (Currently 3rd and 16.8 points behind Tris Speaker)
  • Games Played (Currently 3rd and just 10 games off of first place, Terry Turner) 
  • At-Bats (Currently 2nd and just 65 at-bats off of first-place Nap Lajoie)
  • Runs Scored (Currently 3rd and 153 runs off of first-place Earl Averill)
  • Hits (Currently 7th and sits 379 hits off of Lajoie)
  • Total Bases (Currently 2nd and sits 193 off of Averill)
  • Doubles (Currently 3rd and is 88 off of Speaker)
  • Home Runs (Currently 2nd and is 52 off of Jim Thome)
  • RBIs (Currently 2nd and is 135 off of Averill)
  • Base on Balls (Currently 9th and is342 off of Thome)
  • Stolen Bases (Currently 2nd and is 165 off of Kenny Lofton).

Most of these records will fall in the next few years, but some could take four or five at his current rate of production. He's alreadyat the top of some categories, which include;

  • Plate Appearances 
  • Extra Base Hits
  • Intentional Base on Balls
  • Power-Speed #

More: Jose Ramirez's agent has perfect response to hate for team-friendly Guardians extension

It's pretty remarkable to see just how dominant he's been and how loyal he's been. Yet, there's also a sharp critique of the MLB in there, too. The Guardians and MLB's inability to keep players in smaller markets is the reason why this feat is not only so rare but even possible for Ramirez. With some of the biggest names in the game's history having played significant time in the city, you'd think it'd be nearly impossible for Ramirez to land atop some 15 categories. Especially ones where player skillsets don't normally overlap (home runs and stolen bases, for instance).

With teams like the LA Dodgers paying more on their luxury tax bill than the Guardians will spend on their payroll, it's becoming rarer and rarer for teams like the Guardians to keep their players, but this isn't a new issue. 

Teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox nd New York Yankees have historically overpaid for players, especially Cleveland's. If it weren't for the wealth discrepancy in the Major Leagues, guys like Thome, Manny Ramirez, and C.C. Sabathia may have never left Cleveland. 

If that's the case, who knows if Ramirez even gets close to some of these records? Guys like Thome and Ramirez raked the ball as well as anyone historically, and each finished with Hall of Fame-worthy numbers. It would've been nearly impossible for Ramirez to take as many top spots as he's about to if some guys didn't leave due to better contracts. 

That said, they did leave, and now Ramirez has the chance to cement his name all over the Cleveland history books. Which should give fans of the Guards something to hang their hat on at least. 

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