A portion of MLB fans have a controversial opinion about Jose Ramirez’s stint with the Cleveland Guardians.
Some say that the Guards have “wasted” Ramirez because they haven’t won a World Series title.
If the analysis is made strictly from a hardware standpoint, then there is a case to be made for that statement to be true.
However, the subject is much more complex and broader than just a trophy.
Does that mean that the San Diego Padres have wasted Fernando Tatis Jr.? Or the Philadelphia Phillies have wasted Bryce Harper or Zack Wheeler? How about Aaron Judge on the New York Yankees?
No, because baseball is more than just lifting a trophy at the end of the season.
It’s about being competitive every year and giving the fans a reason to go to the stadium, to dream about celebrating something big.
Gabb Goudy, the co-host of the Carlos Baerga Show, doesn’t think the Guards have “wasted” J-Ram.
“He’s been the best player at his position, and the Guardians have been in playoff contention almost every part of his career,” Goudy said.
Gabb does NOT think the Guards have "wasted" Jose Ramirez. #GuardsBall
"He's been the best player at his position, and the Guardians have been in playoff contention almost every part of his career."
Presented by @infinitiofBW https://t.co/uAHwkWRTgm pic.twitter.com/xgCAdnL6Fv
— Carlos Baerga Show (@BaergaShow) June 17, 2025
Ramirez has been with the Guards since 2013 and has played 12 seasons if we exclude 2025 since we still don’t know the outcome of this year’s campaign.
They have made it to the playoffs in seven of those seasons, an incredible rate for a small-market team.
That includes a trip to the American League Championship Series (2024) and one to the Fall Classic (2016).
Ramirez was there for both.
He is admired by fans of all ages and backgrounds and is a hero in Cleveland and his hometown, the Dominican Republic.
Baseball is not just about winning: it’s about creating memories that last forever.
Ramirez has certainly done that in his MLB tenure in Cleveland.
To say his time in the city and with the organization has been a waste is controversial, at the very least.
NEXT: Guardians Move Trevor Stephan's Rehab To Triple-A
