The Cleveland Guardians have a plan in place when it comes to signing players, and they rarely stray from it. They will make a necessary exception for someone of Jose Ramirez’s stature within the organization, but overall, the Guardians like to keep a firm grip on their wallet.
Another notably frugal MLB team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, recently made a headline-grabbing move by giving 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin a lucrative contract extension before he finished his first week in the majors. With that in mind, Guardians fans are wondering if their team will make a similar effort with some of its young stars.
However, when asked about Gavin Williams, Parker Messick or Chase DeLauter being given such a deal, insider Paul Hoynes said he doesn’t believe the Guardians will offer a big contract extension to those young players.
“They just gave Jose Ramirez a seven-year, $175 million extension. They signed Tanner Bibee to a five-year, $48 million extension in 2025. The Pirates signed Konnor Griffin to a nine-year, $140 million deal, and entering the weekend, he’s played just six games in the big leagues. I don’t see the Guardians doing that,” Hoynes wrote.
The benefit of an early extension is primarily designed to delay a young player from becoming a free agent. The team pays big money to a relatively unproven player in advance, buying some years of his eligibility.
These days, there is a potential second component for such a move. With the MLB labor landscape very uncertain and a potential work stoppage coming in the 2027 season, teams are trying to set themselves up for whatever might be waiting on the other side.
As for the Guardians, well before this, All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan has been seeking a contract extension, but to date, he has not received one. It also should be noted that the extension given to Ramirez this offseason is considered to be well below market value, as he provided the organization with a second straight hometown discount.
Now, it could be argued that the Guardians should use the money they saved there to guarantee that up-and-coming pitching stars Williams and Messick, plus rookie outfielder DeLauter, are part of the team around Ramirez for years to come. However, that is not the way Cleveland, which has the lowest payroll in baseball this season, usually does business.
So, unless something significant changes as new controlling owner David Blitzer eventually takes over the team, fans should not expect big deals for current players on the horizon.
NEXT: Analyst Believes Guardians' Outfield Has Bright Future
