Jose Ramirez has spoiled Cleveland Guardians fans with elite, MVP-level seasons year after year for a decade now. That’s easy to say, but remarkably difficult to achieve.
To reach that level, a player needs natural skills and talent, an impeccable work ethic, and health, among other things. These are the most important, though.
Age is always in the back of everybody’s minds when talking about Ramirez. Fans, coaches, the manager, and the front office all wonder when his decline phase will start, as he will be 34 in September. Father Time is undefeated, and Ramirez will eventually see his skills erode.
Now, to the facts: he is slashing a highly disappointing .231/.338/.377 with 10 home runs, 29 stolen bases, and a 101 wRC+ in the 2026 campaign as a whole. On June 13, he fractured his left hamate bone and went on the injured list until July 22.
Since that day, Ramirez hasn’t homered or even logged an extra-base hit, slashing .197/.333/.197 with a 58 wRC+. Is he declining? Is the injury affecting him? Or is he just going through a slump?
Nobody knows, but analyst Ken Carman hinted that there might be a point in which the Guardians can’t play him anymore because he appears to be affected by the wrist injury. We have reached a time in which we all ask the uncomfortable questions.
“I know he’s the leader of this team. He’s basically the leader of the entire city. I think that there is a worthwhile conversation going: ‘Are we hurting him, or are we hurting ourselves by having him out there every single day?’ If you leave it up to him, and he may very well have this power, I don’t know if he’s ever coming out,” Carman said.
"I know he's the leader of this team. He's basically the leader of the entire city. I think that there is a worthwhile conversation going are we hurting him or are we hurting ourselves having him out there everyday."
➡️ @KenCarman and @SportsBoyTony on Jose Ramirez's struggles… https://t.co/oVDkg7ouCB pic.twitter.com/QeL7YbY4U5
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 14, 2026
As Carman says, Ramirez probably won’t come out of the lineup easily, as he thinks he can still help the team. If he’s 100 percent healthy, he certainly can and will, eventually. Is that the case, though? He has taken a few days off in the last couple of weeks while dealing with soreness in the surgically repaired area, so one has to think the injury is still affecting him.
One thing is clear: a healthy Ramirez would certainly boost the Guardians’ chances of turning their season around. If he is not close to 100 percent, it will be challenging, to say the least.
NEXT: Steven Kwan Shares Honest Take On Guardians' Recent Struggles
