The Cleveland Guardians haven’t played a single game in 2026, but they are among the biggest winners in the sport. They and their fans know that their franchise player will likely be with the team for the rest of his career.
All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez was given a seven-year contract extension that runs through the 2032 season. It removes any concern that he would someday leave the organization.
Though the $175 million value of the deal arguably leaves Ramirez vastly underpaid by today’s MLB standards, it is another sign of his loyalty to the franchise. It is the second straight deal on which he has taken a “hometown discount” as the Guardians look to end an almost 80-year championship drought.
With that in mind, Ramirez sent a heartfelt message about being a Guardian, saying it is equally important to him as his Dominican heritage.
“I have the same sense of pride for Cleveland as I have for the Dominican Republic. I can call myself 50-50 — 50 percent Dominican and 50 percent Clevelander. My sons were born here, so I take that pride of the city and what it represents to me,” Ramirez said, via his translator.
#Guardians José Ramírez on the pride of representing Cleveland:
“I have the same sense of pride for Cleveland as I do for the Dominican Republic. I can call myself 50/50 — 50% Dominican and 50% Clevelander. My sons were born here, so I take pride in the city and what it… pic.twitter.com/J2fhAEo3As
— Ashly Holder (@AshNoelleTV) January 29, 2026
Guardians fans share that pride in having him as part of their team. The 33-year-old has been with the organization since he was 17 and made his major league debut in 2013.
Over his 13 seasons, he has established himself as one of the best players in the game, recently ranking as No. 5 on MLB Network’s Top 100 list for 2026. He is a seven-time All-Star, a six-time Silver Slugger winner, and a perennial candidate for AL MVP.
He posted his second straight 30-30 season in 2025, with 30 home runs and 44 stolen bases after hitting 39 homers with 41 steals the year before. If he were to reach that milestone again this season, he would join Barry Bonds as the only players in MLB seasons to do so three years in a row.
Ramirez is on a trajectory toward the Baseball Hall of Fame. Now, with this new deal in place, he could be inducted as one of the few players to have spent his entire career with just one team.
He is also likely to become the Cleveland franchise leader in every significant offensive category, which would be an honor befitting his legacy.
NEXT: Chris Antonetti Speaks Out About Jose Ramirez's Contract Extension
