Tuesday, the Cleveland Guardians agreed to terms on a seven-year, $106.5 million contract extension with second baseman Andres Gimenez.
Gimenez broke out in 2022 as one of the best players in the American League. He received his first All-Star appearance and Gold Glove Award, as well as finished sixth in American League MVP voting. Tuesday, he was richly rewarded.
Gimenez did everything in 2022. He hit for contact (.297 batting average — 10th in the American League), he hit for power (17 home runs, .837 OPS — 9th in the AL), he got on base (.371 OBP — 11th in the AL), he stole bases (20 — 12th in the AL) and he played Gold Glove-caliber defense (17 DRS — 2nd in the AL). Gimenez trailed only Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge in the AL in Wins Above Replacement (7.2 WAR).
The Guardians acquired Gimenez, Amed Rosario, Josh Wolf and Isaiah Greene from the New York Mets in exchange for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco. The Guardians were able to cash in on Lindor, before the star shortstop hit free agency, acquiring an elite double-play combination. Lindor signed a ten-year, $341 million contract extension with the Mets shortly after the club acquired him.
Gimenez was an elite player in the American League a season ago. At age 24, he seems to just be scratching the surface of his remarkable abilities.
It's easy to overlook Cleveland and its stars. The humble midwestern city typically doesn't receive the same kind of media attention that the teams on the east coast do. Third baseman Jose Ramirez might be the most underrated player in Major League Baseball. Gimenez was baseball's best-kept secret in 2022: an electrifying player that can change the game with his speed, range and bat. Now, Gimenez will be paid like the star that he is.
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