Guardians, three-time All-Star Jose Ramirez agree to five-year, $124 million contract extension

The Guardians will play on the road against the Kansas City Royals at 4:10 p.m. ET on Thursday. Cleveland will have its home-opener against the San Francisco Giants at 7:10 p.m. ET on April 15.

It was reported one week ago that the organization and the three-time All-Star had "exchanged proposals" on a possible extension. Zack Meisel of The Athletic reported last week that there was an "artificial deadline of Opening Day" for the new deal to be reached.

Ramirez made his first All-Star team in 2017, when he led the league in doubles by a wide margin at 56, while also recording career-highs in hits (186), triples (six), batting average (.318), slugging percentage (.583) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.957). He recorded career bests in home runs (39), RBIs (105), stolen bases (34) and walks (106) in 2018 and hit 36 home runs and had 103 RBIs in 2021.

In 980 career regular-season games and 3,545 at-bats, Ramirez has 163 home runs, 540 RBI and 154 stolen bases along with a .278/.354/.501 slash line.