Cleveland Indians: 5 players that are current cornerstones for Cleveland

Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Indians

Like Bieber, this shouldn’t come as a surprise to see Jose Ramirez on this list. With Francisco Lindor out of the lineup this year, Ramirez became the focal point of the offense. Even before the Lindor trade, Ramirez was arguably the best hitter in the lineup, especially in 2020 when he finished second in the MVP voting.

The only barrier for Ramirez could be his contract. He’s been a bargain on his current deal, but the price is about to jump. While he’s obviously a big piece of this team, the drive to save money could end up being the unfortunate reason for a move here.

Ramirez is set to have club options each of the next two seasons. In 2022 he’s set to make $12 million and then $14 million in 2023. While that’s been much higher than his recent numbers and would be the highest on the team by a wide margin, Ramirez would still be a bargain.

Statistically, this has been a down season for Ramirez, slashing just .255/.347/.538, but his 33 home runs are nearing a career-high (39). Unfortunately, his doubles have also taken a steep dip from his typical numbers for a full season.

Even with the down year, the team can’t let Ramirez go. He’s the core of the offense and a team favorite. He’s the perfect veteran to guide the young prospects coming up, even if that means finding a new position for Nolan Jones.