4 moves the Cleveland Guardians should immediately make after the lockout ends

2. Announce an extension for third baseman Jose Ramirez

This certainly could be wishful thinking, but Ramirez’s current contract leaves the door open for a team-friendly extension. The Guardians get destroyed on a PR level unlike any other team in Cleveland, and keeping Ramirez in Cleveland for the long term would help put an end to at least some of the negativity. Paul Dolan doesn’t always do himself any favors when he starts talking about the team, but the fact is the Guardians have been one of the best teams in the AL going back to 2013, when Terry Francona started his tenure, and the team has a top-to-bottom organization many rivals can only dream of.

But still, that’s not how many fans see it. And in the case of Ramirez, trading away a perennial MVP candidate and the lynchpin of your entire team would only prove plenty of angry fans right. And while the Guardians could surely use a PR win right now, re-signing Ramirez is also just a smart baseball decision.

Ramirez originally signed a four-year, $26 million deal with club options for 2022 and 2023. Next season, he’ll make a base of $14 million, when he’ll be turning 31 years old. What’s another 4-5 years at $25 million a year to keep around one of the best players in team history?