3 players the Cleveland Guardians should explore extending

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CINCINNATI, OHIO – APRIL 12: Owen Miller #6 of the Cleveland Guardian hits a double in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 12, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Miller figured something out this offseason and is providing Cleveland with one of the best, and most consistent, options in its lineup. Just look at that slashline so far, it’s impeccable and well above league average. In just his second major-league season, Miller moved his WAR from -1.1 to 0.7, lowered his strikeout percentage and increased his walk and home run percentage.

Much like Naylor and a laundry list of other players Cleveland drafts and develops, Miller is as versatile as they come on the field. He’s spent time at each infield position, and his glove projects out to be one of the best the Guardians have. Place him next to Ramírez for the next half-decade and watch the magic spark.

It should be pointed out that Miller stunk last year, hardly getting on base and rummaging around for 60 games for a decent major-league appearance. He’s under team control until 2024, followed by three arbitration years, so an extension would really be betting on a relatively unproven commodity. But it’s worth it, in my opinion, to shell out a little extra cash now to ensure Miller’s ever-improving bat and dynamic glove stays in a Guardians uniform for the majority of his career.