3 moves the Guardians need to make after José Ramírez extension

Over the weekend José Ramírez signed yet another extension with the Guardians, essentially guaranteeing that he's going to retire in a Cleveland uniform.

And if that wasn't enough, $70 million of the $106 million he's set to make on his new deal is deferred to give the front office some breathing room. Now the message is clear: The window is wide open, and the team has the flexibility to get aggressive.

But extending the greatest third baseman in franchise history is just the first step. If the Guardians want to turn this "lifetime" deal into a World Series ring, here are the three moves they need to pull off right now.

1 & 2: Lock up Steven Kwan and Gavin Williams

If Ramírez is the heart of this team, Steven Kwan is the pulse. There isn't a player in baseball who embodies "The Guardians Way" better than Kwan. He just picked up his fourth straight Gold Glove, earned another All-Star nod, and remains the most difficult out in the American League.

The city is 100% behind him, and with Kwan under control only through 2027, the time to pay him is yesterday. Locking him up alongside Ramírez ensures that Cleveland's leadoff spot and left field are stabilized for the rest of the decade.

Then, there’s Gavin Williams. We’ve seen him evolve from a flamethrowing prospect into a legitimate, top-of-the-rotation monster. Coming off a season where he posted a 3.06 ERA, he's trending toward becoming the true ace this staff needs.

Starting pitching is the most expensive commodity in the sport and extending Williams now before he hits arbitration in 2027 would be a masterclass in roster management. It would give Williams security and give the Guardians a budding ace at a cheaper price.

3: Trade for Brendan Donovan

While the Guardians' rotation is set, the lineup still needs that one versatile "glue guy" who can punish pitchers from the left side. That man is Brendan Donovan.

The Cardinals are currently in the midst of a massive rebuild under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. They've already offloaded Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray and are listening to offers on Donovan, even if they aren't desperate to move him.

Donovan is the ultimate Guardians target: he’s a high-OBP machine with elite bat-to-ball skills and enough gap power to burn you.

Donovan is a steady 3 bWAR player who provides way more value than the casual fan realizes. He has two years of affordable arbitration left and can play second, third, or left field.

Putting a guy with a career .350+ OBP in front of Ramírez is how you turn a good offense into a great one. He’s the perfect high-floor, high-IQ player to help the Guardians dominate the AL Central.

Ramírez did his part by taking a team-friendly extension to help the club win. Now, it's on the front office to maximize that sacrifice. By locking up Kwan and Williams and swinging a trade for a professional hitter like Donovan, the Guardians won't just be competitive, they'll be one of the teams to beat in the American League.