Cleveland Indians Reportedly Chatting With 3B Jose Ramirez About Contract Extension

Getting anyone extended in Cleveland is not easy these days, but the team has a pair of studs on their roster that they need to re-sign: Cy Young award winner Shane Bieber and third baseman Jose Ramirez.

Ramirez had a huge 2020 for the Indians, wrapping up a third-place finish in the AL MVP voting.

"J-Ram," as he's known, played in 58 games in 2020, leading the AL in runs scored with 45. He also hit .292 with 17 homers and 46 runs batted in.

The Indians already have Ramirez under contract till 2023, so getting a deal done right away isn't a huge priority, but it is something the team wants to get wrapped up so that they can get Bieber under a long term deal as well.

One thing that might give Ramirez pause about re-signing is the fact that the team occasionally trades their star players. Within the last year, the Indians have traded Mike Clevinger, shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitcher Carlos Carrasco.

The club also didn't pick up the $10 million option on Brad Hand, who led the American League in saves in 2020, because the team felt they could not afford him.

Carlos Santana, who was set to make $17.5 million in 2021 but hit just .199 last season after hitting .281 in 2019, will also be gone from the roster this year.